Virginia Tech WBB's Mackenzie Nelson to Enter the Transfer Portal
Saturday afternoon, the redshirt sophomore guard for Virginia
Tech, Mackenzie Nelson took to Instagram to announce her intentions to enter
the transfer portal.
A Look Back at Nelson's Career at Virginia Tech
Sidelined to Start
Recruited by former Virginia Tech head coach, Kenny Brooks, Mackenzie Nelson was a prospect in which Hokie Nation was excited for. The 2x Gatorade Player of the Year for Connecticut brought promise for the future of Virginia Tech Women's Basketball as the Elizabeth Kitley and Georgia Amoore era was drawing to a close in the coming year. In what would have been her freshman season, Coach Brooks redshirted Nelson in the 2023-2024 season. This decision allowed for Nelson to utilize all four years of playing ability following this redshirt season while also surrounding her with the team she would soon join, to get a feel for what was to come. The opportunity to remain on the team with a front row view of one of the best collegiate duos in the country: Elizabeth Kitley and Georgia Amoore, this wasn't something Nelson took for granted.
Nelson's Career Beginnings
Even after Coach Brooks left Virginia Tech for a $7.7 million deal to coach at Kentucky, Nelson stayed with Virginia Tech and trusted incoming Head Coach Megan Duffy with her future. Coming into the 2024-2025 season as a redshirt freshman, Nelson had something to prove. Serving as one of the Hokies' lead point-guards alongside Lani White and Carleigh Wenzel who too was finding her role at Virginia Tech, Nelson had a successful first season to say the least. Although Nelson would only start one game this season, having her jump in to start a fresh set of offense was huge for the Hokies. This was Nelson's beginning in finding her role as a sparkplug for Virginia Tech, allowing them to continue built momentum as the season went on. Turning heads from around the country was Nelson's insane ability to pass and facilitate the ball. In her freshman season, Nelson averaged 6.0 points, 2.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 1.2 steals per game, a commendable stat-line for a freshman coming into their first season with a completely new coaching staff. This was just the beginning of Nelson's career and what a great ball handler she is.
New Season, New Role
Entering her sophomore season under Coach Duffy with exciting new faces acquired from the transfer portal, Nelson's second season playing for Virginia Tech was looking great. Nelson started the season steady, fulfilling the needs of the Hokies first. She recorded her first double-digit assist game of the season just two games in with the Hokies' matchup against Loyola Maryland. Nelson's passing ability would continue to improve, and her skills would become recognized all around the country. Making different rankings from best passers in the country to best assist-turnover ratio, Nelson was not only putting Virginia Tech on the map but making a name for herself. As the 2025-2026 season would go on, Nelson would have numerous breakout games, proving she was not only able to pass, but contribute points of her own. In a huge conference win against Florida State, Nelson put up an 18-point 12-assist game, helping lead the Hokies to a 25-point victory. Not only that, but Nelson's 12-assists was a career-high, making a statement to the world and teams who stood in Virginia Tech's way. In the 2025-2026 season, Nelson's stats would only go up as she averaged 8.0 points, 3.3 rebounds, 5.7 assists, and 1.4 steals per game. Her ability and willingness to play as a true point guard to allow guard Carleigh Wenzel to play off the ball, stretching the floor for forwards Carys Baker and Kilah Freelon was huge and showed Nelson's class. Because of this, the Hokies finished the regular season 22-8 and 12-6 in the ACC. Virginia Tech would go on to make the NCAA Tournament as a 9 seed, though they would fall in the First Round in a hard-fought battle against No. 8 Oregon.
Nelson's Future
Despite her heartbreaking and unanticipated departure, Hokie Nation remains thankful for Nelson's time and wishes her the best. Nelon's future is bright and wherever she takes her talents, they will not only be positively impacted by her ability to play basketball, but also by the light she is to those around her. Although she did not immediately go to Kentucky when Coach Brooks left Virginia Tech, taking Georgia Amoore, Clara Strack, Clara Silva, Lexi Blue, and others, could we see Nelson join with Coach Brooks once again as he was the one who had recruited her to Virginia Tech in the first place? Seeing the highly anticipated but never seen duo of 6'5" center Clara Strack taking dimes from Mackenzie Nelson would be groundbreaking and arguably unstoppable. With the transfer portal opening April 6, 2026, and closing April 20, 2026, there is still time for rumors to be spread, conversations to be had, and predications as to where Nelson may land to continue her career.
As a die-hard Virginia Tech Women's Basketball fan, thank you, Mackie, #3 forever.
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