Vanderbilt women’s basketball faces an intriguing 2025-26 season under fifth-year coach Shea Ralph.
The Commodores have been in a slow build under Ralph’s tenure. They missed the NCAA tournament in Ralph’s first two years but earned a bid in 2024 and 2025. Also returning is Mikayla Blakes, the SEC Freshman of the Year and All-American known for her electric scoring prowess.
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But Khamil Pierre, Blakes’ high-scoring sidekick, departed from the team during the summer and transferred to NC State. Iyana Moore is off to Notre Dame. And Jordyn Oliver joined the coaching staff after running out of eligibility.
Vanderbilt must rely on Blakes, as well as freshmen Aubrey Galvan, Ava Black and Monique Williams, and transfers Ndjakalenga Mwenentanda and Aalyah Del Rosario, this season, which starts Nov. 3 at the Oui-Play Paris event vs. Cal.
Here’s what you need to know:
Vanderbilt women’s basketball projected starting five
Guard: Aubrey Galvan
Guard: Mikayla Blakes
Wing: Justine Pissott
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Forward: Ndjakalenga Mwenentanda
Forward: Sacha Washington
Ralph is high on Galvan, a true freshman who could start at point guard immediately while Blakes moves into a combo guard role. Washington should provide a much-needed post presence. This might be the year for Pissott, who has been a role player the last two years after transferring from Tennessee.
Three bold predictions for Vanderbilt women’s basketball in 2025-26
Aubrey Galvan wins SEC Freshman of the Year
There are much bigger-name freshmen in SEC women’s basketball but very few will have the opportunity that Galvan should: to be the starting point guard from the start. If this works out well, Galvan should feature heavily in Vanderbilt’s offense. She may not put up large scoring numbers, but rebounds and assists could help in her favor while several 5-stars come off the bench.
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Sacha Washington finishes in the SEC’s top five in rebounding
The return of Washington is big for Vanderbilt, especially with Khamil Pierre having transferred to NC State. The 6-foot-2 post player may be undersized but she is a strong interior scorer and rebounder. Vanderbilt was a poor rebounding team a year ago, but Washington is the type of rebounder the team was missing when she missed all of 2024-25 with a blood clot.
Mikayla Blakes has a 60-point game
Blakes already scored more than 50 points on two separate occasions last season, setting SEC and NCAA freshman scoring records. That includes a 55-point game. How can she top that?
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Well, she could have a 60-point game.
Vanderbilt will be without six of its top seven scorers from 2024-25; Blakes is the only one who will play after Madison Greene’s season-ending injury. Washington’s return will help, but the Commodores will need every bit of her scoring prowess.
Washington’s return How Sacha Washington returned for Vanderbilt women’s basketball after blood clot
Vanderbilt women’s basketball prediction 2025-26
This looks like a bit of a step back for Vanderbilt given how much production it lost from last year. Then again, several other SEC teams are in the same boat, and none of those teams have Blakes. Thus, it’s a safe bet to assume the Commodores will finish as a mid-pack SEC team as they did the last two seasons. They probably won’t be seeded as high as the No. 7 they earned a year ago, though.
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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 highlights what to know about Vanderbilt women’s basketball
