FIU Women's Basketball 2025-26 Season Preview

FIU Women’s Basketball opens the 2025-26 season on Monday, November 3rd, on the road against the South Florida Bulls (USF). After a disappointing 11-19 overall and a 7-11 conference record in 2024-25, the Panthers are looking to bounce back and reclaim their momentum from the 2023-24 campaign.

LAST SEASON REFRESHER

The Panthers finished 11-19 overall, 7-11 in Conference USA play, seventh in the Conference standings.
The record marked a sharp 10-win drop from the previous season (2023-24), when FIU posted a strong 21-12 overall, 11-5 in conference, finishing second in CUSA.
Jesyka Burks-Wiley is now in her 6^th season. Expectations have been rising, as she signed a contract extension through 2027-28.
The decline in 2024-25 raises some crucial questions: What caused such a big drop? Was it roster turnover, injuries, or schedule strength? The Panthers will want to address those in this upcoming season.

WHAT TO WATCH THIS YEAR

Coach & System

With coach Burks-Wiley remaining at the helm and her staff intact (assistants include Christelle N’Garsanet, Dan Wendt, and Heather Karner), the Panthers have a chance to build continuity.

Ready to raise the standard 👏 pic.twitter.com/6no2p8NR6h

— FIU Women’s Basketball (@FIUWBB) October 14, 2025

Non-Conference Slate

Opening against USF gives the Panthers a chance to set a tone early on. The non-conference schedule includes in-state matchups such as home vs the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats (Nov 15), at the UCF Knights (Nov 18), and at the Jacksonville Dolphins (Nov 22). FIU will also play a home-and-home series against the Florida Atlantic Owls (away on Dec 15, home on Dec 20). Building early wins could give confidence heading into conference play.

Conference Stretch

Conference play commences in January, featuring home games versus programs like the Missouri State Bears (Jan 4) and Kennesaw State Owls (Jan 10), and road games at the New Mexico State Aggies (Jan 15) and Delaware Blue Hens (Jan 31). How FIU performs in those early CUSA games will dictate whether they return to the upper tier of the conference.

Spotlight – Parris Atkins

If FIU is going to bounce back from last season’s disappointing run, it starts with Parris Atkins – the Panthers’ heartbeat and go-to scorer heading into 2025-26. The 5’8” guard from Little Rock, Arkansas, delivered one of the most complete seasons in Conference USA last year, solidifying herself as one of the top guards of the league.

20 games, 17 starts, 584 total minutes
103-for-221 (46.6%)
12-for-40 from three (30%)
60-for-79 from the line (75.9%)
5 rebounds per game (100 total)
37 assists, 48 steals, 2 blocks
Averaged 13.9 points per game
Selected to the 2025-26 CUSA Women’s Basketball Preseason All-Conference Team

P is ready to put on for the 3️⃣0️⃣5️⃣ this season 👏 pic.twitter.com/7QnvK6meCQ

— FIU Women’s Basketball (@FIUWBB) October 9, 2025

EXPECTATION & GOALS

After finishing last season with an 11-19 record, FIU’s primary goal for 2025-26 is to reclaim respectability and get back to at least a .500 mark or greater. A realistic target would be finishing closer to the 9-9 mark to reestablish themselves as a competitive presence in the league.

Protecting the home court will be key; continuous wins in Miami can build confidence and create momentum heading into tougher stretches on the road. Ultimately, the Panthers hope to qualify for the postseason. That can mean a deep run in the CUSA tournament or an invitation to another postseason tournament like the WNIT.

After a season of growing pains, FIU aims to turn lessons learned into tangible progress and return to the form that made it a 20-win program just two years ago.

CHALLENGES

FIU faces several key challenges heading into the new season. Bouncing back from a down year will require both physical and mental resilience. The team is working to regain confidence. The schedule features tough road games that will test the Panthers early and often. In particular, there are well-established non-conference opponents and competitive CUSA foes.

To improve their results, FIU must also find greater depth and consistency. That includes improving at free throws and shooting threes. If FIU can establish a reliable rotation and maintain focus throughout the schedule, they’ll give themselves a much better chance to turn the ship around.

OPENING GAME

The season opener against USF represents more than just the start of another year. It’s an opportunity to set the tone early on. Facing a strong in-state opponent on opening night will immediately test FIU’s preparation and chemistry.

Grind don’t stop 💪 pic.twitter.com/U7Q17sJEiJ

— FIU Women’s Basketball (@FIUWBB) October 10, 2025

A statement win could spark early momentum and signal that the Panthers are ready to move beyond the struggles of last season. It’s a chance for FIU to make a statement about who they intend to be in 2025-26.

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