Virginia Tech women’s basketball has surged in momentum this June, delivering a scorching recruiting heater and a ground‑breaking hire that together signal real ambition for the 2025–26 season. Here’s a deep dive into the latest:
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🔥 Recruiting Heater: Class of 2026 Arrives with a Bang
Coach Megan Duffy wasted no time adding talent to her roster, securing two impressive commitments in a matter of days .
Four-star guard Kaleo Anderson (Class of 2026, Washington state), committed late Friday night, brings quickness, shooting, and depth to Tech’s backcourt .
Arianna Harris‑Mott, a 6′ 4″ forward/center from Maryland, committed Sunday, boosting inside defense and shot-blocking—a direct response to replacing graduating bigs like Rose Micheaux .
Analysts describe these early pledges as a strong sign that the Class of 2026 is already “coming together nicely,” with Anderson adding perimeter firepower and Harris‑Mott providing much-needed post presence .
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👥 Ground‑Breaking Hire: New Staff, New Vision
Alongside the recruitments, Duffy has continued to build a forward-thinking support system:
Darren Guensch joins as an assistant coach. With experience at Missouri State, George Mason, VCU, Richmond — and deep Virginia roots — he’s expected to sharpen player development and regional recruiting .
Stephen Fishler becomes Virginia Tech’s first-ever Women’s Basketball General Manager. Tasked with overseeing NIL deals, budgets, and roster construction, Fishler comes from Rutgers’ athletics administration — a ground-breaking move in professionalizing the program .
This dual hire reflects a strategic shift: one that balances on-court coaching expertise with business-side acumen. It’s clear Tech is positioning its women’s program to compete at both athletic and administrative levels.
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🏀 Season Outlook: Fresh Talent & Elevated Ops
The recruiting and staffing efforts highlight Duffy’s intent to build a sustainable championship contender. With Anderson’s range and Harris-Mott’s interior strength onboard, the 2026 pipeline is shaping into a well-rounded class that echoes the versatility of 2025’s signees (Trent, Jenkins, Sears) .
Meanwhile, Guensch is expected to enhance coaching cohesion, while Fishler’s role signals deeper investment in revenue, recruiting infrastructure, and NIL compliance — a model increasingly vital in today’s NCAA landscape .
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In Summary
Megan Duffy’s Virginia Tech program lit the fuse this June with a two-pronged approach:
Area Moves Made
Recruiting Secured Anderson & Harris‑Mott for Class 2026
Staff Expansion Hires of Guensch (coach) & Fishler (GM)
It’s a bold blueprint: load up with high-potential recruits and back them with professional infrastructure — a sure sign that Tech doesn’t intend to just rebuild; they’re building to last.
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