NORFOLK, Va. — The Norfolk State women's basketball team opens the 2026-27 season with two games in three days. The Spartans host Virginia State on Monday, Nov. 2, and the University of the District of Columbia on Wednesday, Nov. 4. Both games tip off at 5:30 p.m. inside Joseph G. Echols Memorial Hall, opening a four-game homestand to start the season.
HOW TO FOLLOW
Both games can be heard live on Hot 91.1, and live stats are available at NSUSpartans.com.
SEASON OUTLOOK
Norfolk State was picked second in the MEAC preseason poll with 76 points, after going 18-15 overall and 11-3 in league play last season. This week's games open a schedule that includes 31 regular-season games, 17 dates at Echols Hall, six Power Four opponents and 14 MEAC matchups.
A NEW-LOOK ROSTER
Head coach Jermaine Woods brings back three players from last season's roster. Seniors Cire Worley and Niyah Gaston and junior LeAire Nicks scored 519 of the team's 2,093 points a year ago (24.8%). They also return 28.3% of last season's minutes and 53 of 165 starts.
Worley started 32 of 33 games. She averaged 7.4 points and 4.8 rebounds, made 37 3-pointers and shot 77.9% from the free-throw line, and she raised her scoring to 9.0 points per game in MEAC play. Nicks made 21 starts and led the team at 46.2% from the field. In conference play she averaged 7.4 points and 5.3 rebounds while shooting 50%. Gaston came off the bench for 3.4 points per game. She shot 35.8% from three overall and 46.5% (20-of-43) in MEAC games.
The Spartans welcome 11 newcomers, including seven transfers: Sana'a Garrett (Hofstra), Brooklyn Taylor (Sacramento State), Clemisha Prackett (Indiana State), Ja'Cia Cunningham (Presbyterian), Alexis Davis (Monmouth), LaChelle Moreland-Jones (Lawrence Tech) and Niylia Wilkins (Northwest Florida State). The freshman class features Asia Keels (Chesapeake, Va./IMG Academy), Elise McClain (Huntsville, Ala./Bob Jones HS), Jizelle James (Virginia Beach, Va./Princess Anne HS) and Dahni Suggs (Baltimore, Md./Saint Frances Academy).
MONDAY: VIRGINIA STATE
Norfolk State leads the all-time series with Virginia State 36-18. The Spartans have won nine straight in the series, a streak dating back to the 1994-95 season, and are 16-9 at home against the Trojans. The programs first met in 1974-75, when NSU won 85-62 at home.
The most recent meeting came last season, a 77-53 Spartan win at Echols Hall on Nov. 9, 2025. Norfolk State forced 29 turnovers and recorded 17 steals in that game. The Spartans also held Virginia State to three assists.
Virginia State, a Division II program in the CIAA, went 17-9 overall and 11-5 in conference play last season. Head coach Millette Green returns five players who scored 877 of the team's 1,645 points (53.3%).
Kendahl Spearman, a senior guard, is the top returner. She led the Trojans at 13.5 points per game and averaged 15.2 points in CIAA play, with a season-high 29 points against Bowie State. Senior forward Michaela Lane averaged 7.0 points and a team-high 6.6 rebounds and blocked 51 shots. Junior Tamia Darden averaged 7.4 points while shooting 51.9% from the field, and sophomore guard Shayla Wyatt started 24 games and led the team with 48 steals.
Several Trojans have Hampton Roads ties. Junior guard Jada Clark is a Portsmouth native and Elizabeth City State transfer. Freshmen Briseis Estrada and Alaya Monroe-Sutton both played at Virginia Beach's Salem High School, and freshman forward Taylor Ragland comes from Yorktown's Grafton High School.
WEDNESDAY: UDC
Norfolk State leads the all-time series with UDC 8-7 and is 6-2 at home against the Firebirds. The Spartans have won three straight home meetings in the series, which also began in 1974-75.
The most recent meeting came last season, an 85-39 Norfolk State win at Echols Hall on Nov. 6, 2025. The 46-point margin is the largest in series history for either team, and UDC's 39 points are the fewest the Firebirds have scored in the series. The Spartans forced 38 turnovers in that game and set season highs with 23 steals and 21 made free throws.
UDC finished 11-16 overall and 7-9 in the East Coast Conference last season. The Firebirds earned the No. 6 seed in the ECC tournament and fell to Molloy, 71-50, in the first round. Head coach John Nakpodia is in his 10th season leading the program. His best season came in 2023-24, when UDC opened 11-0, cracked the Division II national poll at No. 25 and finished 20-10.
The Firebirds return six players who accounted for about 60% of last season's scoring and 82 of 135 starts. Junior guard Aliyah Eason averaged 10.3 points in 17 games. Sophomore forward Le'Asia Todd averaged 8.0 points, 9.2 rebounds and 2.0 blocks while shooting 65.6% from the field. Sophomore guard Dashani Coleman added 8.0 points per game, and senior guard Kristian Harris started all 27 games and averaged 7.0 points. UDC lost its top two scorers from a year ago, Aiyana Ellis and Nhaikyia Smith, and adds four newcomers, led by Washington Adventist transfer Asaani Offer.
UP NEXT
Norfolk State continues its homestand with two non-conference games against teams it faced on the road last season. The Spartans host Penn on Sunday, Nov. 8, at 2 p.m., and Duke on Thursday, Nov. 12, at 7 p.m. Both games are at Echols Hall.
