NASHVILLE, TN – Vanderbilt guard Mikayla Blakes was unanimously selected as the Southeastern Conference Player of the Year, marking a historic achievement for the program. Head coach Shea Ralph also earned SEC Coach of the Year honors after leading the Commodores to a record-breaking season.

Blakes Earns Unanimous Player of the Year Recognition

Blakes’ selection as SEC Player of the Year was unanimous by voters from the USA TODAY Sports Network. The sophomore averaged 27.1 points, 4.6 assists, and 2.9 steals per game, shooting 46.6% from the field, and 36.1% from three-point range. She led the NCAA in scoring and was the first SEC player this century to score 30 or more points in 12 games.

It’s a lot easier to go to, I suppose, top programs and just win,” she said. “I wanted to do the uncommon thing.” Mikayla Blakes

Last season, Blakes was named the USA TODAY SEC Newcomer of the Year.

Ralph Named SEC Coach of the Year

Shea Ralph secured SEC Coach of the Year honors after guiding Vanderbilt to a 27-win regular season – a new program record. The Commodores finished second in the SEC standings. South Carolina’s Dawn Staley received three votes for the award.

Additional SEC Awards

• SEC Defensive Player of the Year: Raven Johnson, South Carolina
• SEC Newcomer of the Year: Cotie McMahon, Ole Miss
• SEC Freshman of the Year: Aubrey Galvan, Vanderbilt

South Carolina and Oklahoma were the only teams with multiple All-SEC selections. The Gamecocks led with three selections, while the Sooners had two.

All-SEC Teams

First Team

• Mikayla Blakes, Vanderbilt*
• Madison Booker, Texas
• Joyce Edwards, South Carolina
• Cotie McMahon, Ole Miss
• Raegan Beers, Oklahoma

*unanimous selection

Second Team

• Clara Strack, Kentucky
• Liv McGill, Florida
• Raven Johnson, South Carolina
• Aaliyah Chavez, Oklahoma
• Dani Carnegie, Georgia
• Ta’Niya Latson, South Carolina
• Mikaylah Williams, LSU