Mikayla Blakes Shines in FIBA Gold Medal Run, Returns to Vanderbilt

Vanderbilt basketball standout Mikayla Blakes has returned to Nashville following a dominant summer on the international stage, where she led Team USA to a gold medal at the 2025 FIBA Women’s AmeriCup and earned tournament MVP honors.

After an exceptional freshman season that earned her both the 2024–25 USBWA Tamika Catchings National Freshman of the Year and SEC Freshman of the Year awards, Blakes extended her momentum into international play. Competing in Santiago, Chile, she averaged 14 points per game, leading the U.S. squad in scoring.

Blakes also contributed across the stat sheet, posting 3.4 rebounds, 2.0 steals, and a team-high 22.1 minutes per game. She delivered double-digit scoring performances in six of seven contests, showcasing her consistency and poise on an international platform.

“Everybody’s goal there is to win,” Blakes said, reflecting on the experience. “The USA never loses. It’s the kind of pressure you have when you represent your country. It was good pressure to have.”

In the gold medal match, Blakes delivered her most commanding performance, scoring 27 points and grabbing six rebounds in a 92–84 win over Brazil. Her 27 points marked the highest individual scoring output by a U.S. player during the tournament.

Team USA finished the competition with a perfect 7–0 record, capturing its fifth gold medal in the Women’s AmeriCup and third in the last four editions of the tournament.

With her summer success behind her, Blakes is now setting her sights on the upcoming NCAA season with renewed focus and energy.

“Now, setting up for the season, I want to win this season as well,” she said. “Just having people around who are like-minded—it’s going to be a good season.”