With the tip off of the 2025-26 season on Tuesday morning, it wasn't just another game at SMU.
It was
Adia Barnes' first win as a Mustang, her 170
th overall. But on this day, all that mattered was that it was her first win on the Hilltop.
"I feel great about what I'm doing now, who I'm doing it with and how I'm doing it," Barnes said.
The Barnes era has officially started.
And what a start!
The nearly 2,600 in attendance -- the most for a season-opening game in nine years – saw a potent offense and a stifling defense in a 96-70 win over Grambling State.
The Mustangs scored 26 fast-break points. Five players finished in double figures and stuffed the stat sheet.
Sahnya Jah, player of the game, had 19 points – all coming in the 16 minutes she played in second half – along with two steals and three assists.
Kyla Deck chipped in 18 points, 6 steals and 4 assists.
Grace Hall added 15 points, 7 rebounds. And sophomore,
Zahra King, poured in 14 points, 3 assists, 4 rebounds and 3 steals.
As a team, the Mustangs forced 21 turnovers --13 of them steals – and held Grambling State to 17% shooting from the field in the second quarter.
One thing you'll learn about Barnes fairly quickly is that while there was a lot of good things and glimpses of what is to come, she's always looking to improve – 1% every day. This means that while she talks about what worked, she's very transparent. You will also hear what the Mustangs need to work on.
Barnes has won many big games as a coach at Arizona from beating UConn in the 2021 Final Four on her run to the National Championship game to upending multiple ranked teams like No. 3-ranked Stanford in 2024 and No. 4-ranked Stanford in 2020. She also was an assistant on the 2021 gold-winning USA AmeriCup team.
However, this one, her first win at SMU, stands out.
"It was really meaningful, really special, because it's a new beginning. It's a fresh start. It's a chance to do something special and leave a legacy at another place," Barnes said.
"I love the players I'm doing it with and we're just going to continue to get better. It's also good being here and starting over. Obviously, there's so much that's new. I go out (onto the court), it's a different fan base. I am so used to knowing everybody when I come out. I don't know anybody here. It's so different. But the people are so excited in Dallas; the people in our community are ecstatic; and the school is excited.
"Damon (Evans), the (Athletic Director), came to the locker room and presented a ball to me. It was just sweet. He talked about the new era. I just feel special here. I feel like I'm loved and appreciated, and you always have to be somewhere where you're loved."
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As typical with Barnes, she didn't sit in this moment too long. She was back at it later in the day watching film to prepare for the Mustangs next opponent, K-State, on Saturday.
But after the game, when the Mustangs celebrated, Evans looked into the eyes of every player in the locker room and said, "This is a new chapter in the history of SMU women's basketball, and you guys are going to write this chapter. And when you leave this University, they're going to say, 'This is the team that built the foundation and led us to championships.'
"I'm so proud of each and every one of you and glad that you decided to join us here at SMU to get to the level that we all aspire to; and that's to be elite. And we will be elite because of her (Barnes') leadership and because of all of you."
Then, he turned to Barnes and said, "I simply want to say to Adia, thank you for coming. Thank you for being our head coach. And I think there's no better person to present the game ball to than Adia."
As her team cheered, Barnes grabbed the ball and beamed.
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