NASHVILLE, TN – Vanderbilt women’s basketball standout Mikayla Blakes continues to establish herself among the nation’s elite players. The junior guard has been named to the 2026-27 Wade Trophy Watch List by the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA), earning recognition as one of 15 preseason candidates for one of college basketball’s most prestigious individual honors.
The selection marks Blakes’ second consecutive appearance on the Wade Watch List after finishing as a finalist for the award last season. She also enters the new campaign on the Naismith Trophy Player of the Year Watch List and the Ann Meyers Drysdale Shooting Guard of the Year preseason watch list, an award she captured in 2025-26.
Blakes wasted little time reminding the college basketball world why she belongs in the national spotlight. In Vanderbilt’s commanding 112-53 season-opening victory over Lipscomb, she delivered an impressive all-around performance with 27 points, nine rebounds and six assists. It marked the eighth time in her collegiate career that she recorded at least 20 points, five rebounds and five assists in a single game.
The reigning SEC Player of the Year is coming off a historic sophomore campaign that rewrote the conference record books. Blakes scored 918 points during the 2025-26 season, establishing both the SEC single-season scoring record and the NCAA sophomore scoring record. She averaged a remarkable 30.5 points per game in conference play and scored at least 30 points in 12 SEC contests, becoming the first player in the conference this century to accomplish that feat.
Now entering her junior season, Blakes remains a centerpiece of a nationally ranked Vanderbilt program with high expectations. Her combination of explosive scoring, playmaking and rebounding has made her one of the most exciting players to watch in women’s college basketball.
Celebrating its 50th year, the Wade Trophy honors the nation’s top NCAA Division I women’s basketball player. Named after legendary Delta State coach Lily Margaret Wade, the award recognizes excellence at the highest level of the women’s college game. The WBCA will continue evaluating candidates throughout the season before announcing the winner in April.
With another major national honor potentially within reach, Blakes has an opportunity to add to an already impressive résumé while helping lead Vanderbilt through another highly anticipated season.
The No. 8/9-ranked Commodores return to action tonight against Queens, with tipoff scheduled for 6:30 p.m. CT. The matchup will stream on SEC Network+.