By Andrew Honaker, Arts, Culture and Sports reporter
Virginia Tech women’s basketball has already experienced the full arc of a season, an uneven start, a statement surge and now a defining stretch with postseason stakes looming.
At 19-7 overall and 9-5 in ACC play, the Hokies sit sixth in the conference standings with four regular season games remaining. After opening league play 1-3, they responded with seven consecutive wins before dropping two games. A win over Stanford on Thursday night steadied their momentum, keeping their ACC tournament positioning and NCAA tournament hopes very much in play.
The turnaround reshaped the narrative of their season.
“The trajectory is very high right now,” Virginia Tech play-by-play broadcaster Evan Hughes said. “For them to go from 1-3 to winning seven in a row and putting themselves right back in the NCAA tournament conversation, that’s impressive.”
With the ACC tournament approaching, Tech remains within reach of a top four finish and the coveted double bye that comes with it. Nationally, ESPN bracketologist Charlie Creme currently lists Virginia Tech among the “Last Four In” teams in his projected NCAA tournament field, a reminder that the margin between safely in and sweating on Selection Sunday is slim.
But this season has not been defined by projections. It has been defined by response.
After early losses to top tier ACC opponents, the Hokies were forced to reassess. Hughes said the shift was visible not just in results, but in approach.
“They had to look themselves in the mirror a little bit,” Hughes said. “And during that win streak, you saw them playing their best basketball of the Megan Duffy era.”
That stretch included a comeback victory over Clemson that Hughes believes encapsulates the team’s identity. Trailing by double digits late in the third quarter, Tech flipped the game in the fourth, closing on an 11-0 run.
“Good teams have to find ways to win in different kinds of ways,” Hughes said. “Sometimes you’re not playing your best and you’ve got to grind one out. That’s what they did.”
Defense has become the foundation of that grit.
Under second year coach Megan Duffy, the Hokies have prioritized forcing turnovers and converting defense into offense. During the seven-game win streak, Tech held six opponents to 68 points or fewer.
“If they can keep teams in the 50s or low 60s, that’s a recipe for success,” Hughes said. “That’s the identity.”
The defensive emphasis has also complemented a more balanced offensive structure compared to previous seasons. Rather than relying heavily on one or two primary scorers, Tech has distributed production across multiple contributors, including guard Carleigh Wenzel and forwards Carys Baker and Kilah Freelon.
“There’s a lot of different people who can score,” Hughes said. “It’s more spread out across the board.”
Baker sees that balance as part of the team’s steady growth through the grind of conference play.
“I think the team is playing well,” Baker said. “There is always room for improvement in conference play, as every team goes through different things throughout the season, but I am proud of how our team is growing every day.”
For Baker, the biggest area of development has been managing the length of the season itself.
“Basketball season is lengthy, so learning how to stay in a consistent flow throughout the long season,” she said.
That consistency will determine whether the Hokies climb into the top four of the ACC standings or remain in the middle of the pack heading into Greensboro. The difference is significant: a double bye provides both rest and a clearer path to the semifinals.
From courtside at Cassell Coliseum, public address announcer Tyler Painter has witnessed the program’s evolution over nearly a decade. When he began in 2016, crowds were modest. In recent seasons, especially during postseason runs, the arena has transformed.
“It’s increased so much,” Painter said of attendance and atmosphere. “Even on a weekend game, we’re getting four or five thousand people, which is awesome.”
Painter believes that growth in fan engagement parallels the team’s development.
“When the team’s performing well, the atmosphere is better,” he said. “You can see players feed off that energy.”
Hughes described Cassell as a tangible advantage.
“There’s just something about the magic of Cassell Coliseum,” he said. “It is the 12th man.”
That home court edge could prove critical down the stretch as Tech faces NCAA caliber opponents in its final four games. Sustaining defensive intensity and late game execution are a must for Virginia Tech during the end of this season.
“I think it’s continued scoring contributions, continuing to be aggressive on the glass and continuing to defend,” Hughes said. “You don’t win seven in a row without executing late.”
The recent two game skid serves as a reminder of how thin the margin is in the ACC. Nearly every opponent poses a resume shaping opportunity or risk.
Baker said the team’s focus remains internal rather than on standings projections.
“Keeping consistency and hard work going into the final stretch of the regular season,” she said. “We are hungry to keep improving and win games for Virginia Tech.”
The season’s arc, stumbling early, surging mid season and trying to finish the season strong, reflects a group still solidifying its identity under Duffy. It is a team that has proven capable of correcting course and building momentum.
Now, the next four games will determine whether that midseason run becomes a launching point or simply a highlight.
For a team once 1-3 in conference play and now squarely in the NCAA conversation, the opportunity remains in front of it. The Hokies have already shown they can respond.
The question is whether they can finish.
Editor’s note: The Hokies’ next game is February 15 at Cal. Tipoff is at 5pm on ACC Network Extra
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