VALDOSTA, Ga. – Valdosta State head women's basketball coach Chandler Merkerson announced Tuesday the 2025-26 Lady Blazer basketball schedule.  The slate features 15 home games inside The Complex and 28 games during the regular season.
 
"We've intentionally crafted a challenging early-season slate," Merkerson said.  "Facing strong and diverse, regional opponents will give us clarity on where we stand and where we need to grow — before conference play begins. We're excited to return to The Complex, in front of our incredible fans, and make a run for postseason contention."
 
The Lady Blazers open the season hosting the Gulf South Conference/Sunshine State Conference Crossover with Eckerd on Nov. 14 and Palm Beach Atlantic on Nov. 15 at The Complex.  This marks the third-straight year and second in a row of the teams playing in Valdosta.  West Florida also will face Eckerd and Palm Beach Atlantic over the opening weekend. 
 
Following the crossover, VSU will host Georgia Southwestern on Nov. 19, followed by a road trip to Lynn and then closing the first month of the season with a home game against Embry-Riddle on Nov. 29.  ERAU won its first Sunshine State Conference title in 2024-25 and reached the Round of 32 of the NCAA Championship.  
 
December opens with GSC play as the Blazers entertain West Alabama on Dec. 4 and The University of Alabama in Huntsville on Dec. 6.  Trips to West Florida (Dec. 13), Trevecca Nazarene (Dec. 18) and Lee (Dec. 20) close out the pre-Christmas slate.  Following the Christmas Holiday, the Lady Blazers host University of Fort Lauderdale on Dec. 29 at The Complex.    
 
The Blazers open 2026 hosting a pair of teams from the Magnolia State in Mississippi College (Jan. 2) and Delta State (Jan. 4), before heading to Tennessee for Union (Jan. 8) and Christian Brothers (Jan. 10).  VSU returns home to host Montevallo and Auburn Montgomery on Jan. 15 and Jan. 17, respectively, to wrap up the first half of the conference portion of the schedule. 
 
VSU begins the second half at UAH and West Alabama on Jan. 22 and Jan. 24, before hosting rival West Florida on Jan. 31 in conjunction with the 2026 VSU Athletic Hall of Fame Weekend and Lady Blazer Basketball Alumni Weekend.
 
February begins with the Blazers hosting Lee (Feb. 5) and Trevecca Nazarene (Feb. 7), before heading West to Mississippi for two games and then return home to host Christian Brothers (Feb. 19) and Union (Feb. 21) for Senior Day.  The regular season concludes with games at Auburn Montgomery (Feb. 25) and at Montevallo (Feb. 27).  
 
The 2026 Gulf South Conference Championship will have a different format this season as the higher seed(s) will host throughout the tournament beginning Mar. 2 and ending Mar. 8.  
 
The 2026 NCAA South Regional is scheduled for Mar. 13-16 at the regional top seed, while the Elite Eight is scheduled for Mar. 23-27 in Pittsburgh, Pa.  The National Quarterfinals are scheduled for Mar. 23, followed by the semifinals on Mar. 25 and the national champion will be crowned on Mar. 27.
 
Merkerson went 17-12 in her first season in Titletown and was 12-10 in Gulf South Conference play.  The Lady Blazers went 11-4 at The Complex last season.
 
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