How Shea Ralph built Vanderbilt women's basketball roster around Mikayla Blakes

For the past two seasons, Vanderbilt women's basketball star Mikayla Blakes has been the team's primary high-scoring force. Coach Shea Ralph aims for 2026-27 to have sufficient complementary players that will allow Blakes to lead and contribute in multiple ways, other than just scoring. Ralph emphasized that Blakes' leadership, increased impact and versatility are essential goals to achieve this.

The Commodores' roster revolves around Blakes, who is the 2026 SEC Player of the Year, leading the nation in scoring with an average of 27 points per game. She also contributes with 4.1 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game. Blakes will be joined by Aubrey Galvan, who was also SEC Freshman of the Year, averaging 13.5 points and 5.7 assists per game. The 2025-26 team made it to the Sweet 16.

Following the departures of Justine Pissott, Ndjakalenga Mwnentanda, and Sacha Washington, Ralph's new additions to the roster include transfers Vernell Atamah and Mia Woolfolk, and freshmen Olivia Jones, Jhai Johnson, and Sther Ubaka. Ralph said that the transfer portal provided the team with what they needed. She praised Atamah as an "elite shooter" and Woolfolk as a "versatile big with SEC experience after transferring from Georgia".

Woolfolk's three-point shooting potential is something Ralph is working on developing for the future.

The freshman class is led by Olivia Jones, a 5-star guard, who reminds Ralph of Blakes in terms of intensity and consistency. The team also has 4-star forward Johnson, an excellent rebounder, and Ubaka, who brings physicality as a combo-forward. Jones' impact on the program has been remarkable, according to Ralph, who compared her to some of the greatest players she has coached.