The basketball transfer portal is about to open for undergraduates, graduates are already running through the churn, and we saw Coach Duffy get a big experience pickup, but the undergraduate moves will be picking up.
The Transfer Portal Giveth and It Taketh Away
We won’t get into the major complaints about what a mess NIL and the Transfer Portal have made with college athletics for now, as it is, this is how things are currently working so, programs and fans are going to have to deal with that current reality.
Part of that reality is losing players
from the program. The next part is the need for the coaching staff to re-recruit current players. We already noted the major pickup of Tennessee’s graduate player Alyssa Latham who is a prime spot filling pickup as a potential starter or primary bench player. Let’s talk about the other less happy parts of the Portal reality.
Re-Recruiting Players
In this new world, once the season draws to a close, it’s a real challenge for the coaches to retain undergraduate players. Graduates were always difficult enough, but once a program gets some traction in a season and finds a combination that might have some real success in the next season, it’s a major lift to keep that season’s anticipated roster intact.
The good news for the Hokies is that Coach Duffy has won one big battle.
Carleigh Wenzel is Coming Back
It’s not completely self-explanatory, but Carleigh’s thanks to the crowd is the absolute best reason stated. Carleigh Wenzel loves Virginia Tech. She’s all Hokie, and having her back to finish her eligibility is great news for the team and the coaching staff.
Carleigh kept it simple, like it was a no brainer, and did we ever think that she’d go somewhere else?
Wenzel might have had a season that she wished that she could have had some better results, but she kept with it, kept shooting and kept making a difference on the court.
If Wenzel and Carys Baker (who hasn’t announced anything yet) scored in double figures the team had solid wins. As Carleigh works through the off-season and solidifies her Senior leadership role, look for her importance and presence on the court to be even more important in the 2026-2027 season.
Still Waiting for Updates on Some Players Decisions
We are still waiting to hear from impact players Carys Baker, Mackie Nelson, Samyha Suffren, and the Freshmen who had some limited playing time last season. It would be great news all the way around to hear that Coach Duffy and staff kept most of their program intact and that the incoming freshmen would redshirt so that a consistent program conveyor could be re-established.
Rising Sophomore Forward/Post players Aniya Trent and Amani Jenkins (both of whom had solid first year debuts) have announced their returns to the Hokie roster for next season.
Departures are Sad, but Understood
We won’t go deep into the weeds, but the early announcement of Kayl Petersen’s departure from the team and entry into the portal was not so shocking as it was a touch on the sad side. Kayl Petersen is a wonderful young woman, a solid performer, and gave the program her best, including getting clocked in the nose and treated to two black eyes in the season. Her note announcing her departure is greatly appreciated, and very classy.
If Wenzel and Carys Baker (who hasn’t announced anything yet) scored in double figures the team had solid wins. As Carleigh works through the off-season and solidifies her Senior leadership role, look for her importance and presence on the court to be even more important in the 2026-2027 season.
We wish her all the best as the portal opens up for the undergraduate student transfers we’ll see where she lands.
Things Change
It’s going to be a real factor in college basketball, especially the men’s game because of the money involved, but it will happen to the women’s game, too. Program stability and the old four- and five-year plans of college sports are rapidly fading into the past.
We’ll keep you up to date on the program as the new Freshmen report, and decisions about the portal are made in the coming weeks.
