A hush lies over Scott Stadium as Virginia enters its first full month and not using a history-making soccer staff bringing power to the University since July. But spring in Charlottesville doesn’t imply Virginia Athletics is slowing down. In truth, it picks up, as many winter sports are already in full swing, and spring sports — a few of Virginia’s most profitable — method the season’s starting.
As Virginia spectators have heard typically — particularly from Coach Tony Elliott — fan attendance is an important ingredient for a staff’s success at residence video games. As Virginia’s pupil-athletes within the pool, on the sector, across the observe and on the river depend on followers to assist them, listed below are six vital residence matchups to look forward to because the semester kicks off.
1. No. 16 Men’s basketball vs. No. 14 North Carolina, Jan. 24 at 2 p.m.
Coach Ryan Odom’s Cavaliers (15-2, 4-1 ACC) are undefeated in John Paul Jones Arena this season, sitting at No. 3 within the ACC. Despite a crushing triple time beyond regulation loss to Virginia Tech, Virginia leads the convention in offensive rebounds and is second in three-level proportion.
From freshman forward Thijs De Ridder, who leads the staff in factors per sport with 27.3, to freshman middle Johann Grünloh, who leads in rebounding, Odom’s meeting of a defensive-minded, diversely expert staff has already placed on a present at JPJ.
Despite North Carolina having a tough begin to convention play, the Tar Heels (14-4, 2-3 ACC) might be one of many tightest ACC rivals the Cavaliers will face at residence. Major gamers embody freshman forward Caleb Wilson, who leads the Tar Heels in factors per sport, rebounds and blocks per sport and junior middle Henri Veesaar, who leads in area aim proportion and three-level proportion. The matchup in opposition to North Carolina is probably going to be a defensive battle between two groups which have displayed robust rebounding so far.
If this pitch isn’t convincing sufficient, the University is about to dedicate the JPJ Arena courtroom in honor of former head coach Tony Bennett in a pre-sport ceremony roughly quarter-hour earlier than tip-off, in accordance to Virginia Athletics.
2. Women’s basketball vs. Virginia Tech, Feb. 1 at 2 p.m.
Last season, the Virginia ladies opened their first Commonwealth Clash battle with a win. But of their second displaying at JPJ, the Cavaliers dropped off with a big 25-level loss at residence of their second matchup in opposition to the Hokies.
In a turnaround from final season — the place Virginia completed within the backside half of the ACC — the Cavaliers (13-5, 5-2 ACC) are at present fifth within the convention. Given that their first matchup in opposition to the Hokies (13-5, 3-3 ACC) is at residence, this won’t solely carry the everyday excessive power {that a} rivalry sport does, however it can additionally function a revenge sport for the Cavaliers, who’ve turned themselves round following final season.
Coach Amaka Agugua-Hamilton has constructed a program to complement junior guard Kymora Johnson’s expertise, which was beforehand one of many solely persistently constructive features of the ladies’s basketball staff.
As Johnson leads the staff with 18.1 factors per sport, her explosive model of play is accompanied by new and returning gamers. From switch senior forward Tabitha Amanze — who not too long ago notched a double-double in opposition to Georgia Tech — to veteran senior guard Paris Clark, issues are falling into place for Virginia persistently week-to-week. The Cavaliers have a robust probability at taking again the Commonwealth at residence of their first of two matchups in opposition to the Hokies.
3. Swimming hosts the Cavalier Invitational, Feb. 5-7
It isn’t any secret that Virginia’s swim staff has been a spectacle to watch, notably the ladies’s facet — however the No. 22 males are additionally making a reputation for themselves this season. The 5-time reigning nationwide champions are gunning for a sixth, however will keep on the Aquatic & Fitness Center of their remaining meet earlier than diving into the publish-season.
The Cavaliers are internet hosting the sixth-annual Cavalier Invitational the primary weekend of February. A restricted roster is taken to the ACC Championships, and a cap of 18 swimmers will likely be eligible to compete on the National Championship, so this may also be many swimmers’ remaining meet — and can function an at-residence goodbye for a star-studded staff.
Virginia has had solely two residence meets this season — excluding the Invitational. The Cavaliers have one final at-residence hoorah, and it’s positive to be one to watch as a star-studded staff — together with Olympians sophomore Katie Grimes, seniors Emma Weber and Aimee Canny and junior Claire Curzan — prepares for the prospect to make history on the National Championships come March.
4. Men’s lacrosse vs. Utah, March 21 (time TBA)
The males’s and ladies’s lacrosse groups will be a part of forces in a doubleheader at Scott Stadium, with the lads taking part in Utah and the ladies going through off in opposition to ACC opponent Syracuse. With the video games being performed at Scott Stadium, quite than their common Klöckner Field, this would be the good trial run for the Virginia males earlier than the 2026 Men’s NCAA Lacrosse Championship Weekend is held at Scott Stadium in May. Fans can obtain a preview of what a lacrosse sport will look like on the stadium.
The Virginia males defeated the Utes at residence final season 14-9 in an offensive showout, however Utah has been an up-and-coming staff proving that lacrosse has expanded nationally, and that West Coast opponents can hold with blue blood groups East Coast groups such because the Cavaliers.
On the Cavaliers’ facet, one can hope for the same displaying this season. Virginia’s offense is predicted to be a powerhouse, that includes brothers junior attacker McCabe Millon and freshman attacker Brendan Millon, the latter of whom was the No. 1 total prospect in his faculty recruiting class based mostly on the Inside Lacrosse rankings. McCabe completed his sophomore marketing campaign second on the staff in factors with 50, and the duo is predicted to energize and lead the Cavaliers’ offense all through the spring.
5. Women’s lacrosse vs Syracuse, March 21 (time TBA)
The Virginia ladies will play an in depth matchup in opposition to the Orange, a staff equally gifted within the dominant ACC convention. Last season, the Cavaliers fell in a heartbreaking 12-13 loss in Syracuse, N.Y. The matchup is probably going to be energetic by itself as Virginia not solely seeks revenge, but in addition dedicates the sport to celebrating 50 years of Virginia ladies’s lacrosse.
The three-time nationwide champions are anticipated to be led by junior midfielder Kate Galica, who has been a phenom since arriving at Virginia. The 2025 First Team All American and ACC Midfielder of the Year has dominated on the draw, permitting Virginia’s offense to movement efficiently.
Galica may also be joined by the returning Third Team All-American, junior attacker Madison Alaimo, and a outstanding freshman class, that includes 5 gamers who had been named to the Inside Lacrosse Power 100 Freshman Rankings.
With the Virginia women and men bringing their skills to Scott Stadium March 21, these two matchups will likely be a should-watch, complementing one another properly.
6. Softball vs. Liberty, March 25
Virginia softball is out for revenge. After a season-ending loss in Regional play for the second season in a row, the Cavaliers will look to construct one other robust profitable season — however high it off extra efficiently.
While the ACC options high National Championship contenders, together with Florida State and Clemson — who completed No. 9 and No. 11, respectively final season — one other competitor not removed from Charlottesville will give the Cavaliers a troublesome however thrilling matchup.
Liberty completed the 2025 season ranked No. 16 within the NCAA. While Virginia misplaced 3-4 to the Flames early on final season, the Cavaliers beat them 5-3 at residence of their remaining matchup earlier than the ACC Championship. An in-state rivalry in opposition to two gifted groups at Palmer Park, halfway by means of this season, will likely be stuffed with power and sure to carry Commonwealth followers collectively.
Joined by freshman outfielder Jaiden Griffith, who’s ranked among the many high 100 freshmen in Division I softball, the Cavaliers will look to take down a aggressive staff on their approach again to the NCAA Tournament.
Whether at JPJ, the AFC, Scott Stadium or Palmer Park, Virginia’s residence slate for the spring offers Cavalier followers loads to look forward to. From rivalry renewals to marquee matchups, attendance by the Charlottesville devoted is a necessary piece to the applications’ success this semester. Mark these dates, present up early and be loud, and assist make Virginia’s spring groups really feel the identical residence-area benefit that powered the autumn — with the hope that related outcomes will comply with.