Virginia Tech Women’s Basketball Embraces High Expectations as Megan Duffy Builds Toward Another NCAA Tournament Run

CHARLOTTE, N.C. With a veteran backcourt, an influx of new talent and renewed expectations, Virginia Tech women’s basketball is entering the 2026–27 season determined to take another step forward in the Atlantic Coast Conference.

Head coach Megan Duffy, alongside senior guard Carleigh Wenzel and Tennessee transfer Alyssa Latham, represented the Hokies at the ACC Women’s Basketball Tipoff on October 5. The trio outlined a program focused on continued improvement, stronger interior play and the chemistry needed to compete in one of the nation’s most demanding conferences.

After finishing 23–10 last season and earning an NCAA Tournament berth, Virginia Tech has established a foundation for success. Duffy now believes the program has the personnel to build on that progress.

“Our goal every year is to build Hokie stone by Hokie stone, continuing to improve,” Duffy said. She added that the team has made significant strides in confidence and believes this season’s roster has the potential to be even better.

Wenzel Leads a Veteran Backcourt

Carleigh Wenzel returns for her final collegiate season after leading Virginia Tech in scoring and earning All-ACC second-team recognition last year. Her versatility made her one of the Hokies’ most important players, and she finished among the conference’s top 25 in 11 statistical categories.

Despite her individual accomplishments, Wenzel emphasized that improving her efficiency and helping the team reach its goals remain her priorities.

“Being a leader, taking my team to the steps that we want to get to and reaching the goals that we want to achieve” are central to her approach, Wenzel explained.

Her experience will be especially valuable as Virginia Tech integrates several newcomers into the rotation. With changes throughout the roster, the Hokies will need Wenzel to provide stability, facilitate the offense and continue creating scoring opportunities.

Wenzel also highlighted the importance of maintaining her development beyond college basketball, making this final season an opportunity to strengthen both her on-court production and leadership.

Latham Adds Versatility and Interior Strength

One of Virginia Tech’s most significant additions is Latham, a transfer from Tennessee who brings experience, defensive versatility and another option in the frontcourt.

Alyssa Latham believes the Hokies have the necessary talent to remain competitive and pursue another NCAA Tournament appearance. She pointed specifically to the team’s interior personnel as a potential strength.

The forward’s versatility could allow Virginia Tech to defend multiple positions, disrupt opposing offenses and create additional opportunities on the other end of the floor.

Wenzel praised Latham’s all-around abilities, describing a player capable of defending positions one through five, generating steals and deflections, shooting from the perimeter and handling the ball.

That flexibility could give Duffy additional options when adjusting to different opponents and game situations.

Latham’s experience also provides an important perspective for a roster that features several new faces. Having reached the NCAA Tournament in every season of her collegiate career, she understands the consistency required to navigate a demanding conference schedule.

However, she acknowledged that success will depend on more than individual talent. Staying connected through difficult stretches, protecting home court and finding opportunities to win on the road will all be essential.

Duffy Looks to Balance Defense With Offensive Growth

Defense has been a defining characteristic of Virginia Tech under Head Coach Megan Duffy, but the next stage of the program’s development involves becoming more balanced offensively.

The Hokies have relied on toughness, pressure and defensive disruption to establish their identity. Duffy wants to preserve those strengths while adding more scoring versatility and improving the team’s ability to stretch opposing defenses.

With experienced guards such as Wenzel, Samyha Sufferen and Leila Wells returning, Virginia Tech has a foundation capable of pushing the pace and generating offense in transition.

The coaching staff also expects the new additions to provide greater athleticism and depth, particularly near the basket.

Duffy’s challenge will be bringing those different skill sets together while establishing clear roles and consistent offensive execution.

The roster turnover makes that process particularly important. Six players return from last season’s team, while seven newcomers have joined the program. Developing chemistry and communication will be critical as the Hokies prepare for the start of the season.

Still, Duffy expressed confidence in the group’s work ethic and commitment to improvement.

“This has probably been the most motivated group I’ve been around,” she said, praising the players’ willingness to spend time in the gym and commit to the process of becoming better.

A Team Built on Relentlessness

When asked to describe the team’s identity for the upcoming season, the three Hokies offered complementary answers.

Latham chose “dominance,” explaining that the team intends to compete with focus, confidence and a commitment to supporting one another.

Wenzel described the group as “relentless,” emphasizing its determination to learn from mistakes and continue improving from practice to practice and game to game.

Duffy’s word was “motivated,” reflecting her belief that the team has embraced the daily work necessary to achieve its ambitions.

Together, those descriptions outline the standard Virginia Tech hopes to establish throughout the season: an aggressive, connected team that can withstand adversity and continue developing as the schedule progresses.

The ACC presents a significant challenge, with experienced programs and talented rosters competing for conference positioning and NCAA Tournament opportunities. Duffy stressed that the Hokies must continue improving throughout the season rather than relying solely on their preseason potential.

Expectations Meet Opportunity

Virginia Tech enters the new campaign with a clear objective: build on last season’s NCAA Tournament appearance and establish itself as a more complete team.

Wenzel’s leadership, Latham’s versatility and Duffy’s emphasis on development provide the Hokies with a foundation to pursue that goal. The extent of their progress will depend on how quickly the returning players and newcomers establish chemistry, how effectively the offense develops and whether the team can maintain its defensive intensity.

The road through the ACC will demand consistency, resilience and execution. For Virginia Tech, the message from Charlotte was straightforward: the expectations are high, the work has begun, and the team believes it has the pieces to take another step forward.

As the season approaches, the Hokies will look to turn their motivation into results and make another meaningful push toward March.