Rockford, Ill. – Head Coach Darryl Watkins has announced the release of the 2025-2026 women's basketball schedule. The Golden Eagles are coming into the new year off a 26 wins season and a sweet sixteen appearance in the NJCAA DII National Tournament. "Last season was a year of adversity in which I feel our program handled well." Stated Watkins RVC will play 29 of its 30 games against NJCAA DI and NJCAA DII opponents and will feature 15 home games. The Golden Eagles will also host The Premier Junior College event in the Midwest Rock Valley College Women's Basketball Jamboree which will take place on October 12^th. The field of the jamboree will feature 11 Top 25 Nationally Ranked teams from last season, National Tournament Qualifiers and the 2025 NJCAA DII Defending National Champion Johnson County Community College. Rock Valley will also have one exhibition scrimmage which will be played on the road against NJCAA National Tournament Qualifier Lake Land College on October 24^th in Mattoon, IL.

Going into year four of the Division II era of the program RVC will open their season on the road at the Terrace Bay Hotel Tip Off Classic, October 31^st against Alpena College (NJCAA D2) and on November 1^st against Bay College (NJCAA D2). The Golden Eagles will travel to Waubonsee (NJCAA D2) on November 6^th for their first Region 4 opponent. The team will hit the road again to play against Lincoln Land who finished the 2025 season as the 5^th best team in the country on November 8th. The Golden Eagles will look to host McHenry (NJCAA D2) in the home opener on November 11^th.

RVC Home Games: McHenry, St. Clair, Jefferson College, Kalamazoo, Kishwaukee, Carl Sandburg, Prairie State, Highland(IL), Bryant & Stratton(Rumble in the Rock), DuPage, Blackhawk Tech, Sauk Valley, Joliet, Kankakee, Moraine Valley(Sophomore Day)
RVC Away Games: Waubonsee, Lincoln Land, Black Hawk, Harper, Triton, MATC, South Suburban
Tournaments/Classics: Alpena/Bay College(Terrace Bay Classic), Marshalltown/Iowa Lakes(Marshalltown Classic), Harcum/North Central Missouri/ Florida State Jacksonville(Palm Beach Classic)

"We look forward to again playing one of the tougher schedules in the country again. Playing a tough schedule prepared us to fight through adverse moments through out the season and ultimately put our program in position to compete at the national tournament ." Watkins stated.

The Golden Eagles will be a completely different group featuring a mixture of experience and newcomers. With the departure of WBCA All-American, NJCAA D2 2^nd team All-America and the programs all-time leading scorer Mia Moore the Golden Eagles will look for a new leader. Returning from last years 26-10 team are Amadea Montijo who was an NJCAA Region 4 All-Region player, DeNiya Gary, Hannah Morgan, and Kaylee Harter.

The Golden Eagles, dove into the transfer ranks again adding three players Jazelle Young (Eastern Florida State) All Conference Player in the FCSAA Citrus Conference, Brooklynn Vickers (Schoolcraft) and Redshirt Sophomore Mya VanEtten (Olivet Nazarene) will be making her debut after a sitting out last season and practicing with the program.
To go along with those transfers are incoming freshman Ava Sims (Riverview High School)Sarasota, FL, Chyne Lewis (Example Academy)Joliet, IL, Shalia Poole (Kenwood Academy)Chicago, IL, Makeemah Byrd (Phillips Academy)Chicago, IL, Alyssa Morris (Riverside Brookfield)Riverside, IL. Poole and Byrd are coming off IHSA State tournament runs with Poole and Kenwood wining the Class 4a State Title and Byrd and Phillips finishing in 4^th place in Class 2a.

"We want to be able to take steps of growth being 1% better each day. All we are worried about as a program is the moment that is directly in front of us and we are extremely excited to tackle each moment everyday! "Watkins stated.
 
Click the link to view the entire Women's 2025-26 Schedule.