What began as a championship defense became something even bigger: a season for the ages, a national masterclass in dominance and the final chapter for two of the most accomplished players in NYU women’s basketball history. In their last dance, graduating players Natalie Bruns and Belle Pellecchia guided the Violets to one final championship run and won the NCAA title. With back-to-back undefeated seasons and national titles, NYU has secured its place among the greatest teams in Division III history.
The 2024-25 NYU women’s basketball team completed its season 31-0, earning its second consecutive NCAA D-III National Championship in a 77-49 win over Smith College. In doing so, the team pushed its active winning streak to 62 games, the eighth-longest in NCAA women’s basketball history in any division.
This was more than a title run: It was a defining moment in program and D-III history.
“I’m just so proud of what we were able to accomplish these last four years,” senior captain Pellecchia told WSN. “We set a culture of hard work and discipline, and I think that’s the legacy we’re leaving behind.”
A complete season of dominance ends with NYU atop Division III once again
Led by head coach Meg Barber, the Violets returned to the top of the mountain in emphatic fashion, completing back-to-back undefeated seasons for the first time in school history and becoming just the fourth D-III program to win consecutive national titles. Barber, a 2002 NYU alum, was honored as the 2024 USA Basketball 5-on-5 Junior Coach of the Year after leading the U17 Women’s National Team to a gold medal at the FIBA World Cup. Under her leadership, NYU has amassed a remarkable 119-21 record, secured multiple UAA Championships and achieved national prominence.
“They take pride in how they represent the sisterhood, the NYU uniform every day,” Barber said in a press conference following the championship game.
This season wasn’t simply a rerun of last year — it was refinement, evolution and escalation. NYU outscored opponents by an average margin of 37.3 points per game, held teams to just 50.6 points per game and once again made its mark with relentless full-court pressure and reliable transition offense. Opponents averaged over 24 turnovers per game, fueling the Violets’ fast-paced attack that wore teams down early.
Legends at the helm: Bruns and Pellecchia cement their legacies
Two players have stood as the cornerstones of NYU’s golden era.
Graduate student Bruns, one of the greatest to ever wear violet and white, delivered yet another historic campaign this season. The forward averaged 17.2 points, 6.5 rebounds per game and had a staggering 91 blocks, setting both the single-season and career blocks record of 237 at NYU. She ranks sixth on the program’s all-time scoring list with 1,661 points, is a two-time WBCA Division III All-American, a one-time WBCA Division III Player of the Year and was named the 2024 NCAA Tournament’s Most Outstanding Player.
Bruns is the definition of a complete player, a dominant shot blocker, a smart playmaker, a threat from three if given space and a force in the paint on both ends of the floor. With the addition of her NCAA Elite 90 Award, Bruns will leave as one of the most decorated and dominant players in school history.
“I’ve just been trying to take what’s given to me and read whatever’s going on on the floor,” Bruns said in the press conference. “That’s all because I have great teammates by my side — at all times, I have four other players who are extremely capable of making incredible plays. Sometimes, I even throw a bad pass, and they turn it into an assist for me. It’s the relationships, 100%, that make this all so, so special.”
Alongside her, Pellecchia ran the show with poise, toughness and defensive ferocity. Averaging 14.6 points, 4.1 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game, she earned UAA Defensive Player of the Year for a fourth consecutive season, anchoring NYU’s press and fueling its transition offense. She was the engine, the communicator and the tone-setter.
“Defense is one of my favorite parts of the game,” Pellecchia told WSN. “We had the talent this year to press, and it became part of our identity. With Nat, Brooke [Batchelor] and me at the top, we knew we could take teams out of rhythm early. For me, defense turns into offense, even a deflection that leads to a teammate’s steal gets me going.”
Together, Bruns and Pellecchia not only won, but they defined what winning looks like at NYU.
Depth, talent and the power of the collective
NYU’s success wasn’t only star-driven: It was system-deep.
First-year Zahra Alexander delivered her breakthrough on the biggest stage, scoring double digits in a pivotal first round win and showing the composure of a seasoned veteran. As her minutes increased, so did her impact on the court, offering a glimpse at the future of NYU women’s basketball.
“Honestly, I was just taking it day by day, trying to work hard and earn my minutes,” Alexander said. “Everyone on the team genuinely cares for each other, and that made it easier to step into big moments and believe in myself.”
Even players like senior Chloe Teter, who served primarily in a reserve role, made it clear that NYU’s strength came from its total buy-in.
“On a championship team, every role matters,” Teter told WSN. “Even if you don’t play a lot, you’re helping the starters get better in practice. You’re staying ready, and you’re showing up for the team in every way you can.”
“My role wasn’t about calling plays or being the loudest voice,” she added. “It was about lifting others up, cheering loud and being someone the team could lean on, especially as a senior.”
The team’s unity was evident across the board. Every practice, every scout, every substitution felt intentional and, by March, inevitable.
“My goal wasn’t just to make an impact on the court, but to leave behind a culture built on work ethic, discipline and embracing the grind,” said Pellecchia. “That’s what carried us through, and that’s what will continue to define this program.”
The championship game: One last masterclass
In the title game against Smith College, NYU wasted no time establishing dominance. The team opened on a 20-5 run and led 41-22 at the half, blitzing their opponent with full-court traps and seamless offensive execution. Bruns controlled the paint, Pellecchia dictated tempo and the whole team hit timely shots.
Smith never recovered.
By the final buzzer, NYU had secured a 77-49 win — the most lopsided championship victory in recent D-III history — and had etched its name in the books, not just as a champion team, but as an all-time great.
An all-time legacy
With a 62-game win streak, two straight national titles and multiple season records broken, the 2024-25 Violets are now undeniably part of the conversation around the greatest D-III women’s basketball teams ever.
Few teams in NCAA history in any division have sustained such dominance over a two-year stretch. The numbers back it up, and the team’s legacy will live on long after the banners are raised.
Barber now holds an 85-3 record over the last three seasons.
“After my first game as head coach, my father told me, ‘Your players need to feel you on the court,’ Barber said in the press conference. “From that day forward, I’ve coached with passion, because that’s what he taught me. And I know he’d be really, really proud of what we’ve built here.”
What’s next?
With Bruns and Pellecchia graduating, the torch will be passed to players like Batchelor, Alexander and a new wave of young talent already gaining experience. The culture is in place. The expectations are clear.
This run has already made history, and the next chapter starts now.
Contact Sidney Snider and Brian Sanchez at [email protected].
