On Monday, Virginia Tech women's basketball coach Megan Duffy, along with Carleigh Wenzel and Carys Baker, met with the media in Charlotte at the annual ACC Tip-Off. After a first year that saw the Hokies go 19-13 and end up as the first team out of the NCAA Tournament field under Duffy, big things are expected now that Duffy and her staff have had a full offseason in Blacksburg.
Roster turnover with players was leaving and coming in. The biggest loss to the portal was Lani White, who transferred to play closer to home. Duffy brought in some experienced players through the portal, and ones that could make a big impact in 2025-26.
Wenzel and Baker both took the stage with Duffy in Charlotte, and the veteran guard was asked which is one player fans don't know about, but that everyone will be talking about come ACC play.
Carleigh Wenzel and Carys Baker reveal two players that everyone will be talking about when ACC play begins
Wenzel and Baker both answered the question and named two different players. Baker named Texas Tech transfer Kilah Freelon, and Wenzel mentioned Northwestern transfer Mel Daley.
"Yes, Kilah (Freelon), but I would throw another person in since I can,'' said Wenzel after Baker said Freelon. "I think Mel Daley, I think just a vet. She knows how things should go, and I think her pull-up game is absolutely ridiculous. Very hard to guard. But just her length also on the defensive end. I think she can be really disruptive and just her athleticism, getting out and running, things like that, things that we need and that she's really good at."
Daley averaged 11.7 points and shot 47% from the field last year at Northwestern. She had 16 double-figure games and four times eclipsed the 20-point plateau. If there was one that the Hokies needed through the portal, it was a scoring guard.
As for Freelon, Duffy, and the Hokies' staff got an up close look at her last season in the WBIT when the Red Raiders came to Blacksburg and had seven points, six rebounds, two steals, a block, and an assist in 29 minutes in a win. She will be another nice addition to the roster.
Duffy has a deeper roster than she had last year and that should pay dividends this year with depth.