Women’s Basketball: Inside Shea Ralph’s transfer portal class – The Vanderbilt Hustler

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It is officially that time of the year. A handful of familiar faces will take the court when Vanderbilt Women’s Basketball tips off its 2025-26 campaign at the Oui-Play Paris Invitational on Nov. 3. A squad led by the reigning United States Basketball Writers Association Freshman of the Year, Mikayla Blakes, experienced several key departures in the offseason, as All-American Honorable Mention Khamil Pierre transferred to NC State, and starting guard Iyana Moore transferred to Notre Dame. Additionally, starting guard Madison Greene suffered a season-ending injury in late August. Head coach Shea Ralph countered these losses by signing two veteran players from the NCAA Transfer Portal: 6’6 center Aalyah Del Rosario from LSU and 6’2 guard Ndjakalenga Mwenentanda from Texas. 
Del Rosario announced her commitment to Vanderbilt on April 21. A five-star recruit out of high school, she won back-to-back state championships at the Webb School in Bell Buckle, Tennessee, and earned McDonald’s All-American honors. In her first year in Death Valley, Del Rosario was one of just two players on the Tigers’ roster to appear in all 37 games. Playing a key depth role off the bench, Del Rosario averaged 11.2 minutes, 4.7 points and 3.5 rebounds per game en route to an All-SEC Freshman Team selection. Her ensuing sophomore season saw a significant decline in playing time and production, as the center averaged just 6.4 minutes, 2.0 points and 2.0 rebounds per game. 
No longer in the shadow of prolific post players like Angel Reese and Aneesah Morrow, Del Rosario is ready to make an immediate impact on a team that is hungry for another NCAA Tournament berth. The junior’s towering 6’6 frame will be pivotal to a squad that ranked No. 12 in the SEC in rebounding and No. 14 in blocks last season. With the departure of Pierre, Del Rosario seems poised to be a pick-and-roll machine alongside Blakes. The former five-star recruit’s back-to-back trips to the Elite Eight add much-needed NCAA Tournament experience to Ralph’s squad — expect Del Rosario to be a steadying presence and vocal leader in the locker room down the stretch of the season. 
Del Rosario’s ceiling is truly unknown due to her limited playing time at LSU. On Dec. 12, 2023, she exploded for a career-high 27 points and 10 rebounds against McNeese State. The SEC veteran has the tools needed to be a dominant force for the Black and Gold, and her talents will be on full display in the City of Love on Nov. 3. 
“Commodore Nation is going to love Aalyah Del Rosario,” Ralph said earlier this year. 
Mwenentanda, pronounced “Mwen-in-TAWN-duh,” announced her commitment to Vanderbilt on May 29. The 2022 Gatorade Player of the Year for South Dakota and McDonald’s All-American nominee had a decorated career before ever setting foot on a college court. 
At Washington High School, she scored over 1,000 points and led her team to a AA State Championship during her junior season. The Sioux Falls native took her talents to Texas, where she averaged 13.4 minutes, 4.6 points and 2.3 rebounds per game on 41.9% shooting over three seasons.  
Each season saw her improve her playing time and production. This culminated in a 2024-25 campaign in which she averaged a career-best 17.1 minutes, 5.6 points and 2.9 rebounds per game on 46.1% shooting. Additionally, Mwenentanda started 15 of 37 games and posted in double-figures eight times for Vic Schaefer’s SEC powerhouse. 
Last year, Mwenentanda started in 15 of the Longhorns’ final 18 games. She was especially lethal in the NCAA Tournament, scoring a career-high 19 points against Illinois in the second round and averaging 9.0 points on a highly efficient 59.3% field goal percentage across five games. If Vanderbilt hopes to make a deep postseason run, it will need Mwenentanda to deliver similar contributions. 
Mwenentanda’s unique size at the guard position brings defensive versatility to the Commodores’ backcourt. At 6’2, the graduate student can defend positions two through four at a high level, making a strong case for significant playing time and a major role in Ralph’s defensive scheme.  
“[Mwenentanda] is the perfect fit for the championship culture and program we are building,” Ralph said. “Ndjakalenga will bring veteran leadership, a winning mindset and an absolutely lethal skillset to our team. We can’t wait to welcome her to our family and get to work.” 
With two major offseason transfer portal acquisitions in Aalyah Del Rosario and Njadakalenga Mwenentanda, Vanderbilt Women’s Basketball will seek its first win of the 2025-26 season when it battles Cal on Nov. 3 at 1:30 p.m. CST. 
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