Vanderbilt’s Mikayla Blakes has been named the SEC Player of the Year, earning unanimous recognition from the USA TODAY Sports Network. Her exceptional performance throughout the season, particularly over the last eight games where she averaged an impressive 30.5 points in SEC competition, set her apart as a standout player. Blakes concluded the season with an average of 27.1 points, alongside 3.9 rebounds, 4.6 assists, and 2.9 steals while maintaining a shooting percentage of 46.6% from the field and 36.1% from beyond the arc. Notably, Blakes was also the USA TODAY SEC Newcomer of the Year last season.
Vanderbilt coach Shea Ralph was honored with the SEC Coach of the Year title after guiding the Commodores to a historic second-place finish in the SEC, with a program-record 27 regular-season wins. South Carolina’s Dawn Staley, who led her team to a fifth consecutive SEC regular-season title, received three votes for the accolade.
In defensive honors, South Carolina’s Raven Johnson claimed the SEC Defensive Player of the Year award, edging out Kentucky’s Clara Strack by two votes. Johnson showcased her defensive prowess by holding SEC’s top-10 scorers to a mere 25% shooting percentage while she was on the court, significantly improving her team’s defensive performance.
Ole Miss forward Cotie McMahon was acknowledged as the SEC Newcomer of the Year, having put together a stellar season that included an average of 19.8 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 2.9 assists per game. Both South Carolina and Oklahoma emerged as strong teams on the All-SEC list, with South Carolina leading with three selections, while Oklahoma had two.
The first team for the All-SEC awards included standout players Blakes, Madison Booker from Texas, Joyce Edwards from South Carolina, McMahon, and Raegan Beers from Oklahoma, with Blakes being the sole unanimous choice. The second team featured Clara Strack from Kentucky, Liv McGill from Florida, Johnson from South Carolina, Aaliyah Chavez, and a three-way tie involving Dani Carnegie from Georgia, Ta’Niya Latson from South Carolina, and Mikaylah Williams from LSU.
These achievements reflect a highly competitive year in SEC women’s basketball and highlight the remarkable talents within the league, setting a hopeful tone for upcoming seasons.