I’d say a Final Four team. Yeah. Or a championship team,
Vanderbilt guard Mikayla Blakes told The Tennessean regarding the ceiling for the current women’s basketball program.
Mikayla Blakes Commits to Four Years at Vanderbilt
Vanderbilt star Mikayla Blakes plans to remain with the Commodores program for at least four seasons, removing any speculation about an early departure to the WNBA or the transfer portal. Entering her junior year on West End, the reigning SEC Player of the Year stated she never considered entering the transfer portal. When discussing a potential early jump to the professional ranks, Blakes admitted to The Tennessean that she does not even know how the WNBA draft process works.
Academic goals heavily influence her timeline on campus. As a 4.0 student majoring in medicine with a track in nursing, earning her degree in four years remains her primary focus alongside basketball development. While ESPN reported in August that players turning at least 22 years old during the draft year might have a pathway to declare early—and Blakes turns 22 on December 29, 2027—she maintains her intention to stay for the full four years.
Blakes Earns Vanderbilt Preseason All-American Honors
Blakes enters the season as Vanderbilt’s first preseason All-American since Chantelle Anderson during the 2002-03 campaign. Her standout freshman campaign featured two separate games with 50 or more points against SEC opponents, establishing her as a central figure in the rising profile of women’s college basketball. Alongside men’s player Tyler Tanner, Blakes helped make Vanderbilt the first school since Duke in 2014-15 to land both a men’s and women’s player on the Associated Press preseason All-American list before the same season, according to The Tennessean.
That rising visibility has altered her daily routine on campus. While she attempts to maintain the lifestyle of an average student, her recognition in public has grown significantly alongside the sport’s expanding crowds and shoe deals. It’s a great time to be able to get into women’s basketball now, because we’re getting eyes,
Blakes told The Tennessean.
Vanderbilt Roster Outlook for the 2026-27 Season
Fresh off a 29-win season and a trip to the Sweet 16, Vanderbilt opens the 2026-27 campaign ranked No. 9 nationally in the USA TODAY Coaches Poll. The squad is positioned to challenge South Carolina for the top spot in the SEC. Blakes points to a deep roster full of offensive threats that forces opposing defenses to stay honest.
Did you know? Mikayla Blakes is the first Vanderbilt women’s basketball player to earn preseason All-American recognition since Chantelle Anderson in 2002-03.
Frequently Asked Questions About Mikayla Blakes and Vanderbilt Basketball
When is Mikayla Blakes eligible for the WNBA draft?
Under WNBA collective bargaining agreement rules cited by ESPN, players can declare early if they turn at least 22 years old during the calendar year of the draft. Because Blakes turns 22 on December 29, 2027, she is viewed as a 2028 WNBA prospect.
What historical milestone did Vanderbilt achieve with the Associated Press preseason All-Americans?
With Mikayla Blakes on the women’s team and Tyler Tanner on the men’s team earning AP preseason All-American honors, Vanderbilt became the first school to achieve this dual distinction since Duke during the 2014-15 season.
What was Vanderbilt’s record during the previous season?
The Commodores finished the prior season with 29 wins and advanced to the Sweet 16 round of the postseason tournament.