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The Virginia women’s basketball team made the Sweet 16 for the first time in a quarter century this past season. It will now move into next year without the leader of that program.
Head coach Amaka Agugua-Hamilton has been fired. Her players are now bailing, too.
The decision to let Agugua-Hamilton go was surprising given the results of her most recent campaign. The Cavaliers went 22-12 and picked up a trio of NCAA Tournament wins to advance to the second weekend of competition.
The year ended with a 10-point loss to TCU. Momentum for 2026-27 has now been lost.
Amaka Agugua-Hamilton was fired.
No reason has been given. The university released a short, three-sentence statement on the canning.
Virginia Athletics announced today (April 4) Amaka Agugua-Hamilton will not return as head coach of the women’s basketball program. Agugua-Hamilton finished her four-year tenure at UVA with a 70-58 record, including a 29-42 mark in ACC play. A national search will begin immediately.
There were no heartfelt goodbyes. No reference was made to her historic final season. Just an impersonal message on the future.
According to USA Today, UVA has not responded for clarity on the situation. Sources close to the program, however, claim that Agugua-Hamilton was the subject of an internal investigation.
There are allegations of staff mistreatment.
At this moment in time, we do not know what the investigation turned up. We do not definitively know the reasoning behind it. It’s a mystery.
We do know that Agugua-Hamilton won’t return in 2026. The uncertainty has created issues for current team members.
Virginia basketball players are leaving.
— Sa’Myah Smith (@samyahsmith5) April 4, 2026
Junior forward Sa’Myah Smith announced her transfer intentions after news of Amaka Agugua-Hamilton’s firing went public, joining sophomore teammate Olivia McGhee. She cited the coaching change in her reasoning.
That message was reposted by top player Kymora Johnson, who may or may not return to Charlottesville next year.
Virginia will reset after its best season in 25 years. It may be forced to rebuild under new leadership. The decision to move on from Agugua-Hamilton after the Sweet 16 appearance leads us to believe the matter is serious.
Details on the investigation will shed light on her exit as Virginia women’s basketball preps for a new era.