SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – Vanderbilt women’s basketball junior Mikayla Blakes will seek to successfully defend her title as the nation’s top shooting guard, as on Tuesday the 14-time All-American was named to the preseason watch list for the Ann Meyers Drysdale Award, part of the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame’s Starting 5.
Blakes highlights the 20-player preseason watch list for the nation’s top honor for shooting guards. The Somerset, New Jersey, native was the 2025-26 Ann Meyers Drysdale Award recipient after she led the nation in scoring at 27.0 points per game and collected an NCAA Division I-best 13 games with 30 points or more. The guard became Vanderbilt’s first Naismith Starting 5 award winner in program history. Blakes will look to become the second two-time winner of the Ann Meyers Drysdale Award, which dates back to the 2017-18 season.
Fan voting for the Naismith Basketball Starting 5 opens Friday. Fans can vote by clicking the link here. Players can play their way onto and off any Naismith Starting 5 list during the 2026-27 season.
The reigning SEC Player of the Year had a record-setting sophomore campaign, as she set the SEC single-season scoring record with 918 points. Her 918 points in 2025-26 also set the NCAA sophomore scoring record.
The 2025-26 Anne Meyers Drysdale Shooting Guard of the Year averaged 30.5 points per game in SEC contests and scored 30 or more points in 12 league games, making her the first SEC player this century to accomplish the feat.
The 2026-27 Vanderbilt women's basketball season begins Nov. 2, as the Commodores host Lipscomb at Memorial Gymnasium for Education Day. Tipoff against the Bisons is set for 11 a.m. CT and streams on SEC Network+.
Fans can click the link here to purchase season tickets. Single-game tickets and 4-pack ticket specials are also on sale.
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