Who is Mikayla Blakes? Meet Vanderbilt star who passed Caitlin Clark in record books during Sweet 16
The Commodores star's historic first two seasons has continued into the 2026 NCAA Tournament.
Who is Mikayla Blakes? Meet Vanderbilt star who passed Caitlin Clark in record books during Sweet 16 originally appeared on The Sporting News . Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here .
Vanderbilt appears to have a potential superstar on its hands. The Commodores have made their third-straight NCAA Tournament appearance in 2026, but unlike the first two bids, head coach Shea Ralph's unit has made a deep run this year. Behind star guard Mikayla Blakes, Vanderbilt has reached the Sweet 16.
Blakes has been historically great for Vanderbilt since she arrived on campus in 2024, leading the country in scoring this season as the SEC Player of the Year. And now, as of Friday, she's surpassed former Iowa superstar Caitlin Clark on the list of most points by a Division I player in their first two seasons. Here's what to know about Blakes and where she now ranks on the historic list.
MORE: Full history of back-to-back women's NCAA Tournament winners Who is Mikayla Blakes? Blakes is a 5-foot-8, second-year guard for Vanderbilt who has emerged as one of the best offensive players in the country over her first two seasons with the Commodores. She attended Rutgers Preparatory High School in Somerset, New Jersey, becoming a McDonald's All-American selection, a five-star recruit and a top-10 player in the Class of 2024.