NEW HAVEN, Conn. – The No. 40 Yale women's tennis team capped a sensational 2025–26 regular season in stunning fashion, defeating No. 74 Penn, 4–1, at Cullman-Heyman Tennis Center to secure its first Ivy League title since 2013. The championship marks the program's ninth all-time and earns the Bulldogs the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Championships.
With Princeton's win over Brown in its regular-season finale, Yale shares the Ivy League title with the Tigers. Both teams finished 6-1 in league play.
Yale improved to 19–3 (6–1 Ivy), while Penn dropped to 11–12 (2–5 Ivy). The Bulldogs' 19 victories are their most since finishing 20–4 in the 2011–12 season. Yale also went undefeated at home for the second consecutive year, posting an 8–0 record this season.
Penn came out strong, claiming the doubles point early. The Bulldogs, however, stormed back with four singles victories, as
Leena Friedman,
Shyla Aggarwal,
Angela Huang, and
Erin Ha each earned wins. Aggarwal delivered the defining moment, clinching the title with thrilling match-winning performance.
Doubles
- Esha Velaga/Lara Stojanovski (Penn) def. Orly Ogilvy/Friedman (Yale) 6-3
- Joleen Saw/Maya Urata (Penn) def Julia Werdiger/Huang (Yale) 6-4
- Ha/Aggarwal (Yale) def. Liza Tkachenko/Sasha Motlagh (Penn) 6-1
Singles
- Velaga (Penn) def. Ogilvy (Yale) 6-4, 6-4
- Friedman (Yale) def. Stojanovski (Penn) 6-1, 6-2
- Aggarwal (Yale) def. Saw (Penn) 6-2, 6-2
- Werdiger (Yale) vs. Urata (Penn) 6-1, 2-6 unfinished
- Huang (Yale) def. Varsha Vedula (Penn) 6-2, 6-1
- Ha (Yale) def. Tkachenko (Penn) 6-1, 6-2
Hear from Swensen-McMahon Head Coach of Women's Tennis Rachel Sapir-Kahan
"Super proud of this team and what we have accomplished so far this season. Feel like we competed really well as a team and enjoyed the process! We appreciate and thank you to all Yale athletics, friends, family, who supported us through this amazing journey."
Up Next
The NCAA selection show will take place on Monday, Apr. 27 at 5:30 p.m.
