Hokie Spotlight: Lani White

BLACKSBURG – In her first year donning maroon and orange, junior Lani White has been a force to be reckoned with for the Hokies women’s basketball team. The Irvine, California native has been instrumental in providing Tech with an offensive spark this season, her three-point prowess lifting the team to a 7-3 record in their last ten games. As play continues through the new year, it’s evident that White’s first year as a Hokie is off to a hot start.  

White first started her collegiate basketball journey by registering minutes at The University of Utah. On the Utes, the then-freshman would tally 9.7 minutes per contest and average 3.3 points and 1.8 rebounds over 23 games. White would log three double-digit contests in her first year, including an 11-point (4-6 FG, 2-4 3FG) showing on Nov. 6, 2023 against Washington. In the following year, the then-sophomore would average similar numbers, posting 2.5 points and 1.8 rebounds in 34 total contests.  

After two years at Utah, White declared for the transfer portal and committed to the Hokies in April of 2024. When asked which players would have impactful roles at the ACC Tip-Off in October, head coach Megan Duffy instantly spoke on what the Utah transfer adds to the team. 

“Yeah, there’s more than just one, but I would start with Lani White,” Duffy said. “[She’s a] three-level scorer. She can impact the game on the defensive side...she’s coming into a new role being more of a scorer. [I’m] really excited to see her develop.” 

Through 20 games this season, White’s efforts for the Hokies have been instrumental in the overall success of the team. Averaging 25 minutes per contest, the California native currently posts 9.7 points, 3.1 rebounds and 1.5 assists per contest with a field goal percentage of 47.9%. The junior has also accumulated 10 steals on the year, one of seven Hokies with double-digit steals so far this fall. 

What makes White such an asset on the Hokies is her three-point proficiency. Her 50% shooting from beyond the arc leads the team at this stage of the season, and she is 11-for-23 in the month of January.   

“It’s really cool to watch her offensive progression,” said Duffy, speaking on White’s team-high 23 points against Radford on Dec. 15. The junior was white-hot against the Highlanders, hitting seven of 10 shots and going a perfect 3-for-3 from three-point range in 30 minutes of action. “She’s getting confident.” 

White and the Hokies will next see the court against No. 3 Notre Dame on Thursday, Jan. 30 at 6 p.m. ET. The game, which is this season’s Shoes 4 Hope event, will see the Hokies partner with Carilion Children’s Hospital as part of the Coaches vs. Cancer nationwide initiative. Be sure to join the Hokies by purchasing tickets to a game fans won’t want to miss!