Good Morning, ODU Fam. Gotta love a fresh new look for the upcoming season!

What all do we have stirring in today’s Brew? Check it out below!

🏀 Rivalry Renewed
📚 Academic Aces
⏱️ Countin’ Down: 43 Days
​🦁 And much more!

🔼 Rivalry Renewed. Less than 200 miles separate the home arenas of ODU and UVA and this week, the rivalry has been renewed in women’s basketball.

ODU and UVA announced a home-and-home series beginning in the 2026-27 season. The Monarchs welcome the Cavaliers back to the 757 on November 15 at Chartway Arena. 

ODU holds a 19-16 advantage over UVA in the all-time series that dates to 1973. Virginia has won the last two matchups, while Old Dominion has an 11-4 record in home games against the Cavaliers.

🏀 More On The Rivalry Series

Last month, ODU Head Coach DeLisha Milton-Jones and assistant coach Ronald Jones, Jr. traveled to Los Angeles to be a part of a truly special weekend in Tinseltown.

Milton-Jones was a part of the LA Sparks’ 30th Anniversary celebration and the duo sat down to talk about the trip, the celebration and reflected back on their time together.

🔼 Academic Aces. This week, the Virginia Sports Information Directors announced its 2025-26 Academic All-State honorees with six Old Dominion University student-athletes earning the distinction.

The six Monarchs recognized include Brynn Bowen from women’s lacrosse, Barbara Car from women’s golf, football’s Zion Frink, volleyball’s Kate Kilpatrick, men’s swimmer Bryce Mortimer, and Piet Steveker from men’s tennis.

🦁 More On The Academic Honorees

🔼 Smarty Cats. This week, ODU women’s lacrosse had 12 players named to the Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association's Academic Honor Roll.

The IWLCA honored 1,212 student-athletes from 122 different institutions on the 2025-26 IWLCA Division I Academic Honor Roll. To be eligible for this honor, student-athletes must be a junior, senior, or graduate student and have earned a cumulative academic GPA of 3.50 or greater. 

🥍 More On The Academic Recognition

Throughout the summer, we will be counting down the days
to the return of ODU Football this fall. The Monarchs will host
Norfolk State on September 5 at 6 p.m.

There’s never a bad time to honor an all-time great.

Kris Trinidad was exactly that for the Monarchs over the past four seasons, earning back-to-back All-Sun Belt accolades at the defensive end spot for ODU.

The Richmond native played in 50 games during his time in Norfolk, racking up 136 total tackles, 24.5 TFLs and 15 sacks.

Former Old Dominion quarterback, Walter Payton Award Winner and 10-year NFL veteran, Taylor Heinicke, will be the special guest headlining ODU’s third annual Fan Fest at DICK’S House of Sport in Chesapeake, scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 8.

The Fan Fest begins at 11 a.m. and the first 100 fans through the door will receive a wrist band to receive an autograph. Heinicke will sign autographs from 1-2 p.m. A commemorative poster will be available for Heinicke to sign for free. Personal items will not be signed. However, items that are purchased at DICK’S House of Sport on August 8 are available to be signed.

* All Times are Eastern

Saturday, September 5th
🏈 Football vs. Norfolk State @ 6 pm l ESPN+

🦁 Click here to see the full ODU Athletics Calendar

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🦁 Have a great one, y’all!