USBWA Vanderbilt News

High-scoring first-year Vanderbilt guard Mikayla Blakes rewrote the Southeastern Conference's freshman record book, leading the Commodores to a second straight NCAA Tournament with 23.3 points per game to earn her the 2024-25 Tamika Catchings National Freshman Player of the Year Award from the U.S. Basketball Writers Association.

Many familiar faces are featured on the 2024-25 U.S. Basketball Writers Association's Women's All-America Team, with 11 of 15 players on the three teams having earned previous All-America honors from the USBWA.

For the period through Sunday, Feb. 16, the five Ann Meyers Drysdale national women’s honorees of the week are Drake guard Katie Dinnebier; Connecticut guard Azzi Fudd; North Carolina guard Reniya Kelly; Harvard guard Harmoni Turner; and USC guard JuJu Watkins. The Tamika Catchings National Freshman of the Week is Vanderbilt guard Mikayla Blakes and and the National Team of the Week is Texas.

For the period through Sunday, Feb. 2, the five Ann Meyers Drysdale national women’s honorees of the week are Kentucky guard Georgia Amoore; Notre Dame guard Hannah Hidalgo; Iowa guard Lucy Olsen; Columbia guard Riley Weiss; UNCW forward Ali Zelaya. The Tamika Catchings National Freshman of the Week is Vanderbilt guard Makayla Blakes and and the National Team of the Week is North Carolina.

For the period through Sunday, Jan. 26, the five Ann Meyers Drysdale national women's honorees of the week are Drexel guard Amaris Baker; UCLA center Lauren Betts; Florida State guard Ta'Niya Latson; Bucknell forward Ashley Sofilkanich; Murray State forward Katelyn Young; the Tamika Catchings National Freshman of the Week is Vanderbilt guard Makayla Blakes and the National Team of the Week is Texas.

For the period through Sunday, Jan. 19, the five Ann Meyers Drysdale national women’s honorees of the week are UConn guard Paige Bueckers; Gonzaga forward Yvonne Ejim; NC State guard Aziaha James; Richmond guard Rachel Ullstrom; LSU guard Mikaylah Williams; the Tamika Catchings National Freshmen of the Week are Vanderbilt guard Makayla Blakes and Nebraska guard Britt Prince; and for the second straight week the National Team of the Week is South Carolina.

For the period through Sunday, Dec. 15, the five Ann Meyers Drysdale national women’s honorees of the week are Notre Dame guard Hannah Hidalgo, Kansas guard S’Mya Nichols, Vanderbilt forward Khamil Pierre, California forward Marta Suarez, and Wisconsin forward Serah Williams. The Tamika Catchings freshman of the week is Rutgers guard Kiyomi McMiller, and the National Team of the Week is Georgia Tech.

Five first-team selections are fiNorth Carolina forward Tyler Hansbrough headlines the 2007-08 U.S. Basketball Writers Association's All-America Team. The 6-9 junior from Poplar Bluff, Mo., has earned a spot on the first team for the second straight season.nalists for Oscar Robertson Trophy

The U.S. Basketball Writers Association has announced nominees for the 2007-08 Oscar Robertson Trophy and Henry Iba Award.