NCAA DIVISION II NATIONAL PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Tuesday, January 6, 2026

WOMEN: Erin Whalen, 5-10, Jr., Valdosta State
Hometown: Cumming, Georgia

Whalen had a strong all-around week for the Lady Blazers as they recorded wins over Fort Lauderdale, Mississippi College and Delta State, as she averaged 16.7 points, 11 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 4.5 steals in those contests. After opening the week with a double-double of 13 points and 13 rebounds in a 107-55 win over Fort Lauderdale, she had 19 points, 17 rebounds, six assists and four steals to help VSU defeated Mississippi College 83-57.

On Sunday, Whalen had 18 points on seven-of-13 shooting from the field and two-of-five from three-point range with a pair of free throws as the Lady Blazers downed Delta State 70-62; her three-pointers came in the fourth quarter to allow VSU to extend a four-point into double figures. Whalen finished the week by making 48.7 percent of her field goal attempts (20-of-41), four three-pointers and six-of-seven from the free throw line to earn the Gulf South Conference's Player of the Week award