The women’s championship match for the Howe Cup featured #1 seed Princeton University against #2 seed University of Pennsylvania and produced one of the most dramatic finals in recent memory.

The match began approximately ten minutes later than scheduled and followed the same introduction format, with coaches first welcomed onto Glass Court East, followed by player introductions from #9 through #1.

With the introductions complete, the players stepped on court and the championship match began—what would soon become a match for the ages in the history of the Howe Cup.

Penn struck first when Sohaila Ismail defeated Charlotte Bell of Princeton at the #4 position to earn the opening point of the match. Shortly after, the Quakers extended their lead at the top of the lineup as Malak Khafagy defeated Princeton’s Zeina Zein in four games at the #1 position. Zein entered the match as the two-time reigning CSA Individual Champion, making Khafagy’s victory a particularly significant result for Penn early in the final.

Princeton responded with two strong victories to even the match. Liyen Teoh defeated Hailey Wong in a difficult four-game battle that featured two games extending to extra points, with scores of 11-8, 12-14, 16-14, 11-9. Princeton then drew level at 2–2 when Samantha Jaffe won a hard-fought five-game match against Alexandra Stoddard in the #5 position.

Penn regained the lead when Malak Taha defeated Emma Trauber in the #3 position in a 61-minute four-game match, putting the Quakers ahead 3–2. Princeton again responded when Caroline Eielson earned a three-game victory at the #6 position to level the score at 3–3.

One of the most dramatic matches of the final came at #8, where Savannah Ingledew defeated Hermione Cao in a five game match that lasted 66-minute. In the fifth game, Ingledew trailed 8–4, fought back to save three match balls, and ultimately won 13–11 to give Penn a 4–3 lead.

Princeton once again answered through Alexandra Jaffe, who defeated Franka Vidovic in a tough match at the #2 position to tie the overall score at 4–4.

With the Howe Cup on the line, the championship came down to the final match at the #9 position between junior Sonya Sasson of Princeton and Jana Dweek, a senior co-captain for Penn.

The crowd packed tightly around Court 16, leaving little room for spectators, while the live stream from the court played on all monitors throughout the Specter Center. Both teams cheered loudly throughout the match.

In the decisive contest, Jana Dweek delivered a composed performance, earning a three-game victory to secure the fifth point for Penn and clinch the Howe Cup.

The victory marked Penn’s first Howe Cup championship since 2000 and capped one of the most closely contested finals in the history of the event.

Following the match, a trophy presentation was held on Glass Court East, where the University of Pennsylvania was presented with the Howe Cup as the 2026 CSA Women’s National Team Champions.

Howe Cup Final Results

University of Pennsylvania def. Princeton University — 5–4

• #1 –Malak Khafagy (Penn) def. Zeina Zein (Princeton) – 3–1
• #2 – Alex Jaffe (Princeton) def. Franka Vidovic (Penn) – 3-0
• #3 – Malak Taha (Penn) def. Emma Trauber (Princeton) – 3–1
• #4 – Sohaila ismail (Penn) def. Charlotte Bell (Princeton) – 3-0
• #5 – Samantha Jaffe (Princeton) def. Alexandra Stoddard (Penn) – 3–2
• #6 – Caroline Eielson (Princeton) def. Penn opponent – 3–0
• #7 – Liyen Teoh (Princeton) def. Hailey Wong (Penn) – 3–1
• #8 – Savannah Ingledew (Penn) def. Hermione Cao (Princeton) – 3–2
• #9 – Jana Dweek (Penn) def. Sonya Sasson (Princeton) – 3–0