BREAKING: Vanderbilt Women’s Basketball head coach Shea Ralph signs extension – The Vanderbilt Hustler

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Vanderbilt Women’s Basketball head coach Shea Ralph has officially agreed to a contract extension with the university, the administration announced April 22. The rising sixth-year head coach was named the AP, Naismith, USBWA and WBCA Coach of the Year in 2025, as she led the Commodores to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament for the first time since the 2008-09 season.
Signed, Sealed, & Delivered ✍️
Don’t miss out on a moment of Year 6 with Coach Ralph & The Commodores. Get your season tickets today!
🎟️ https://t.co/5bG06PWwck pic.twitter.com/mbZyNRHf9A
— Vanderbilt WBB (@VandyWBB) April 22, 2026

In her five seasons, Ralph has continued to sustain excellence, bringing the program back to the upper echelon of women’s college basketball. Vanderbilt set a program-record 17 SEC wins this season and never lost a single home game — a first in program history. She’s brought the energy back to Memorial Gymnasium, too, as average attendance this past season was up nearly 100 percent over the last full season before Ralph arrived.
Ralph has continued to receive support from the highest levels of the university, including from Chancellor Daniel Diermeier.
“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,” Diermeier said. “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.”
Ralph not only has brought the program to new heights, but she has consistently developed players to a high level. Sophomore guard Mikayla Blakes was a consensus All-American this season and became the first Vanderbilt player since 2002 to win SEC Player of the Year. First-year Aubrey Galvan also won SEC Freshman of the Year, while Justine Pissott was recently selected in the WNBA Draft by the Indiana Fever.
Ralph expressed her gratitude for the support from the university and the administration’s eagerness to invest in women’s sports.
“I’d like to thank Chancellor Diermeier and Dr. Lee for their unwavering support over the past five years, not just for me but for our coaches, staff and student-athletes,” Ralph said. “When I arrived in Nashville, I said it felt like it was only the beginning of something incredible. And as much growth as we’ve had, the best part of being at Vanderbilt is I still feel that way every day. Thanks to people who bought in and wanted to be part of building something to last, our best is still to come. Thanks to their trust, integrity and passion, we have the opportunity to compete for championships. And with an administration and supporters eager to invest in women, I’m excited about the opportunity ahead of us.”
Ralph is currently in the midst of building her 2026-27 roster, as she lost several players due to eligibility reasons and the NCAA Transfer Portal. She’s already earned a commitment from Georgia transfer Mia Woolfolk, who will likely fight for a starting spot next season.
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