#5 Leilani Kapinus

NIL on Opendorse

Honors

• Two-Time All-Big Ten Honorable Mention – Media (’23, ’24)
• Two-time All-Big Ten Defensive Team – Coaches and Media (’23, ’24)
• Three-time Academic All-Big Ten (’22, ’23, ’24)
• All-Big Ten Freshman Team (’22)

Collegiate Career

• Comes to Vanderbilt after a three-year career at Penn State, where she started in 94 of the 95 games she played
• Scored 1,029 points, pulled down 610 rebounds, and dished out 210 assists with the Nittany Lions
• Ranks ninth in Penn State history in steals per game (2.4) and blocks per game (1.1)
• Collected the 10th-most blocks in PSU history with 109
• Her 228 steals at Penn State ranks 11th all-time in school history

As a Redshirt Junior – at Penn State (2023-24)

• All-Big Ten Defensive Team (Coaches and Media)
• All-Big Ten Honorable Mention (Media)
• Big Ten Weekly Honor Roll (Dec. 18)
• Played in 35 games and started in 34
• Held the third-highest scoring average on the team at 11.5 ppg
• Averaged 26.3 minutes, 6.8 rebounds, 2.11 assists, 1.28 blocks and 2.06 steals per game
• Surpassed 1,000 career points on March 25 against Belmont
• Led the team in field goals made (156), rebounds (237), rebounds per game (6.8), blocks (45), and steals (72)
• Shot 58.0 percent from the field and 41.0 percent from three-point distance
• Ranked second in the Big Ten in total steals (72) and steals per game (2.06)
• Fifth in the Big Ten in blocks (45) and blocks per game (1.28), which was 45th-best nationally
• Scored double-digit points in 21 games
• Posted a career-high 25 points against Saint Francis (Pa.) on Dec. 17
• Pulled down double-figure caroms in five contests and grabbed a career-high 15 rebounds against George Mason in the WBIT
• Collected five double-doubles
• Had three or more steals in 11 games
• Tallied a season-high six steals against Northwestern on Jan. 2
• Averaged 12.8 points, 10.0 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 2.0 steals per game in the 2024 WBIT to help Penn State advance to the tournament’s semifinal round

As a Redshirt Sophomore – at Penn State (2022-23)

• All-Big Ten Defensive Team (Coaches and Media)
• All-Big Ten Honorable Mention (Media)
• Academic All-Big Ten
• Started all 31 games
• Averaged 11.2 points, 6.7 rebounds, 3.1 steals and 2.3 assists per game
• Led the team in rebounding (208), steals (97) and blocks (31)
• Finished third in scoring (348), assists (129) and made free throws (86)
• Shot 43.0 percent from the field and 66.7% from the free throw line
• Tallied 22 double-digit performances and four double-doubles
• Pulled down 10 or more rebounds in six games
• Swiped three or more steals in 18 games
• One of two Division I players to average more than 10.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 3.0 steals, and 1.0 block per game
• Finished eighth in the nation with 97 total steals and ranked ninth in steals per game (3.1)
• Ranked first in the Big Ten in steals per game (3.1) and total steals (97), seventh in blocks per game (1.0) and total blocks (31)
• Tied for the second-most steals (nine) by a Lady Lion at Bryce Jordan Center against Fairfield on Nov. 11

As a Redshirt Freshman – at Penn State (2021-22)

• All-Big Ten Freshman Team (Coaches)
• All-Big Ten Academic Team
• Started all 29 games
• Averaged 9.6 points and 5.7 rebounds per game
• Tallied 46 assists, 33 blocks and 59 steals
• Shot 43.0 percent from the floor
• Collected 16 double-figure games, two games with 20+ points
• Recorded three double-double
• One of eight Division I players with 30-plus blocks and 55-plus steals
• Ranked fourth at Penn State in blocks by a freshman (33), tied for seventh in steals by a freshman (59) and ninth in rebounds by a freshman (165)
• Third in the Big Ten in blocks per game (1.14)
• Held third in the Big Ten in steals per game (2.03) and fourth in total steals (59)
• Led Big Ten freshmen in steals and blocks and was 13th among all Division I freshmen in both categories

As a Freshman – at Penn State (2020-21)

• Missed season due to injury

The Kapinus File

• Name is pronounced Lay-lawn-EE, Cap-n-Is
• Graduated from Penn State in 2024 with a bachelors degree in kinesiology
• Played at James Madison Memorial High School in Madison, Wisconsin
• McDonald’s All-America nominee
• Ranked as the No. 8 player at her position and No. 30 player in the Class of 2020 by Hoopgurlz/espnW
• Two-time all-state and three-time all-conference selection as a prep player
• Collected a school-record 1,230 points, 711 rebounds, 282 steals, and 129 assists at JMMHS
• Named AP First Team All-State
• Wisconsin State Journal Player of the Year as a senior after averaging 18.0 points, 9.5 rebounds and 4.5 steals per game
• Led James Madison to a regional championship in her final season
• First player in high school’s history to record a triple-double
• First 1,000-point scorer in school history
• Holds school’s single-season records for points (463 in 2019-20), steals (117 in 2019-20), blocks (58 in 2017-18), FG Made (185 in 2019-20), and FG% (54.2%)
• Holds single-game record for blocks (9 in 2017-18), FT Made (11 in 2017-18), and FG Made (13 in 2016-17)
• Named three-time team MVP and earned an AP All-State honorable mention selection in 2018
• Selected as conference defensive player of the year
• Played AAU ball for Wisconsin Flight Elite
• Earned Adidas USA invitation
• Full name Leilani Tiana Kapinus
• Has one brother and four sisters