Vanderbilt's Mikayla Blakes Emerges as Challenger to UConn's Sarah Strong for National Player of the Year

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Vanderbilt point guard Mikayla Blakes has emerged as a serious challenger to UConn star Sarah Strong for the Naismith National Player of the Year award. After four straight 30-point games, Blakes has taken the lead in scoring at 26.2 points per game, and Vanderbilt coach Shea Ralph, a former UConn assistant, has forcefully endorsed Blakes over Strong for the top individual honor in women's college basketball.

Why it matters

The race for National Player of the Year is heating up between two of the top players in the country, with Blakes making a strong case to unseat the current favorite Strong. This high-profile debate highlights the incredible talent in the women's game and will captivate fans as the season reaches its climax.

The details

Blakes has been on a tear lately, scoring 34 points in a win over No. 4 Texas to help Vanderbilt open up a 26-point second-half lead. After starting the season with two losses, Vanderbilt has now won four straight SEC games under Ralph's leadership and sits just a half-game behind South Carolina for first place in the conference. Blakes' impressive statistical profile, including leading the nation in scoring at 26.2 points per game, poses a serious challenge to Strong, the current favorite for the Naismith Award. However, Strong's tremendous versatility and efficiency, including a higher effective field goal percentage and more blocks per game, still give her an edge over Blakes.

• On November 10, Vanderbilt defeated Furman.
• On February 9, Vanderbilt defeated No. 4 Texas.

What they’re saying

What’s next

The race for National Player of the Year will likely come down to the final weeks of the season, as Blakes and Strong continue to put up impressive performances for their respective teams.