Talent can only get you so far in basketball.
Teams with the most individual skill are often predicted to win championships but do not always live up to expectations. While talent grabs headlines, team harmony, shared purpose and trust win games when it matters most. The rise and fall of the “superteam” in the NBA illustrate this disparity perfectly. Consider Kevin Durant, James Harden and Kyrie Irving teaming up in Brooklyn, Kawhi Leanord and Paul George in Los Angeles or Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal in Phoenix.
They all flopped. I’m not saying these players can’t win — in fact, Irving, Durant and Leonard have all captured NBA titles. But the executives of these organizations clearly prioritized star power over cohesion.
Conversely, the five most recent NBA champions share one trait: they were led by homegrown talent. Take last year’s Oklahoma City Thunder; despite clearly being the complete team all season, many analysts predicted the Lakers to emerge from the West after acquiring Luka Doncic to pair with Lebron James. Instead, the Thunder — led by last year’s MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander — took home the crown while the Doncic and James duo won just one playoff game. Thunder general manager Sam Presti focused on assembling young, complementary pieces through the draft, emphasizing chemistry with Alexander rather than attempting to land a second big-name superstar.
Shea Ralph’s Commodores model this framework. Mikayla Blakes is a bona fide superstar who dominates on both sides of the ball. Like Gilgeous-Alexander, she is surrounded by teammates who play unselfishly and embrace a certain style of basketball, letting the group thrive together.
Talent is important, but cohesion and togetherness take that talent and convert it into something virtually unbeatable. Similar to Oklahoma City, No. 5 Vanderbilt’s (24-3) chemistry and trust in one another is what makes the team so special, which led the squad to beat premier programs like LSU, Michigan and Texas.
Talent is important, but cohesion and togetherness take that talent and convert it into something virtually unbeatable.
— Jack Frutkin
Splash sisters
Blakes is joined in the backcourt by freshman point guard Aubrey Galvan, a duo known as “Batman and Robin.” Blakes ranks first nationally in points per game (26.3) and consistently makes her presence known in the clutch time. The Wade Trophy candidate has scored at least 25 points in 16 games this season, and her 34 points were a large reason Vanderbilt handled No. 4 Texas.
Galvan has already established herself as one of the best playmakers in the game. Her unmatched court vision certainly doesn’t go unnoticed as her flashy between the legs and behind the back passes, along with her steady facilitation, allow Blakes to excel playing off the ball. Galvan’s stellar behind-the-back pass to Sacha Washington in the final seconds against Georgia almost sent the game into overtime, but Washington was unable to sink the buzzer-beater.
Searching for stability
Vanderbilt scored an embarrassingly low 4 bench points in games against Georgia and Texas. For most of the season, Aiyana Mitchell and Jada Brown have been the first women off the bench for Shea Ralph. Mitchell averages just under 16 minutes while Brown averages just under 18. It has been imperative for Ralph to open her rotation even more, and she has done that, but at the expense of Mitchell and Brown, who each played under five minutes in contests against Texas and Georgia. Aga Makurat logged at least 10 minutes in the last five games and has stepped up as a threat from beyond the arc. Aalyah Del Rosario, Vanderbilt’s only true center, is also back in the mix. The junior was projected to be a key piece in the rotation, but her lack of athleticism and inconsistent rim protection has kept her out of the lineup for most of the season.
While the bench continues to be a non-factor, starters Washington and Justine Pissott have stepped up as reliable third and fourth options. Despite her lack of size, Washington’s physicality and toughness at the rim are key to Vanderbilt’s rebounding game. The graduate has continued to show improvement this season after missing the entire 2024-25 campaign due to blood clots.
The 6’2, Lawrenceville, Georgia, native averages a team-high 7.4 rebounds per game and has held her own when facing off against traditional SEC centers. Washington had her best game of the season in Vanderbilt’s 84-83 victory over Kentucky, where she sunk all seven of her shot attempts and scored 15 points. The offensive rebounding machine has developed incredible chemistry with Galvan, who often sets up Washington for easy looks down low.
The “Splash Sisters” have found their Draymond Green, and the trio has only benefited from the development of a lights out 3-point shooter on the wing.
Pissott’s prime
Vanderbilt is No. 3 in the SEC in 3-point percentage, largely due to the standout play from Pissott. The senior has elevated her game immensely this season, starting all 27 games after not drawing any starts last year. Pissott is tied for fourth nationally in 3-pointers made this season (83) and is first in the SEC. The Toms River, New Jersey, native also leads the SEC in 3-pointers made per game (3.07).
Pissott isn’t just draining countless triples each game, but she is doing it at an exceptionally efficient rate. The guard is No. 2 in the SEC in 3-point percentage (45.6), a metric that is almost unheard of for someone who attempts as many triples as she does. Blakes and Galvan both require the ball in their hands as they excel with creating their own shots and finding open teammates. It is paramount to surround superstars with role players who can effectively catch-and-shoot.
Despite the loss, Pissott had one of her best career performances against Georgia. She played the entire game, shooting 9-of-15 from the floor and burying 5-of-8 3-point attempts. Her 23 points and overall strong contribution kept the Commodores competing in a contest where Blakes and Galvan combined for just five made baskets.
Pissott forces defenders to stay away from doubling Blakes, as leaving No.13 open on the perimeter is an automatic 3 points for Vanderbilt. In March Madness, just having two stars isn’t going to cut it. Reliable third and fourth options separate contenders from favorites, and the rise of Washington and Pissott have added an entire dimension to the Black and Gold.
Proven under pressure
Not every top seed is really tested before the tournament. Some teams become so used to beating up on inferior squads that when finally faced against an elite team, they are out of sync and easily sent home.
Vanderbilt does not fall into this category.
The Commodores haven’t just faced top-tier competition — they have beaten four top-10 teams. Their losses to South Carolina and Ole Miss have given them a glimpse into what it’s like to lose on the big stage. Instead of falling into a cycle of defeat, Ralph and company have consistently bounced back even stronger after their three setbacks.
Their victory over Texas was a statement win. The ‘Dores didn’t edge out the Longhorns in the final minutes — they controlled the game from start to finish. Vanderbilt had the lead for over 36 minutes and shot 50.9% from the field.
As the Commodores enter this final stretch, they have an edge on many other teams. They are seasoned, prepared and battle tested. Vanderbilt is ready for March, and with the combination of trust, experience and chemistry this team possesses, the Black and Gold are a force to be reckoned with.
Vanderbilt hosts No. 16 Kentucky on Sunday, Feb. 22, with tipoff set for 3 p.m. CST.
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