Something remarkable has unfolded on West End.  

Fans who celebrated Vanderbilt Football’s first 10-win season ever are still mourning the Commodores’ loss in the ReliaQuest Bowl, but there is no time to dwell. They can step inside Memorial Gymnasium with equal reason for excitement.  

As the only Division I school with both its men’s and women’s basketball teams currently undefeated, a major shift is underway in the Music City. This sustained success across Vanderbilt Athletics is evident of what has been brewing in athletic director Candice Lee’s mind for several years. 

Lee’s vision for Vanderbilt has allowed it to thrive at the highest levels of college athletics. As a Philadelphia sports fan, this evolution reminds me of former 76ers general manager Sam Hinkie’s strategy of long-term success, known as The Process. Hinkie’s focus on building a young core for sustained results mirrors Lee’s approach: hiring talented coaches who are ideal fits and prioritizing lasting excellence. While Hinkie’s process was cut short, it is thrilling to watch Lee’s unfold right before our very eyes.  

Vanderbilt Women’s Basketball (15-0) continues to act as an engine of this success, jumping to No. 7 in the latest AP poll. Its most recent victory, a 65-61 win over then-No. 5 LSU on Jan. 4, has propelled the Commodores to their highest ranking since 2007.  

The dramatic victory followed a dominant win over Stonehill and an 88-71 triumph at Arkansas to kick off SEC play. Like Lee’s success across multiple sports, these three dynamic, yet different victories were not flukes — they were consequences of a group that trusts one another, knows their individual rolls and gives maximum effort. Head coach Shea Ralph is a microcosm of Lee’s approach, building her own process that is materializing in real time. 

Led by sophomore Mikayla Blakes and first-year Aubrey Galvan, Vanderbilt Women’s Basketball has found its footing, and it is here for the long haul. This three-game stretch has solidified this program as a serious contender come March, and the Commodores are just getting started.

The era of Blakes 

Mikayla Blakes has emerged as a bonafide superstar in women’s college basketball, elevating her game from an already outstanding freshman campaign. Blakes scored 32, 35 and 21 points in her last three games, respectively, earning her SEC Co-player of the Week among other honors. The Somerset, New Jersey, native ranks No. 3 nationally in points per game (25.2), trailing only Iowa State’s Audi Crooks and Notre Dame’s Hannah Hidalgo. As Vanderbilt enters the gauntlet that is SEC play, Blakes will have the opportunity to showcase her talent against the best of the best.  

The sophomore put her brilliance on display on national television against LSU. The sophomore came out firing, scoring Vanderbilt’s first 11 points. Blakes carried that momentum into the fourth quarter, scoring 15 of the Commodore’s 23 points in the final period. She finished with nearly half of Vanderbilt’s 65 points, putting on a show against a premier SEC powerhouse.  

Crunch time — commonly known as the final minutes of a close game — typically becomes an isolation battle between the teams’ best scorers. Crunch time separates good players from great players. A superstar’s ability to close out a game in these moments is essential to securing tight victories, and Blakes delivered, to put it lightly. Despite legendary LSU head coach Kim Mulkey making her a defensive priority down the stretch, Blakes took command of the contest and didn’t look back. 

She drilled a 3-pointer off a quick pass from Jada Brown to give the Commodores a 1-point lead with 2:35 remaining. On Vanderbilt’s very next possession, Blakes successfully maneuvered through a double-team to find Galvan for a triple in the corner, putting the ‘Dores back in front, 60-58. The 2025 All-American finished the contest by scoring Vanderbilt’s last five points, seizing control when it mattered most.  

“The thing about her that is so impressive? She never gets tired. She never gets tired,” Mulkey said of Blakes after the game. “She’s mentally and physically in as good a shape as any athlete and basketball player that I’ve seen.” 

Blakes’ fearlessness and pure skill are simply unmatched. She is the Batman of Vanderbilt Women’s Basketball — and every Batman needs a Robin. 

Freshman sensation 

Galvan’s arrival has impacted this team in countless ways, beginning with her ability to elevate those around her. The freshman’s advanced playmaking and ball-handling skills take pressure off Blakes, allowing her to prioritize what she does best: scoring. The two complement each other like peanut butter and jelly, and the trust between them is evident. 

When Blakes faced double-teams in the final stretch against LSU, her immediate move was to look for Galvan. Though Galvan struggled in that matchup, she delivered when it mattered most, drilling the corner triple to seal the victory. The floor general is not limited to facilitating, having knocked down four 3-pointers against both LSU and Arkansas. Ralph’s trust in her point guard is clear, as Galvan leads the Commodores in minutes per game (32.7). Having a reliable ball-handler in late-game situations, outside of the primary option, was critical down the stretch for the ‘Dores — and will continue to be as SEC play wears on. 

The Deerfield, Illinois, native’s strong decision making with the ball in her hands is a major reason Vanderbilt ranks No. 8 in the country in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.71). Galvan herself ranks No. 18 nationally in the metric (2.94) and is the only freshman in the top 25. Her ability to find open teammates while minimizing turnovers is impeccable, yet she’s far from too safe with the ball. Flashy behind-the-back and between-the-leg passes make Vanderbilt’s offense unpredictable, keeping opposing defenses on their toes.  

Galvan’s confidence resembles that of a senior or graduate. The 5’6 point guard ranks No. 12 nationally in assists per game, No. 4 in the SEC. However, her impact is not limited to the stat sheet, providing Ralph with a leader who executes the offense extremely effectively. 

Blakes and Galvan will undoubtedly be discussed as one of the premier backcourt duos in women’s college basketball over the next two seasons. To continue to make noise on the national stage, however, the Commodores will need some help from those around them.  

Shallow support 

Ralph is still in the process of identifying what pieces best complement her star backcourt. Outside of Blakes and Galvan, no Vanderbilt player averages more than 27 minutes per game. Justine Pissott is viewed as the Commodores’ third option, but she struggled in the first two SEC games, scoring 6 points in each. The 3-point specialist had a solid outing against Stonehill, scoring 12 points on 5-for-8 shooting. Sacha Washington and Ndjakalenga Mwentanda round out Ralph’s starting group, yet they average just 21.3 and 18.9 minutes per game, respectively. 

A starting lineup of four guards and one forward is quite concerning, especially when Vanderbilt’s only center, Aalyiah Del Rosario, hasn’t played meaningful minutes this season. While the drop-off after Blakes and Galvan is evident, Pissott, Washington and Mwentanda are capable of holding up against SEC competition. 

A lack of depth continues to be problematic for the Commodores. Against Arkansas, Vanderbilt scored just 16 bench points compared to 27 for the Razorbacks and still managed to squeeze out a comfortable victory. The Black and Gold only managed to put up six bench points when defeating LSU, 14 less than the Tigers. Brown and junior Aiyana Mitchell lead the Commodores off the bench and were the only two reserves to play for more than three minutes against Mulkey’s Tigers. Both showed encouraging flashes over this three-game stretch despite limited scoring versus LSU. However, consistency on the second unit from a scoring perspective has yet to be seen.  

Injuries are inevitable in this era of basketball, and it is simply impossible to survive four months with a rotation of just seven players. First-year Ava Black received good minutes against Stonehill and Arkansas, racking up 12 total points on a combined 5-for-5 shooting. Ralph will likely continue giving Black impactful minutes as she works to expand her rotation. Vanderbilt must develop stability and valuable contribution from its supporting cast to sustain success as the season progresses. This three-game slate has put the Commodores on the map, and Ralph and company are ready for whatever lies ahead. 

Vanderbilt returns to action against Missouri on Thursday, Jan. 8, at 6:30 p.m. CST at Memorial Gymnasium.