Spotlight: Baker emerging as elite presence for women’s basketball team

BLACKSBURG – True junior Carys Baker has become an undeniable force on the hardwood for the Virginia Tech women’s basketball team. 

Hailing from West Hartford, Conn., Baker’s multifaceted toolkit has allowed the Hokies (14-5, 4-3 ACC) to find a groove in competition this season, especially in the team’s recent three consecutive wins by an average of 26.3 points. As conference play continues with less than half of the season remaining, Hokie fans should be sure to keep their eyes peeled as to how Baker will impact the team in a variety of positive ways.  

Now in her third season with the Hokies, Baker first arrived in Blacksburg after a wildly successful high school career with the Loomis Chaffee Pelicans. During the five-year stint in Windsor, Conn., the forward played an integral role in hoisting the NEPSAC Class A Championship trophy both in 2021-22 and 2022-23, exemplifying the talent Baker had early in her professional basketball career. In the second of two championship contests, Baker’s 24 points, six rebounds, two assists and three steals would be essential in the team’s 64-60 victory.  

As the No. 58 player in the 2023 ESPN HoopGurlz national recruiting rankings, Baker first saw the hardwood for the Hokies in a secondary role off the bench. In 32 appearances in the 2023-24 season, Baker averaged a consistent 11.7 minutes per game while logging 3.4 points per contest. However, a pair of performances – an 18-point showing against LIU on Dec. 6, 2023, and a 13-point game against William and Mary just over two weeks later – would give Hokie fans a glimpse into what Baker could provide as an asset to the Hokies. 

Women’s basketball head coach Megan Duffy saw Baker’s potential early into her first year in Blacksburg. The forward, under Duffy’s guidance, went on to start every game for the Tech women’s team in 2024-25 while averaging 12.6 points and 6.3 rebounds per game. Baker expanded on her pair of impressive showings in her freshman season with a plethora of games in her second year, including a double-double against Campbell on Dec. 21, 2024, seven three-point baskets against Miami on Jan. 5, 2025, and a career-best 24-point game against Syracuse on Feb. 6, 2025.  

Now in her third year with the team, Baker has continued to build off the leap she took in her sophomore season. The Connecticut native has started every game for the Hokies this winter, posting a team-high 14 points per game alongside 6.1 rebounds, and has posted in double figures in 14 of 19 matchups. Key performances from the 6-foot-2 junior’s season include a dominant 23-point, 10-rebound double-double against Florida on Dec. 4, 2025, and a stretch of three 20+ point performances against ETSU, Florida State, and Radford to close out December competition.  

While a good percentage of Baker’s production comes from her forceful nature in the paint, the forward also possesses a unique ability to dismantle opponents with her three-point shot. Her 36.4 shooting percentage from beyond the arc this season is the highest on the team, a metric that emphasizes Baker’s talent at many levels on the hardwood. Defensively, Baker also shines, using her 6-foot-2 frame to her advantage to the tune of 15 blocks this season. She’s only one of three athletes on the Tech women’s basketball team with a block total in double figures (Freelon, Trent).  

Well-rested after the team’s most recent victory against SMU, 79-42, Baker and the Hokies will take to Carilion Clinic Court at Cassell Coliseum to face Clemson on Jan. 22 at 6 p.m. ET. Don’t miss the chance to show your support for both the Hokies and to our armed forces on Military Appreciation night – buy tickets now!