It seems like every year, Mike Young and the Virginia Tech Hokies men’s basketball team suffer a major setback just before the season. A starter or top contributor gets hurt, and either doesn’t return or misses significant time just before the new season.
With the season set to tip off next week, Young has a healthy roster after an exhibition win over Maryland. Unfortunately, women’s basketball coach Megan Duffy wasn’t so lucky.
On Friday, Duffy met with the media and revealed that 6-foot-3 guard/forward
Lauren Hurst suffered an injury and will miss this season. Hurts has already undergone surgery. Hurts, a top-50 player out of high school one year ago, spent her freshman season at the University of Tennessee, where she appeared in 24 games, averaging 2.3 points and 1.6 rebounds per game.
Hurst, a native of Cleveland, Tennessee, was one of several newcomers for the Hokies
“Lauren Hurst will be out for the whole season with a knee injury, which has been a disappointing loss for us,” Duffy said. “Her coming into the season, we expected her to do some great things for us.”
Duffy said the Hokies would be ready to go for the season opener next week, aside from a few minor injuries.
“We had big expectations for her,” Duffy said of Hurst.
The Hokies open the 2026-27 season on Monday in Blacksburg, welcoming NC Central to Cassell Coliseum.
