The 2023-24 season was filled with brilliance, as Vanderbilt Women’s Basketball made its first NCAA tournament appearance since 2014. While Baylor cut the team’s postseason run short, the Commodores will look to capitalize on their momentum from last year during the 2024-25 season. Though the team is composed mainly of returners — with seven of the eight consistent rotation players returning from last season — head coach Shea Ralph did some work over the offseason to bring four fresh faces to the Black and Gold coalition. The Hustler took a look at these four in preparation for their debuts at Memorial Gymnasium starting next week.
Trinity Wilson, Forward, First-year
Hailing from Lakeville, Minnesota, Trinity Wilson was the fifth-best player from Minnesota and the first recruit to sign with the 2024 Commodore class. At 6’3”, Wilson physically dominated her competition from inside the paint on both sides of the court. She scored over 1,000 points and rebounds in high school and led her team, the Lakeville North North Tartans, to four straight sectional championships. In her senior season, she shot 66.7% from the floor and tallied 13.6 points through 28 games. However, Wilson’s excellent court vision and passing ability are often overlooked. Ralph is thrilled to utilize it.
“Trinity’s incredible size and strength will help her become a dominant force in the paint for us, both offensively and defensively,” Ralph said when Wilson committed. “She also possesses a high basketball IQ and a guard-like skill set, which will make her a difficult matchup for our opponents and a valuable component to our program’s future success.”
Despite a plethora of raw traits, Wilson will likely watch and develop from the bench early this season, as the Black and Gold already have seasoned forwards in senior Sacha Washington and sophomore Aiyana Mitchell. When she does see the court, though, expect her to be an asset.
Jane Nwaba, Forward, Graduate transfer
In 2020, Pepperdine University took a chance on a young Jane Nwaba, sending the 5’10” forward her only collegiate offer: a decision that would pay dividends for the program. Nwaba spent four years as a Wave, appearing in 106 games while starting 64 of them. In her senior season, Nwaba led the team in points (10.7), rebounds (7.6), assists (2.8) and steals per game (1.3) en route to an All-WCC Honorable Mention. She also racked up nine double-doubles in the 2023-24 season, including an 18-point, 12-rebound performance against Cal State LA.
Though she might not be the most efficient scorer — shooting 41% from the field and 22% from 3-point range in her senior season — Nwaba can turn it on when her number is called. She finished the season with 11 straight double-digit scoring nights, including 22 against San Francisco on 53% shooting from the field — and two-for-three shooting from downtown. Though Nwaba will no longer be the face of her team (like she was at Pepperdine), expect her to make a strong impact for Ralph’s second unit by providing solid defense and ferocious rebounding while still getting an occasional bucket. She is by no means the flashiest player, but she’ll be a vital piece as a leader on and off the court.
Leilani Kapinus, Guard, Graduate transfer
Need a do-it-all guard that can glue a team together? Look no further than Leilani Kapinus, a graduate transfer out of Penn State. She’s a 1,000-point scorer that’s averaged over six rebounds per game over the last two years. Oh, and she’s also a two-time All-Big Ten Defensive Team player. She can even shoot the rock, averaging 41% from downtown in addition to an ultra-efficient 58% from the field. Perhaps the most appealing part is that Kapinus redshirted her freshman year due to injury, meaning she has two years of eligibility left in Nashville. Whether it’s starting or coming off the bench, the 5’10” guard is going to play her role well, whatever it may be on a given night. Expect the veteran to make big plays down the stretch and even have occasional breakout games if she gets hot.
Kapinus also brings international experience to the table, as she competed for USA basketball in the 2023 U23 FIBA 3×3 Nations League. In 3×3 basketball, there’s an even heavier emphasis on ball and player movement, so expect Kapinus to flash that quality of her game all year. Throughout her senior year with the Nittany Lions — whether it was on the block, in the short corner or on the wing — Kapinus’ off-ball movement was lethal. She’s going to get a lot of buckets from seals in the paint and on back cuts, and she will make a few threes from the wing when the defense is late on rotations.
Mikayla Blakes, Guard, First-year
Mikayla Blakes is the first five-star recruit in Ralph’s tenure and the highest-rated player to ever sign with Vanderbilt Women’s Basketball. As a point guard at Rutgers Prep in New Jersey, Blakes utilized her athleticism to create breakaways and score through contact. She was not only a deadly 3-point shooter, but she was also capable of penetrating defenses to create easy layups. In her senior year, she averaged 20.4 points, 3.6 steals and 3.2 assists per game. This production led ESPNW to rate her as the No. 8 player in the class of 2024 and earned her a spot on the 2024 McDonald’s All-American team. Blakes played well in the showcase, putting up 13 points behind two 3-pointers. Blakes has brought her intense work ethic and determination to Vanderbilt throughout the preseason.
“Mikayla Blakes has been one of our best players in practice every day. She brings a competitive fire, a will to win and a fearlessness that I haven’t seen in a freshman in a long time,” Ralph said at the SEC Tipoff ‘25.
With the loss of star point guard Jordyn Cambridge, Black and Gold fans will be seeing a lot of Blakes as she is slated to be a starting guard for the Commodores this season.
The women’s basketball team will feel familiar this year, but these four new additions will still add depth to the roster. This team will debut on Nov. 4 at 11 a.m. CDT against Lipscomb at Memorial Gym.
