Checking in on UVA women’s basketball: Kymora Johnson’s historic performance, Sa’Myah Smith returns to action, and more

After an eight-day holiday break, the Virginia Cavaliers women’s basketball team is back in action on Monday night as the ’Hoos welcome SMU to John Paul Jones Arena.

It’s been an up-and-down first eight weeks of the season, but Coach Mox and company are looking to build off an impressive recent three-game stretch that included a dominant road win over Boston College in their ACC opener.

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As the ’Hoos — who enter Monday night with an overall record of 9-3 (1-0 ACC) — get set to take on the back half of their schedule, here are the biggest storylines from the first half of the season.

Kymora Johnson is in the conversation for ACC Player of the Year

Though it’ll be difficult to unseat reigning ACC Player of the Year Hannah Hidalgo (who is leading the ACC with over 25 points per game), Kymora Johnson is once again playing as well as anyone in the conference.

A 2024-25 First-Team All-ACC selection, Johnson is back to her dominant ways, averaging 18.4 points (45.3% from the field, 40% from three) and 5.9 assists per game through the first 12 games of her junior season campaign.

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Once again handling double duty as Virginia’s primary scorer and playmaker, Johnson delivered her signature UVA moment on December 20th against Winthrop. The Charlottesville native knocked down a John Paul Jones Arena record 10 threes against the Eagles, finishing with a career-high 41 points to lead the ’Hoos to a 35-point win.

Johnson’s record-breaking outburst earned her ACC Player of the Week honors, adding to an impressive season resume that has her second in the conference in points per game (18.4), second in assists per game (5.9), third in three-point percentage (40%), and fifth in steals per game (2.4).

Sa’Myah Smith is a game-changer

While the ’Hoos have had their fair share of struggles early this season, all three of Virginia’s losses came without Sa’Myah Smith — the centerpiece of Coach Mox’s incoming crop of transfers — in the…

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Publish date : 2025-12-29 17:16:00

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