EDISON, NJ — The Metro Conference and America East Conference jointly announced the inaugural matchups for the 2026 America East – Metro Conference Basketball Challenge, where Manhattan's Women's Basketball team is slated to play the Great Danes of UAlbany and the Bulldogs of Bryant, per release on Monday morning.
Manhattan will open the America East – Metro Basketball Challenge away from home on Thursday, November 5, when the Jaspers travel to the Broadview Center to take on the Great Danes of Albany.
The Green and White haven't played UAlbany since the 2018-19 season, ending an eight-year drought of the intra-state feud. The two programs have only met four times, with the first coming on November 30, 1999, when the Jaspers prevailed 74-56 at home. Manhattan has since fell in the last three, but only one coming on the road.
Shortly after returning home to Draddy Gymnasium, the Jaspers will host the Bulldogs from Bryant for the lone home contest in the inaugural challenge on Sunday, November 8. Since transitioning to Division I in time for the 2008-09 season, Manhattan has never crossed paths with Bryant, as this year's game will serve as the first-ever meeting between the two programs.
Head Coach Heather Vulin has familiarized herself with the America East as of late, playing at least one opponent from the conference for the last three consecutive seasons dating back to 2023-24. In those games, the Green and White have won three out of five contests.
Originally announced on July 24, 2025, the two-year agreement is set to begin in the 2026-27 academic year, which will take place on Thursday, November 5, through Sunday, November 8. One game will be played at home, while the other game will be played on the road against opponents from the opposing conference.
"The America East-Metro Basketball Challenge will be the first-ever basketball challenge between two Northeast-based Division I leagues. Sharing a regional footprint, a mutual broadcast partner in ESPN, a common sponsorship rights holder in Van Wagner, and the same men's basketball officiating coordinator, the Challenge represents a natural and strategic collaboration."
About the America East:
Founded in 1979, the America East Conference is an elite NCAA Division I athletic conference that fosters an environment for student-athletes to become champions. Comprised of academically renowned, like-minded member institutions located in the Northeast region of the United States, America East is committed to broad-based excellence and progressive in its approach to supporting its more than 3,500 student-athletes across 18 sponsored sports. For more information, visit www.AmericaEast.com and follow the America East Conference and its social media channels at @AmericaEast.
About the Metro Conference:
With 13 institutions strongly bound by the sound principles of quality and integrity in academics and excellence in athletics, the Metro Conference is in its 45th year of competition during the 2025-26 academic year. Current conference members include: Canisius University, Fairfield University, Iona University, Manhattan University, Marist University, Merrimack College, Mount St. Mary's University, Niagara University, Quinnipiac University, Rider University, Sacred Heart University, Saint Peter's University, and Siena University.
Follow Manhattan Women's Basketball on X (@Manhattan_WBB) and on Instagram (@manhattanwbb).
