Vanderbilt is locking down its head coach, extending Shea Ralph’s contract after she led the Commodores to last month’s historic Sweet 16 finish.
Coming off the most successful season in program history, Ralph oversaw a Vanderbilt squad that went 29-5 in the regular season — including 13 wins in the stacked SEC.
“When I arrived in Nashville, I said it felt like it was only the beginning of something incredible,” Ralph said. “And as much growth as we’ve had, the best part of being at Vanderbilt is I still feel that way every day.”
“Vanderbilt is built on bringing together the best people and brightest minds, and Shea Ralph exemplifies both,” Vanderbilt athletic director Candice Storey Lee said. “Her well-deserved recognition only reinforces what we see every day—she makes teams better, empowers women and brings people together.”
Ralph swept this year’s coaching awards, winning both AP and Naismith Coach of the Year after taking Vanderbilt to the NCAA tournament in three of her five years at the helm — ending the team’s 10-year drought.
“Shea Ralph exemplifies our commitment across the university to attract the most talented people who fit our culture and put them in an environment where they can succeed,” said Vanderbilt chancellor Daniel Diermeier.
“By forging a collaborative culture dedicated to growth on and off the court, Shea has helped our student-athletes realize the full heights of their potential, galvanized our One Vanderbilt community and demonstrated to a national audience what is possible here. I look forward to seeing her lead our program forward.”
UConn's Sarah Strong cleaned up this week, winning both Naismith National Player of the Year and AP National Player of the Year in a 2026 sweep.
Strong leads the undefeated Huskies in average points (18.6), rebounds (7.6), steals (3.4), and blocks (1.6) per game while returning to the Final Four for the second time in her young college career. She received 25 of 31 votes from the national media panel for the AP award.
An efficient player, Strong shot 59.4% from the field, 40.4% from 3-point range, and 84.8% from the free throw line while averaging 27 minutes per game. Strong's 127 steals rank second in UConn history for most in a single season.
"Anybody that's watched us play would probably tell you that she's the heart and soul of our team," UConn coach Geno Auriemma said of Strong. "She elevates the play of everyone on our team."
Strong is the eighth Husky to win the Naismith Trophy. She joins Rebecca Lobo, Sue Bird, Diana Taurasi, Maya Moore, Tina Charles, Breanna Stewart ,and Paige Bueckers.
Notre Dame's Hannah Hidalgo Wins Defensive Player of the Year
Notre Dame's 5-foot-6 Hannah Hidalgo broke the mold, becoming the first guard since 2020 to win Naismith Defensive Player of the Year — as well as its shortest-ever recipient.
Hidalgo led the nation with 5.6 steals per game, becoming the first player in women's college basketball history to reach 200+ steals in a single season with 202. She subsequently set an NCAA Tournament record with 29 steals.
Vanderbilt head coach Shea Ralph took home 2026 Naismith Coach of the Year. She led the Commodores to a 29-5 overall and 13-3 SEC record, tying their program-best conference tally.
Once-unbeaten No. 5 Vanderbilt is charging ahead, getting an extra day to recover from their blowout loss to No. 3 South Carolina after winter weather pushed Thursday night's ranked clash with No. 17 Ole Miss to Friday.
"This is why you want to play games like this, on the road in an incredible environment," Vanderbilt head coach Shea Ralph said after Sunday's streak-ending defeat. "There are all kinds of things that we can't control that are happening right now, but the most important part to me is how we respond to it, and that's what we're going to focus on."
As for the Rebels, Ole Miss is fresh off a bounce-back victory of their own, beating unranked Missouri 82-61 last week behind forward Cotie McMahon's 33 points.
In light of the winter storm sweeping the South, the now-Friday afternoon game will take place at Legacy Arena in Birmingham, Alabama.
"Disappointed that we lost a home game BUT grateful that we get to play," Ole Miss head coach Yolette McPhee-McCuin posted to social media on Tuesday, thanking administrators after the storm forced the Rebels to also postpone Monday's matchup against No. 15 Tennessee indefinitely. "Alabama Rebs we could use your support!"
The SEC foes last met in February 2025, with Ole Miss topping Vanderbilt 76-61 — though the Commodores' hot start could flip that script this year.
How to watch Vanderbilt vs. Ole Miss this week
The No. 5 Commodores will tip off against No. 17 Ole Miss at 3 PM ET on Friday, airing live on SECN+.
No. 2 South Carolina shut down No. 5 Vanderbilt in Sunday's top-tier NCAA basketball clash, ending the Commodores' undefeated 2025/26 season by handing the Nashville visitors a 103-74 defeat.
Senior guard Ta'Niya Latson led South Carolina with 21 points, as five Gamecocks finished in the double-digits to offset Vanderbilt star sophomore Mikayla Blakes's 23-point night.
"I'm really impressed that we played connected basketball on both ends," South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley said following the bounce-back win. "I'm happy we responded to our [Thursday] loss."
The results could significantly impact the SEC standings, where No. 17 Tennessee currently sits in the lead — though six ranked conference opponents, including South Carolina, stand between the Vols and their regular-season finale vs. Vanderbilt.
"We didn't operate the way I know my team can operate," said Vanderbilt head coach Shea Ralph. "It doesn't get any easier.... This is the SEC."
"There just wasn't an answer today," Ralph continued. "There's a lot we can take from it, but it also doesn't negate the fact that we've been really good up to this point."
How to watch Vanderbilt, South Carolina in action this week
Both teams return to the NCAA court on Thursday, when the No. 5 Commodores will seek redemption against No. 18 Ole Miss at 7:30 PM ET before the No. 2 Gamecocks battle unranked Auburn at 9 PM ET.
Both matchups will air live on the SEC Network.
One of the two remaining undefeated Division I basketball teams could steal the SEC spotlight on Sunday, when No. 5 Vanderbilt takes on a No. 2 South Carolina team reeling from Thursday night's loss — just the second of the Gamecocks' 2025/26 NCAA season.
South Carolina fell 94-82 in overtime to No. 16 Oklahoma, with freshman guard Aaliyah Chavez putting up a game-leading 26 points to fuel the Sooners' upset victory.
"We ran into a team that actually wanted to win more, and they made winning plays, and we didn't," Gamecocks head coach Dawn Staley said afterwards.
South Carolina won't have much time to reflect, however, as they prepare to take on a surging Vanderbilt with more than just strong conference records on the line.
Sophomore Mikayla Blakes leads the Commodores with 25.0 points per game, with the standout guard sitting second-overall in DI scoring as Vanderbilt continues their best start in team history.
"I'm having to remind myself that this makes us 20-0 and that's a great thing, right?" Vanderbilt head coach Shea Ralph said after her squad's 81-53 win over Auburn on Thursday. "The other thing is that I like being in this place where I'm pissed off after a win because we didn't play well today, especially in the first half. I like it because it says that I know how good this team can be."
How to watch Vanderbilt vs. South Carolina this weekend
Barring any additional meteorological disruptions this weekend, the No. 2 Gamecocks will host the unbeaten No. 5 Commodores at 3 PM ET on Sunday, with live coverage airing on ESPN.