NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee State women's basketball begins its 2026–27 campaign Monday, Nov. 2, welcoming Toccoa Falls to the Gentry Center for its regular-season opener. Tipoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. CT.

The Tigers enter their third season under head coach Candice Dupree with a new-look roster featuring nine newcomers and six returning players. Following an Oct. 29 exhibition against Trevecca, Tennessee State will officially begin its campaign in front of its home crowd.

New-Look Tigers

Tennessee State enters the season with 15 players, including six freshmen and three transfers, as Dupree continues building the program.

The Tigers return an experienced group led by juniors Somah Kamara, Genesis Harris, Erin Martin and Laila Lancaster, along with sophomores Icesis Thomas and Zoe Young.

Kamara and Harris provide experience in the backcourt, while Martin brings additional perimeter depth. Lancaster, a 6-foot-5 center, and Young, a 6-foot-3 forward, give Tennessee State size in the frontcourt. Thomas adds versatility as a guard/forward.

Among the newcomers are Addison Melton, a transfer from Lipscomb, Raegan Starks from Walters State and Nandinkhusel Nyamjav from Florida Tech. The Tigers also welcome international freshmen Danica Lazic of Serbia and Sherry Zheng of Taiwan.

Scouting Toccoa Falls

Toccoa Falls opened its 2026–27 season with a 63–60 victory over Wesleyan College on Oct. 27. The Screaming Eagles are coming off a 10–20 campaign in 2025–26 under head coach JT Jones.

Jada Wood leads the returning group after averaging 19.0 points and 11.6 rebounds per game last season. Wood recorded 29 points and 11 rebounds in the season-opening victory over Wesleyan.

Riley Berninger also returns after averaging 10.3 points per contest during the 2025–26 campaign.

Dupree Enters Year Three

Dupree begins her third season leading Tennessee State after being named the program's 13th head coach in 2024.

A seven-time WNBA All-Star and 2014 WNBA champion with the Phoenix Mercury, Dupree brings extensive professional playing and coaching experience to the Tigers. Before arriving in Nashville, she served on the San Antonio Spurs' coaching staff, working in player development.

The former Temple standout continues to build Tennessee State's identity around player development, discipline and competitiveness.

Up Next

Tennessee State hits the road for the first time Thursday, Nov. 5, traveling to Williamsburg, Virginia, to face William & Mary at 6 p.m. CT. The Tigers will continue their road swing Sunday, Nov. 8, against Old Dominion before returning to the Gentry Center to host Mississippi Valley State on Nov. 14.