Women’s Basketball Adds Transfer Carys Baker
April 14, 2026 | Women's Basketball
Baker was an All-ACC selection last season
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Head coach Jeff Walz and his staff are excited to announce the addition of All-ACC forward Carys Baker. Baker joins the Cardinals after playing her first three collegiate seasons at Virginia Tech.
"We're thrilled to welcome Carys Baker to our program," said Walz. "She is a dynamic 6-foot-2 forward who impacts the game in a variety of ways whether it's scoring, rebounding, or stretching the floor. Over time, she has developed into one of the most productive players in the ACC. Carys will be a valuable addition as we continue to build our program, and I'm excited to have her join our team."
The West Hartford, Connecticut native is coming off her best collegiate season in her junior campaign. Baker emerged as one of the league's most productive forwards, averaging 14.3 points and 6.9 rebounds per game while shooting 42.9% from the field. She had 25 double-digit and 10 20-point performances.
In ACC play, Baker's production increased, posting 14.9 points, 7.1 rebounds, 1.4 assists, and 1.3 blocks per game, including five 20-point performances. She finished in double figures in 15 of the 18 league contests. Additionally, Baker added a team-high 24 blocks defensively to go with 11 steals.
Baker recorded several career best marks in league play, including scoring a career-high 24 points twice in ACC wins. Her first 24-point effort of the season came in the come from behind win against Clemson, where she scored the go-ahead bucket to clinch the win. Baker's second career-best scoring game came on the road at Stanford when she went 10-15 (66.7%) from the field overall.
Baker started all 32 contests in her sophomore season, averaging 12.6 points and 6.3 rebounds per game. Throughout the season, she earned Fort Myers Tip-Off All-Tournament Team honors and consistently elevated her play, recording her first career double-double against Campbell and her first in ACC play with 17 points and 11 rebounds versus No. 3 Notre Dame. She notched multiple standout performances, including 23 points with seven three-pointers at Miami, a career-high 24 points and 11 field goals against Syracuse, and a perfect 5-for-5 mark from three-point range at Virginia (which tied a program record), while also dishing a career-best six assists in that game.
In her first season with the Hokies, Baker appeared in every game off the bench, playing 11.7 minutes per game. She averaged 3.4 points per game, shooting 38% from beyond the 3-point line. She scored in double figures twice, with a season-best 18-point performance against LIU where she went 4-6 from beyond the arc.
Baker was the No. 58 overall recruit in the 2023 ESPN HoopGurlz rankings. Both her parents played basketball at Hartford. Her father, Vin, played in the NBA for 15 seasons and was a four-time all-star. He is currently an assistant coach for the Milwaukee Bucks.
"We're thrilled to welcome Carys Baker to our program," said Walz. "She is a dynamic 6-foot-2 forward who impacts the game in a variety of ways whether it's scoring, rebounding, or stretching the floor. Over time, she has developed into one of the most productive players in the ACC. Carys will be a valuable addition as we continue to build our program, and I'm excited to have her join our team."
The West Hartford, Connecticut native is coming off her best collegiate season in her junior campaign. Baker emerged as one of the league's most productive forwards, averaging 14.3 points and 6.9 rebounds per game while shooting 42.9% from the field. She had 25 double-digit and 10 20-point performances.
In ACC play, Baker's production increased, posting 14.9 points, 7.1 rebounds, 1.4 assists, and 1.3 blocks per game, including five 20-point performances. She finished in double figures in 15 of the 18 league contests. Additionally, Baker added a team-high 24 blocks defensively to go with 11 steals.
Baker recorded several career best marks in league play, including scoring a career-high 24 points twice in ACC wins. Her first 24-point effort of the season came in the come from behind win against Clemson, where she scored the go-ahead bucket to clinch the win. Baker's second career-best scoring game came on the road at Stanford when she went 10-15 (66.7%) from the field overall.
Baker started all 32 contests in her sophomore season, averaging 12.6 points and 6.3 rebounds per game. Throughout the season, she earned Fort Myers Tip-Off All-Tournament Team honors and consistently elevated her play, recording her first career double-double against Campbell and her first in ACC play with 17 points and 11 rebounds versus No. 3 Notre Dame. She notched multiple standout performances, including 23 points with seven three-pointers at Miami, a career-high 24 points and 11 field goals against Syracuse, and a perfect 5-for-5 mark from three-point range at Virginia (which tied a program record), while also dishing a career-best six assists in that game.
In her first season with the Hokies, Baker appeared in every game off the bench, playing 11.7 minutes per game. She averaged 3.4 points per game, shooting 38% from beyond the 3-point line. She scored in double figures twice, with a season-best 18-point performance against LIU where she went 4-6 from beyond the arc.
Baker was the No. 58 overall recruit in the 2023 ESPN HoopGurlz rankings. Both her parents played basketball at Hartford. Her father, Vin, played in the NBA for 15 seasons and was a four-time all-star. He is currently an assistant coach for the Milwaukee Bucks.
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