Last Updated on March 16, 2026 by Mat Diekhake

The Vanderbilt Commodores women’s basketball program has produced several standout players who helped turn the school into one of the SEC’s strongest women’s basketball programs across multiple eras. Here are some of the most notable Vanderbilt Commodores women’s basketball legends. (Vanderbilt Athletics)

1. Wendy Scholtens

  • Years at Vanderbilt: 1987–1991
  • Position: Center
  • Notable Achievements:
    • One of the first true superstars in Vanderbilt women’s basketball history
    • Led the Commodores to two Sweet 16 appearances
    • Became the first woman in school history to have her jersey retired
    • Was later inducted into the Vanderbilt Athletics Hall of Fame
    • Built a reputation as one of the best scorers and rebounders in the SEC during her era (Vanderbilt Athletics)

2. Chantelle Anderson

  • Years at Vanderbilt: 1999–2003
  • Position: Center
  • Notable Achievements:
    • Vanderbilt’s all-time leading scorer in women’s basketball history
    • The most decorated player in program history
    • Vanderbilt’s only two-time Kodak All-American
    • Three-time Vanderbilt Female Athlete of the Year
    • Later had her jersey retired and entered the Vanderbilt Athletics Hall of Fame (Vanderbilt Athletics)

3. Heidi Gillingham Jackson

  • Years at Vanderbilt: 1990–1994
  • Position: Forward/Center
  • Notable Achievements:
    • Helped lead Vanderbilt to its only Final Four in 1993
    • Earned Kodak First-Team All-American honors in 1993
    • Led the Commodores to an SEC championship
    • Held multiple Vanderbilt records, including a major SEC single-season blocks mark
    • Was inducted into the Vanderbilt Athletics Hall of Fame (Vanderbilt Athletics)

4. Sheri Sam

  • Years at Vanderbilt: 1992–1996
  • Position: Forward
  • Notable Achievements:
    • Began her Vanderbilt career on the 1993 Final Four team
    • Helped lead the Commodores to the 1996 Elite Eight
    • Became the third player in school history to earn Kodak All-America honors
    • Developed into one of the nation’s premier frontcourt players during her career
    • Was later inducted into the Vanderbilt Athletics Hall of Fame (Vanderbilt Athletics)

5. Dee Davis

  • Years at Vanderbilt: 2004–2007
  • Position: Guard
  • Notable Achievements:
    • Vanderbilt’s all-time assists leader
    • One of the program’s defining point guards and floor leaders
    • Helped lead the Commodores through a strong mid-2000s run
    • Was selected in the 2007 WNBA Draft
    • Remains one of the top playmakers in school history (Vanderbilt Athletics)

6. Carla Thomas

  • Years at Vanderbilt: 2003–2007
  • Position: Forward
  • Notable Achievements:
    • Finished with 1,774 career points
    • One of only a few SEC women’s players to be named SEC Tournament MVP twice
    • Unanimous first-team All-SEC selection in 2007
    • Ranked among Vanderbilt’s career leaders in scoring, blocks, and free throws
    • Later entered the Vanderbilt Athletics Hall of Fame (Vanderbilt Athletics)

7. Ashley Earley

  • Years at Vanderbilt: 2001–2005
  • Position: Forward
  • Notable Achievements:
    • One of the standout frontcourt players of Vanderbilt’s strong early-2000s teams
    • Helped the Commodores remain a national factor during her era
    • Returned to Vanderbilt later as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator
    • Stayed closely tied to the program well after her playing career ended
    • Remains one of the more recognizable names from that stretch of Vanderbilt women’s basketball (Vanderbilt Athletics)

8. Teresa Lawrence Phillips

  • Years at Vanderbilt: 1978–1980
  • Position: Guard
  • Notable Achievements:
    • Vanderbilt’s first Black female student-athlete
    • Won the school’s first-ever Lady Commodore Athlete of the Year award
    • Became one of the pioneering figures in program history
    • Later built a groundbreaking career in coaching and athletics administration
    • Was inducted into the Vanderbilt Athletics Hall of Fame (Vanderbilt Athletics)

These players helped shape Vanderbilt women’s basketball history, whether through record-setting production, postseason success, trailblazing impact, or long-term influence on the program. (Vanderbilt Athletics)

Sources:

Vanderbilt Athletics — WBB: A look at the record book
Vanderbilt Athletics — Women’s Basketball Archives
Vanderbilt Athletics — Wendy Scholtens Wood
Vanderbilt Athletics — Chantelle Anderson
Vanderbilt Athletics — Chantelle Anderson Jersey Retirement Ceremony
Vanderbilt Athletics — Heidi Gillingham Jackson
Vanderbilt Athletics — Gillingham inducted into HOF
Vanderbilt Athletics — Sheri Sam
Vanderbilt Athletics — Sam inducted into HOF
Vanderbilt Athletics — Dee Davis hopes to become a player/coach
Vanderbilt Athletics — Thomas, Davis Drafted By WNBA
Vanderbilt Athletics — Hall of Fame Class Revealed
Vanderbilt Athletics — Ashley Earley
Vanderbilt Athletics — 2017 Hall of Fame: Teresa Lawrence Phillips