Talayah Walker was one of the most underrated players in women’s college basketball last season. Quietly, she was one of just four players in the nation to average at least 17 points and six rebounds per game while shooting better than 40 percent from 3-point land.
On Monday, Nov. 2 in the Yellow Jackets’ season opener, she made everyone take notice.
Walker dropped 40 points in an 80-65 win for Georgia Tech over Hofstra, setting the ACC record for the most points scored in the first game of the season. It’s the first time a Yellow Jacket has scored at least 40 points in this century, with Niesha Butler last hitting the mark in 1999.
It was a career-high scoring total for the junior guard from Odenton, Maryland, and Walker now has the early lead
in the race to lead the country in points scored this season.
Walker finished the game shooting 15-of-20 from the floor, 3-of-5 from 3-point land and a perfect 7-of-7 from the free throw line. She also logged five rebounds, two assists, four steals and a block.
TALAYAH WALKER TODAY:
— Women’s Hoops Network (@WomensHoops_USA) November 2, 2026
• 40 POINTS
• 5 REBOUNDS
• 4 STEALS
• 15/20 FG (!!!)
• 34 MINUTES PLAYED pic.twitter.com/TpGr8RLHZl
Last season, Walker was an All-ACC selection as a sophomore after averaging 17.5 points, 6.1 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.4 steals per game. She played her freshman season at Penn State.
“What Talayah did last year was unbelievable, right? Nobody knew about Talayah when she came in. You talk about the consistency that she had on the offensive end for us, I think this year we'll be able to create easier shots for her,” Georgia Tech head coach Karen Blair told USA TODAY Sports last month. “Her efficiency is unbelievable. I just expect more out of her.”
Blair is in her second season as Georgia Tech’s head coach after spending seven years working under Brenda Frese at Maryland. While the Yellow Jackets finished last season with an overall record of 14-19, and 8-10 in ACC play, they did secure some impressive wins in the second half of the season, beating a pair of NCAA Tournament teams in Notre Dame and Clemson.
Walker and the Yellow Jackets host Samford, last season’s champions of the SoCon, on Thursday before hosting No. 24 West Virginia on Sunday.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Talayah Walker makes ACC scoring history in Georgia Tech's opener
