Mikayla Blakes named preseason SEC Player of the Year for 2026-27
Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Oct 12, 2026, 9:05 AM
Last updated Oct 12, 2026
Mikayla Blakes, guard for Vanderbilt, has been selected as the preseason SEC Player of the Year for the 2026-27 season after her standout performance last year. Blakes was the only player to earn unanimous selection and averaged 27.1 points per game, with an impressive 30.5 points in SEC games. South Carolina and LSU lead in preseason All-SEC selections, with South Carolina's Joyce Edwards, Texas' Madison Booker, and LSU's Mikaylah Williams joining Blakes on the first team. Dawn Staley of South Carolina is favored to win SEC Coach of the Year, and LSU's Jada Williams is tipped for SEC Newcomer of the Year. The Gamecocks are predicted to win the SEC title again, aiming for their sixth consecutive regular-season championship.
- •Blakes won unanimous preseason SEC Player of the Year honors
- •Three South Carolina players made All-SEC teams
- •Dawn Staley favored for SEC Coach of the Year
- •Jada Williams anticipated as SEC Newcomer of the Year
- •South Carolina picked to win the SEC title again
- 9:05 AMYahoo Sports — Preseason men's basketball All-SEC, awards for 2026-27 USA TODAY Sports Network
- 9:05 AMYahoo Sports — Preseason women's basketball All-SEC, awards for 2026-27 USA TODAY Sports Network
"The USA TODAY Sports Network's preseason All-SEC basketball team is in. Our writers predict a tight race between Thomas Haugh and Tyler Tanner for POTY.
"See the USA TODAY Sports Network's preseason All-SEC teams and award winners for the 2026-27 season, including Player and Coach of the Year.
Sources
External links- Yahoo SportsOct 12, 2026, 9:05 AMPreseason men's basketball All-SEC, awards for 2026-27 USA TODAY Sports Network
The USA TODAY Sports Network's preseason All-SEC basketball team is in. Our writers predict a tight race between Thomas Haugh and Tyler Tanner for POTY.
- Yahoo SportsOct 12, 2026, 9:05 AMPreseason women's basketball All-SEC, awards for 2026-27 USA TODAY Sports Network
See the USA TODAY Sports Network's preseason All-SEC teams and award winners for the 2026-27 season, including Player and Coach of the Year.
Original reporting and copyright belong to the linked sources. SportsNewsReport.com aggregates and links — it does not republish full articles.
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