Valdosta State Women’s Basketball Opens season with a 2-Game Homestand

By Dionte Daniel, Assistant Sports Editor VSU’s women’s basketball team opens the 2026-27 season at home this weekend, returning an All-Gulf South Conference standout and welcoming several Division I transfers and freshmen expected to make an immediate impact. The Lady Blazers will host Eckerd College on Friday at 6 p.m. and Palm Beach Atlantic on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. at The Complex in the South Region Crossover. VSU will begin its third season under head coach Chandler Merkerson. The Lady Blazers finished 16-13 overall and 13-9 in Gulf South Conference play last year. The Lady Blazers were predicted to finish sixth this season in the GSC coaches’ preseason poll. They have several veterans who can help them climb the conference standings. Senior forward Erin Whalen will be one to watch this season. She returns after earning first-team All-GSC honors last year. Whalen finished last season averaging 14 points and 8.6 rebounds per game, recording 11 double-doubles.

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