BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Valdosta State senior forward Erin Whalen was named to the 2026-27 preseason All-Gulf South Conference women's basketball team, and guards Monna Julkunen and Madison Pounds were selected to the conference's Newcomers to Watch list. The Blazers were picked to finish sixth in the GSC Women's Basketball Preseason Poll. All three honors were determined by the league's 11 head coaches.

Whalen enters her senior season as the conference's top returning rebounder after averaging 8.6 boards per game last season. She also led the GSC in steals at 2.4 per game and finished among the league's top 10 in scoring at 14.0 points per game.

She joins UAH senior guard Bella White, Lee junior guard Libby Privett, Trevecca Nazarene senior guard Jordan Gillies and Union senior guard Olivia Lee on the preseason team.
 

Newcomers to Watch
Julkunen and Pounds are among 30 players, representing all 11 league programs, named to the Newcomers to Watch list.

Julkunen, a 5-foot-11 junior guard from Vantaa, Finland, transferred from Georgia State University. Pounds, a 5-foot-8 junior guard from Durham, N.C., transferred from Hofstra University.

Preseason Poll
The Blazers totaled 56 points in the poll, finishing behind Trevecca Nazarene (70) and ahead of West Alabama (45). UAH, which won its first GSC title and reached the NCAA Division II Final Four last season, was picked first for the first time in program history with 96 points and seven first-place votes. Union, the reigning GSC tournament champion, was second with 90 points and three first-place votes, followed by Lee (80) and Delta State (73).

Coaches Preseason Poll
1. UAH (7), 96 points
2. Union (3), 90 points
3. Lee (1), 80 points
4. Delta State, 73 points
5. Trevecca Nazarene, 70 points
6. Valdosta State, 56 points
7. West Alabama, 45 points
8. Mississippi Christian, 34 points
9. Montevallo, 26 points
10. AUM, 25 points
11. Christian Brothers, 10 points
First-place votes in parentheses

Valdosta State opens its season Friday, Nov. 13, against Eckerd College at The Complex. Tipoff is at 6 p.m. ET.

The Blazers open conference play Wednesday, Dec. 2, against UAH, also at The Complex with tipoff scheduled for 6 p.m. ET.

The GSC regular season runs through Friday, Feb. 26, with a pause Dec. 21-27 for the NCAA Division II winter break. The 2027 GSC Women's Basketball Championships open with quarterfinals March 1, followed by semifinals March 4 and the championship game March 7.

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