Vanderbilt welcomes Ava Black, Aubrey Galvan, and Monique Williams as the first three members of its 2025 signing class
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Vanderbilt women’s basketball head coach Shea Ralph announced the additions of Ava Black, Aubrey Galvan, and Monique Williams on the first day of the early national signing period.
Black, Galvan, and Williams become the first three members of Vanderbilt’s 2025 signing class. The trio comes to the Music City with impressive prep resumes, as each incoming Dore ranks among their nation’s best prospects in the Class of 2025, according to multiple publications.
Ava Black | 5-11 | G | Auburn, N.H. | Tabor Academy (Marion, Mass.)
Black comes to Vanderbilt from Tabor Academy in Marion, Massachusetts. The guard is ranked as one of New England’s top prospects, as she was a New England Preparatory School Athletic Council (NEPSAC) All-Class AA selection as a sophomore but missed her junior campaign due to an injury. As a freshman, she helped Tabor Academy to the NEPSAC Class AA championship.
According to PrepGirlsHoops, the Auburn, New Hampshire native displays an ability to shoot from long range and can finish with either hand at the rim. The publication also noted that Black embraces the challenge of guarding the other team’s best player, as she has displayed elite defensive prowess throughout her prep career.
Black is set to return to the court this season for Tabor Academy. Recently, the guard was named to the preseason NEPSAC All-Class AAA team, as she is expected to lead Tabor to another NEPSAC title. She played club ball for the Bay State Jaguars.
Head Coach Shea Ralph on Ava Black
“Ava is a visionary, and she has believed in the resurgence of our program for quite some time. She is smart and tough and can play multiple positions on the floor. Her acumen on the defensive end stands out, and she is eager to contribute to our pressure and intensity on that side of the ball right away. She will add depth and competitiveness at the guard spot, and we are so excited to welcome her and her family to Commodore Nation!”
Welcome home, @Ava_Jaye_Black! 🤠🎸🏀#AnchorDown pic.twitter.com/XZ6dCq2R1l
— Vanderbilt WBB (@VandyWBB) November 13, 2024
Aubrey Galvan | 5-6 | G | Deerfield, Ill. | Wilmette Loyola Academy
Galvan travels to Nashville as the top-ranked point guard in Illinois, according to multiple publications. The guard has enjoyed a spectacular prep career, in which she has scored over 1,300 points over the last three seasons.
As a junior, Galvan guided Wilmette Loyola Academy to an undefeated 38-0 campaign and an IBCA Class 4A state title. In her first season with the Ramblers, Galvan averaged 16 points, 3.4 assists, 3.3 rebounds, and 3.3 steals per game last season. She was named an IBCA All-State first team selection and was a finalist for the 2023-24 Illinois Ms. Basketball award. She spent the first two years of her prep career at Deerfield High School, where she guided them to the IBCA Class 3A state semifinals as a sophomore.
Galvan is a two-time adidas All-American and is a four-star recruit according to Prospect Nation, where she was also named to the site’s Elite 150 for the Class of 2025.
The guard played her club ball with Full Package out of the Chicago area, the same program the developed Olympians Jewell Lloyd and Cassandre Proper. Galvan works out with Lloyd over the summers and considers the six-time WNBA All-Star a mentor.
Head Coach Shea Ralph on Aubrey Galvan
“Aubrey is competitive, fearless, and worth the price of admission. From our first conversation, I could tell she played with a chip on her shoulder and is eager to compete at the highest level of our game. She is an electric guard with exceptional court vision and passing skills but can also fill up the scoreboard at any given moment. We are thrilled to welcome Aubrey and her family to Vanderbilt. I know our fans will want to pack Memorial to see her exciting style of play.”
Welcome home, @aubtheballer1! 🤠🎸🏀#AnchorDown pic.twitter.com/idUj1izBmV
— Vanderbilt WBB (@VandyWBB) November 13, 2024
Monique Williams | 6-3 | F | Perth, Australia | Willeton Senior High School
Williams comes to the United States from Perth, Australia, where she has been a member of the Australian Women’s National Team. The 6-3 forward recently helped her home country claim the gold medal at the FIBA U18 Women’s Asia Cup.
At the FIBA U18 Women’s Asia Cup, Williams averaged 7.0 points and pulled down 4.0 rebounds in five games. She scored a tournament-high 12 points against China in the championship game, as she went 5-of-7 from the field. The forward nearly had a double-double in the semifinal win over Japan, as she pulled down nine rebounds to go along with eight points.
She has also played in eight games in the Basketball Australia Centre of Excellence (CoE). Williams is averaging 3.5 points in 12.1 minutes per game for the NBL1 East squad.
Head Coach Shea Ralph on Monique Williams
“Monique is ready to burst onto the scene in the SEC, and we are so excited that she is coming all the way from Perth to join our Vanderbilt family. She has honed her skills among the elite in Australia, and we are eager to add her versatility, IQ, and high-level international experience to our program in just a few weeks. She will gain valuable practice experience when she joins us as a redshirt for the conference season, and we are so glad to welcome her to Nashville.”
Welcome home, Monique! 🤠🎸🏀#AnchorDown pic.twitter.com/0gZrhSHZfL
— Vanderbilt WBB (@VandyWBB) November 13, 2024
The Vanderbilt women’s basketball team is set to play in its first road game of the 2024-25 season this Thursday as the Commodores take on South Florida in Tampa, Florida. Tipoff from the Yuengling Center is set for 6 p.m. CT and will stream live on ESPN+.
For more information and exclusive content on the Vanderbilt women’s basketball team, follow @VandyWBB on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter/X.
