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Where Vanderbilt women's basketball stands in preseason polls
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- Where Vanderbilt women's basketball stands in preseason polls
Vanderbilt women's basketball will start the 2026-27 season ranked No. 9 in the USA TODAY Coaches Poll.
The Commodores were one of the biggest surprises of the 2025-26 season, advancing to the Sweet 16 thanks to Mikayla Blakes , the SEC Player of the Year and national leading scorer, along with SEC Freshman of the Year Aubrey Galvan.
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Vanderbilt has Blakes and Galvan back and has added on 5-star recruit Olivia Jones, 4-star recruit Jhai Johnson and transfers Mia Woolfolk and Vernell Atamah.
Shea Ralph was also named National Coach of the Year by several organizations after the team's performance in the 2025-26 school year.
The Commodores finished 29-5 in 2025-26 and were tied for second in the SEC. They were picked in a tie for third in the USA TODAY Sports Network preseason poll while Blakes was named the SEC Preseason Player of the Year.
Vanderbilt coach Shea Ralph hugs forward Sacha Washington (35) after defeating Illinois in a second round NCAA college basketball tournament game at Memorial Gym in Nashville, Tenn., Monday, March 23, 2026.
(ANDREW NELLES / THE TENNESSEAN)
FORT WORTH, TEXAS - MARCH 27: Head coach Shea Ralph of the Vanderbilt Commodores reacts during the fourth quarter against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the Sweet Sixteen of the 2026 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament at Dickies Arena on March 27, 2026 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
(Elsa, Getty Images)
Vanderbilt coach Shea Ralph celebrates with forward Sacha Washington (35) at the end of the second half of a second round NCAA college basketball tournament game against Illinois at Memorial Gym in Nashville, Tenn., Monday, March 23, 2026.
(ANDREW NELLES / THE TENNESSEAN)
Vanderbilt coach Shea Ralph works with her team during the first half against High Point in the first round of the NCAA college basketball tournament at Memorial Gym in Nashville, Tenn., Saturday, March 21, 2026.
(ANDREW NELLES / THE TENNESSEAN)
Vanderbilt head coach Shea Ralph, right, and star Mikayla Blakes react on the sideline during a game against Furman Paladins November 10, 2025.
(Carly Mackler, Getty Images)
Vanderbilt Head Coach Shea Ralph is escorted to the locker room, during the fourth quarter SEC Women's Basketball Tournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, South Carolina Friday, March 6, 2026.
(Ken Ruinard / USA Today Co)
Vanderbilt Head Coach Shea Ralph gathers players for a huddle after being ejected from the game and before being escorted to the locker room, during the fourth quarter SEC Women's Basketball Tournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, South Carolina Friday, March 6, 2026.
(Ken Ruinard / USA Today Co)
Vanderbilt basketball coach Shea Ralph during the NCAA college basketball game against Tennessee on Mar. 1, 2026, in Knoxville, Tennessee.
(Saul Young/News Sentinel)
Vanderbilt basketball coach Shea Ralph talking with Vanderbilt guard Aubrey Galvan (3) during the NCAA college basketball game against Tennessee on Mar. 1, 2026, in Knoxville, Tennessee.
(Saul Young/News Sentinel)
Vanderbilt forward Sacha Washington (35) embraces coach Shea Ralph after being taken out of the game during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Alabama at Memorial Gymnasium Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026, in Nashville, Tenn. Vanderbilt won 85-60.
(MARK ZALESKI / THE TENNESSEAN)
Vanderbilt coach Shea Ralph and guard Aubrey Galvan (3) celebrate defeating Texas at Memorial Gymnasium in Nashville, Tenn., Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026.
(ANDREW NELLES / THE TENNESSEAN)
Vanderbilt coach Shea Ralph coach Shea Ralph gestures to her players during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Auburn at Memorial Gymnasium Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026, in Nashville, Tenn.
(MARK ZALESKI / THE TENNESSEAN)
Vanderbilt coach Shea Ralph prepares to embrace Vanderbilt University Athletics Director Candice Storey Lee after beating Louisiana State University at Memorial Gymnasium Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026.
(Denny Simmons / The Tennessean)
Vanderbilt coach Shea Ralph celebrates with fans after beating Louisiana State at Memorial Gymnasium Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026.
(Denny Simmons / The Tennessean)
Vanderbilt Coach, Shea Ralph, hugs Vanderbilt Commodores guard Mikayla Blakes (1) after the women’s basketball game between the Vanderbilt Commodores and Virginia Cavaliers at Vanderbilt's Memorial Gymnasium in Nashville on Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2025.
(NICOLE HESTER / THE TENNESSEAN)
Vanderbilt's head coach Shea Ralph looks on during the exhibition game between Vanderbilt and Memphis during the Hoops for St. Jude Tip Off Classic at FedExForum on October 27, 2025.
(Chris Day/The Commercial Appeal)
Mar 6, 2025; Greenville, SC, USA; Vanderbilt Commodores head coach Shea Ralph directs her team against the Tennessee Lady Vols during the first half at Bon Secours Wellness Arena. Mandatory Credit: Scott Kinser-Imagn Images
(Scott Kinser, Scott Kinser-Imagn Images)
Vanderbilt head coach Shea Ralph works with her team against the South Carolina during the second quarter at Memorial Gym in Nashville, Tenn., Sunday, Feb. 23, 2025.
(Andrew Nelles / The Tennessean)
Vanderbilt head coach Shea Ralph argues a foul call as she talks with an official during an NCAA college basketball game against Mississippi State Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025, in Nashville, Tenn.
(Mark Zaleski / The Tennessean)
Vanderbilt head coach Shea Ralph celebrates a play during the first quarter against Tennessee at Memorial Gym in Nashville, Tenn., Sunday, Jan. 19, 2025.
(Andrew Nelles / The Tennessean)
Vanderbilt head coach Shea Ralph works the sidelines during the first quarter against Tennessee at Memorial Gym in Nashville, Tenn., Sunday, Jan. 19, 2025.
(Andrew Nelles / The Tennessean)
Maysen Garrick spends time with her parents Vanderbilt women's basketball head coach Shea Ralph and associate head coach Tom Garrick after an NCAA college basketball game against Appalachian State Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn.
(Mark Zaleski / The Tennessean)
Vanderbilt head coach Shea Ralph encourages her players during a timeout against Appalachian State in an NCAA college basketball game Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn.
(Mark Zaleski / The Tennessean)
Vanderbilt coach Shea Ralph reacts during the win against Arizona at Acrisure Arena in Palm Desert, Calif., on Tuesday, November 26, 2024.
(Taya Gray/The Desert Sun)
Vanderbilt head coach Shea Ralph speaks during SEC Media Day at the Grand Bohemian Hotel in Mountain Brook Tuesday, Oct. 16, 2024.
(Gary Cosby Jr.-Tuscaloosa News)
Vanderbilt head coach Shea Ralph signals her players during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Tennessee Sunday, Feb.18, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn.
(Mark Zaleski / The Tennessean)
Vanderbilt Commodores head coach Shea Ralph works the sideline during their game against Ole Miss at Memorial Gym in Nashville, Tenn., Thursday, Feb. 1, 2024.
(Denny Simmons / The Tennessean)
Jan 28, 2024; Columbia, South Carolina, USA; Vanderbilt Commodores head coach Shea Ralph directs her team against the South Carolina Gamecocks in the first half at Colonial Life Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Blake-USA TODAY Sports
(Jeff Blake, Jeff Blake-USA TODAY Sports)
Vanderbilt Coach Shea Ralph during the first quarter of the SEC Women's Basketball Tournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, S.C. Wednesday, March 1, 2023.
(Ken Ruinard / staff)
Vanderbilt head coach Shea Ralph watches her team face LSU during the first quarter at Memorial Gym in Nashville, Tenn., Thursday, Feb. 23, 2023.
(Andrew Nelles / Tennessean.com)
Vanderbilt basketball coach Shea Ralph encouraging her players during the NCAA college basketball game against Tennessee on Sunday, February 12, 2023 in Knoxville, Tenn.
(Saul Young/News Sentinel)
Vanderbilt Commodores head coach Shea Ralph looks on during the first half against the Florida Gators at Billy Donovan Court at Exactech Arena in Gainesville, FL on Sunday, January 22, 2023. [Matt Pendleton/Gainesville Sun]
(Matt Pendleton, Matt Pendleton/Gainesville Sun)
Vanderbilt womens head coach Shea Ralph argues a call at halftime as they play against MTSU during the third round of the Women's National Invitation Tournament, on Thursday, March 24, 2022, at Murphy Center in Murfreesboro, Tenn.
(HELEN COMER/The Daily News Journal)
Vanderbilt basketball coach Shea Ralph celebrates with guard De'Mauri Flournoy (13) as they win the SEC Women's Basketball Tournament game against Texas A&M in Nashville, Tenn. on Wednesday, March 2, 2022.
(Saul Young/News Sentinel)
Vanderbilt head coach Shea Ralph agues a foul call with an official during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Florida at the womenÕs Southeastern Conference tournament, Thursday, March 3, 2022, in Nashville, Tenn. Florida won 53-52.
(Mark Zaleski/ For The Tennessean)
Vanderbilt forward Terren Frank (15) fouls Texas A&M guard Jordan Nixon (5) as Vanderbilt head coach Shea Ralph watches during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in the Southeastern Conference Tournament, Wednesday, March 2, 2022, in Nashville, Tenn.
(Mark Zaleski/ For The Tennessean)
Vanderbilt head coach Shea Ralph yells to her players as they face Missouri during the first quarter at Memorial Gym in Nashville, Tenn., Thursday, Jan. 20, 2022.
(Andrew Nelles / Tennessean.com)
Vandy head coach Shea Ralph on the sideline during the game against MTSU, on Monday, Nov. 15, 2021.
(HELEN COMER/The Daily News Journal)
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Shea Ralph, Vanderbilt women's basketball coach in sixth season with Commodores
Vanderbilt coach Shea Ralph hugs forward Sacha Washington (35) after defeating Illinois in a second round NCAA college basketball tournament game at Memorial Gym in Nashville, Tenn., Monday, March 23, 2026.
(ANDREW NELLES / THE TENNESSEAN)
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Shea Ralph, Vanderbilt women's basketball coach in sixth season with Commodores
Vanderbilt coach Shea Ralph hugs forward Sacha Washington (35) after defeating Illinois in a second round NCAA college basketball tournament game at Memorial Gym in Nashville, Tenn., Monday, March 23, 2026.
(ANDREW NELLES / THE TENNESSEAN)
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Shea Ralph, Vanderbilt women's basketball coach in sixth season with Commodores
FORT WORTH, TEXAS - MARCH 27: Head coach Shea Ralph of the Vanderbilt Commodores reacts during the fourth quarter against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the Sweet Sixteen of the 2026 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament at Dickies Arena on March 27, 2026 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
(Elsa, Getty Images)
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Shea Ralph, Vanderbilt women's basketball coach in sixth season with Commodores
Vanderbilt coach Shea Ralph celebrates with forward Sacha Washington (35) at the end of the second half of a second round NCAA college basketball tournament game against Illinois at Memorial Gym in Nashville, Tenn., Monday, March 23, 2026.
(ANDREW NELLES / THE TENNESSEAN)
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Shea Ralph, Vanderbilt women's basketball coach in sixth season with Commodores
Vanderbilt coach Shea Ralph works with her team during the first half against High Point in the first round of the NCAA college basketball tournament at Memorial Gym in Nashville, Tenn., Saturday, March 21, 2026.
(ANDREW NELLES / THE TENNESSEAN)
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Shea Ralph, Vanderbilt women's basketball coach in sixth season with Commodores
Vanderbilt head coach Shea Ralph, right, and star Mikayla Blakes react on the sideline during a game against Furman Paladins November 10, 2025.
(Carly Mackler, Getty Images)
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Shea Ralph, Vanderbilt women's basketball coach in sixth season with Commodores
Vanderbilt Head Coach Shea Ralph is escorted to the locker room, during the fourth quarter SEC Women's Basketball Tournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, South Carolina Friday, March 6, 2026.
(Ken Ruinard / USA Today Co)
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Shea Ralph, Vanderbilt women's basketball coach in sixth season with Commodores
Vanderbilt Head Coach Shea Ralph gathers players for a huddle after being ejected from the game and before being escorted to the locker room, during the fourth quarter SEC Women's Basketball Tournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, South Carolina Friday, March 6, 2026.
(Ken Ruinard / USA Today Co)
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Shea Ralph, Vanderbilt women's basketball coach in sixth season with Commodores
Vanderbilt basketball coach Shea Ralph during the NCAA college basketball game against Tennessee on Mar. 1, 2026, in Knoxville, Tennessee.
(Saul Young/News Sentinel)
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Shea Ralph, Vanderbilt women's basketball coach in sixth season with Commodores
Vanderbilt basketball coach Shea Ralph talking with Vanderbilt guard Aubrey Galvan (3) during the NCAA college basketball game against Tennessee on Mar. 1, 2026, in Knoxville, Tennessee.
(Saul Young/News Sentinel)
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Shea Ralph, Vanderbilt women's basketball coach in sixth season with Commodores
Vanderbilt forward Sacha Washington (35) embraces coach Shea Ralph after being taken out of the game during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Alabama at Memorial Gymnasium Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026, in Nashville, Tenn. Vanderbilt won 85-60.
(MARK ZALESKI / THE TENNESSEAN)
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Shea Ralph, Vanderbilt women's basketball coach in sixth season with Commodores
Vanderbilt coach Shea Ralph and guard Aubrey Galvan (3) celebrate defeating Texas at Memorial Gymnasium in Nashville, Tenn., Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026.
(ANDREW NELLES / THE TENNESSEAN)
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Shea Ralph, Vanderbilt women's basketball coach in sixth season with Commodores
Vanderbilt coach Shea Ralph coach Shea Ralph gestures to her players during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Auburn at Memorial Gymnasium Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026, in Nashville, Tenn.
(MARK ZALESKI / THE TENNESSEAN)
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Shea Ralph, Vanderbilt women's basketball coach in sixth season with Commodores
Vanderbilt coach Shea Ralph prepares to embrace Vanderbilt University Athletics Director Candice Storey Lee after beating Louisiana State University at Memorial Gymnasium Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026.
(Denny Simmons / The Tennessean)
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Shea Ralph, Vanderbilt women's basketball coach in sixth season with Commodores
Vanderbilt coach Shea Ralph celebrates with fans after beating Louisiana State at Memorial Gymnasium Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026.
(Denny Simmons / The Tennessean)
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Shea Ralph, Vanderbilt women's basketball coach in sixth season with Commodores
Vanderbilt Coach, Shea Ralph, hugs Vanderbilt Commodores guard Mikayla Blakes (1) after the women’s basketball game between the Vanderbilt Commodores and Virginia Cavaliers at Vanderbilt's Memorial Gymnasium in Nashville on Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2025.
(NICOLE HESTER / THE TENNESSEAN)
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Shea Ralph, Vanderbilt women's basketball coach in sixth season with Commodores
Vanderbilt's head coach Shea Ralph looks on during the exhibition game between Vanderbilt and Memphis during the Hoops for St. Jude Tip Off Classic at FedExForum on October 27, 2025.
(Chris Day/The Commercial Appeal)
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Shea Ralph, Vanderbilt women's basketball coach in sixth season with Commodores
Mar 6, 2025; Greenville, SC, USA; Vanderbilt Commodores head coach Shea Ralph directs her team against the Tennessee Lady Vols during the first half at Bon Secours Wellness Arena. Mandatory Credit: Scott Kinser-Imagn Images
(Scott Kinser, Scott Kinser-Imagn Images)
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Shea Ralph, Vanderbilt women's basketball coach in sixth season with Commodores
Vanderbilt head coach Shea Ralph works with her team against the South Carolina during the second quarter at Memorial Gym in Nashville, Tenn., Sunday, Feb. 23, 2025.
(Andrew Nelles / The Tennessean)
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Shea Ralph, Vanderbilt women's basketball coach in sixth season with Commodores
Vanderbilt head coach Shea Ralph argues a foul call as she talks with an official during an NCAA college basketball game against Mississippi State Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025, in Nashville, Tenn.
(Mark Zaleski / The Tennessean)
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Shea Ralph, Vanderbilt women's basketball coach in sixth season with Commodores
Vanderbilt head coach Shea Ralph celebrates a play during the first quarter against Tennessee at Memorial Gym in Nashville, Tenn., Sunday, Jan. 19, 2025.
(Andrew Nelles / The Tennessean)
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Shea Ralph, Vanderbilt women's basketball coach in sixth season with Commodores
Vanderbilt head coach Shea Ralph works the sidelines during the first quarter against Tennessee at Memorial Gym in Nashville, Tenn., Sunday, Jan. 19, 2025.
(Andrew Nelles / The Tennessean)
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Shea Ralph, Vanderbilt women's basketball coach in sixth season with Commodores
Maysen Garrick spends time with her parents Vanderbilt women's basketball head coach Shea Ralph and associate head coach Tom Garrick after an NCAA college basketball game against Appalachian State Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn.
(Mark Zaleski / The Tennessean)
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Shea Ralph, Vanderbilt women's basketball coach in sixth season with Commodores
Vanderbilt head coach Shea Ralph encourages her players during a timeout against Appalachian State in an NCAA college basketball game Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn.
(Mark Zaleski / The Tennessean)
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Shea Ralph, Vanderbilt women's basketball coach in sixth season with Commodores
Vanderbilt coach Shea Ralph reacts during the win against Arizona at Acrisure Arena in Palm Desert, Calif., on Tuesday, November 26, 2024.
(Taya Gray/The Desert Sun)
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Shea Ralph, Vanderbilt women's basketball coach in sixth season with Commodores
Vanderbilt head coach Shea Ralph speaks during SEC Media Day at the Grand Bohemian Hotel in Mountain Brook Tuesday, Oct. 16, 2024.
(Gary Cosby Jr.-Tuscaloosa News)
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Shea Ralph, Vanderbilt women's basketball coach in sixth season with Commodores
Vanderbilt head coach Shea Ralph signals her players during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Tennessee Sunday, Feb.18, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn.
(Mark Zaleski / The Tennessean)
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Shea Ralph, Vanderbilt women's basketball coach in sixth season with Commodores
Vanderbilt Commodores head coach Shea Ralph works the sideline during their game against Ole Miss at Memorial Gym in Nashville, Tenn., Thursday, Feb. 1, 2024.
(Denny Simmons / The Tennessean)
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Shea Ralph, Vanderbilt women's basketball coach in sixth season with Commodores
Jan 28, 2024; Columbia, South Carolina, USA; Vanderbilt Commodores head coach Shea Ralph directs her team against the South Carolina Gamecocks in the first half at Colonial Life Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Blake-USA TODAY Sports
(Jeff Blake, Jeff Blake-USA TODAY Sports)
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Shea Ralph, Vanderbilt women's basketball coach in sixth season with Commodores
Vanderbilt Coach Shea Ralph during the first quarter of the SEC Women's Basketball Tournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, S.C. Wednesday, March 1, 2023.
(Ken Ruinard / staff)
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Shea Ralph, Vanderbilt women's basketball coach in sixth season with Commodores
Vanderbilt head coach Shea Ralph watches her team face LSU during the first quarter at Memorial Gym in Nashville, Tenn., Thursday, Feb. 23, 2023.
(Andrew Nelles / Tennessean.com)
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Shea Ralph, Vanderbilt women's basketball coach in sixth season with Commodores
Vanderbilt basketball coach Shea Ralph encouraging her players during the NCAA college basketball game against Tennessee on Sunday, February 12, 2023 in Knoxville, Tenn.
(Saul Young/News Sentinel)
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Shea Ralph, Vanderbilt women's basketball coach in sixth season with Commodores
Vanderbilt Commodores head coach Shea Ralph looks on during the first half against the Florida Gators at Billy Donovan Court at Exactech Arena in Gainesville, FL on Sunday, January 22, 2023. [Matt Pendleton/Gainesville Sun]
(Matt Pendleton, Matt Pendleton/Gainesville Sun)
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Shea Ralph, Vanderbilt women's basketball coach in sixth season with Commodores
Vanderbilt womens head coach Shea Ralph argues a call at halftime as they play against MTSU during the third round of the Women's National Invitation Tournament, on Thursday, March 24, 2022, at Murphy Center in Murfreesboro, Tenn.
(HELEN COMER/The Daily News Journal)
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Shea Ralph, Vanderbilt women's basketball coach in sixth season with Commodores
Vanderbilt basketball coach Shea Ralph celebrates with guard De'Mauri Flournoy (13) as they win the SEC Women's Basketball Tournament game against Texas A&M in Nashville, Tenn. on Wednesday, March 2, 2022.
(Saul Young/News Sentinel)
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Shea Ralph, Vanderbilt women's basketball coach in sixth season with Commodores
Vanderbilt head coach Shea Ralph agues a foul call with an official during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Florida at the womenÕs Southeastern Conference tournament, Thursday, March 3, 2022, in Nashville, Tenn. Florida won 53-52.
(Mark Zaleski/ For The Tennessean)
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Shea Ralph, Vanderbilt women's basketball coach in sixth season with Commodores
Vanderbilt forward Terren Frank (15) fouls Texas A&M guard Jordan Nixon (5) as Vanderbilt head coach Shea Ralph watches during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in the Southeastern Conference Tournament, Wednesday, March 2, 2022, in Nashville, Tenn.
(Mark Zaleski/ For The Tennessean)
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Shea Ralph, Vanderbilt women's basketball coach in sixth season with Commodores
Vanderbilt head coach Shea Ralph yells to her players as they face Missouri during the first quarter at Memorial Gym in Nashville, Tenn., Thursday, Jan. 20, 2022.
(Andrew Nelles / Tennessean.com)
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Shea Ralph, Vanderbilt women's basketball coach in sixth season with Commodores
Vandy head coach Shea Ralph on the sideline during the game against MTSU, on Monday, Nov. 15, 2021.
(HELEN COMER/The Daily News Journal)
Vanderbilt women's basketball in preseason polls 2026-27
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South Carolina
-
UConn
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Southern Cal
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Duke
-
Michigan
-
Texas
-
Louisville
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LSU
-
Vanderbilt
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Iowa
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North Carolina
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UCLA
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Notre Dame
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Kentucky
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Washington
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TCU
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Maryland
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Minnesota
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Oklahoma State
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Ohio State
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Oklahoma
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Illinois
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Ole Miss
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West Virginia
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NC State
Aria Gerson covers Vanderbilt athletics for The Tennessean. Contact her at agerson@gannett.com or on X @aria_gerson .
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This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Where Vanderbilt women's basketball stands in preseason polls
