Mikayla Blakes of Vanderbilt women's basketball was named the SEC Preseason Player of the Year by both the USA TODAY Sports Network and the league's media poll, according to an Oct. 12 release.
Blakes, the 2026 SEC Player of the Year, led the nation with 27 points per game in 2025-26. She enters the season on a 53-game streak of scoring in the double digits, which is the third-longest active streak among Division I players and is the only SEC player since 2000 to average over 30 points per game during conference play. Blakes was also the only NCAA player in 2025-26 to average at least 2.5 made 3-pointers per game while also having at least four assists and 2.5 steals.
Blakes was a First Team All-American selection last season. She is now in her
junior season, where she returns alongside 2026 SEC Freshman of the Year Aubrey Galvan.
Vanderbilt was picked tied for third in the SEC in the USA TODAY Sports Network poll and fourth in the league's media poll.
Aria Gerson covers Vanderbilt athletics for The Tennessean. Contact her at agerson@gannett.com or on X @aria_gerson.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Mikayla Blakes of Vanderbilt women's basketball named preseason SEC Player of the Year
