Queens University Royals Women's Basketball: A Deep Dive Into the Upcoming ASUN Slate

There’s a certain buzz that comes with being the new team on the block. For the Queens University Royals, that energy has been building for a few years now. The men’s program made a deep run in the NCAA tournament a while back—you might remember that scrappy bunch giving a top-tier program a real scare—and that spirit has fully rubbed off on the women’s program. If you’ve been sleeping on the Royals, especially the squad in the ASUN, it’s time to wake up. The upcoming schedule is loaded with chances to make a statement, and it all starts right here in the Queen City.

When you look at the women’s team’s schedule, you’re looking at a gauntlet built to forge a contender. It’s not just about the wins and losses; it’s about the quality of the opponents. We’re talking about a schedule that demands you bring your A-game every single night. For the Royals, the path to respectability in this conference runs through some familiar foes and some tough road trips that will test the mettle of this roster.

Home Cooking at the Levine Center

There’s nothing quite like a midweek game in Charlotte when the Royals are on a roll. The atmosphere at the Levine Center is intimate, but when the students pack in, it gets loud. We’ve got a handful of home games that are absolute must-watch events. The Jacksonville Dolphins at Queens University Royals Women’s Basketball matchup is one of those classic ASUN battles that usually comes down to the final possession. Jacksonville always brings a physical style, and the Dolphins aren’t the type of team that gets rattled by a road crowd. For Queens, these are the games that define a season—prove you can hold serve at home against a conference rival, and you set yourself up for the postseason.

Then you have the Central Arkansas Bears at Queens University Royals Women’s Basketball game, which is a fascinating stylistic clash. The Bears like to push the tempo, forcing turnovers and turning defence into instant offence. If the Royals can slow them down and impose their half-court sets, it turns into a chess match that’s a joy to watch. And don’t sleep on the North Florida Ospreys at Queens University Royals Women’s Basketball game. The Ospreys are one of those teams that are never out of a game; they can shoot the lights out from deep. Those nights are when you see which Queens players have that "closer" mentality.

• Jacksonville Dolphins: A physical, defence-first rivalry game. Expect a grind-it-out affair.
• Central Arkansas Bears: Pure tempo. Can the Royals dictate the pace?
• North Florida Ospreys: A three-point shooting clinic. Perimeter defence will be key.

Road Warriors: Trips to Virginia and the Mountains

If you want to know what a team is really made of, you watch them on the road. It’s easy to play well in front of your own fans. But when you’re on a bus for hours, sleeping in a hotel, and walking into a hostile gym? That’s where you separate the pretenders from the contenders. One of the biggest tests on the docket is the trip to Harrisonburg for the Queens University Royals at James Madison Dukes Women’s Basketball showdown. JMU has built a powerhouse program known for its relentless defensive pressure and a fan base that treats every game like it’s the Super Bowl. Walking into the Atlantic Union Bank Center is not for the faint of heart. For the Royals, this is a measuring stick game. If they can go in there and handle the pressure, it tells you they’re ready for anything the conference tournament throws at them.

Another road trip that has my attention is the Queens University Royals at Western Carolina Catamounts Women’s Basketball game. Western Carolina might not have the same national spotlight as some of the bigger programs, but playing in Cullowhee is a unique challenge. It’s tucked in the mountains, the gym gets packed, and it’s one of those places where the home team feeds off the energy of the crowd. This is the kind of game that veteran squads win by staying composed when the momentum swings against them. It’s a classic trap game scenario—overlook the Catamounts at your own peril.

Look, I’ve been around this game long enough to know that a team’s identity isn’t built in November or December. It’s built in the grind of January and February, when the novelty of the season has worn off and every possession matters. This Queens roster has the pieces. They’ve got guards who can break a press, forwards who can bang in the post, and a coaching staff that has been here before. The question isn’t talent. The question is grit.

If the Royals can protect their home floor in those pivotal ASUN matchups against Jacksonville and North Florida, and if they can steal a game or two on the road—especially that monster game against JMU—they’re going to be a problem for anyone in the conference tournament. Mark my words: the Queens University Royals aren’t just playing basketball this season. They’re building something that’s going to last. And if you’re a fan of pure, competitive college hoops, you’re going to want to catch these games.