Vanderbilt women's basketball has emerged as a force to be reckoned with in the early part of the season. Their remarkable performance has demonstrated that last year's NCAA Tournament run was no mere fluke. The Commodores, currently standing at 4-0, have been dominant, winning each game by a margin of at least 13 points and earning a prestigious ranking of No. 17 in the country according to analytics website Torvik. This feat has been achieved despite the absence of key players like Leilani Kapinus, Justine Pissott, Iyana Moore, and Sacha Washington, who have all had to miss time due to various reasons.

Vanderbilt Women's Basketball - Dominating the Court with Early Season Prowess

Player Performances

Mikayla Blakes has been a standout for Vanderbilt. After scoring 16 points against South Florida and an impressive 29 against Butler, she was named SEC Freshman of the Week. Her consistent scoring and on-court presence have been crucial to the team's success.Justine Pissott and Leilani Kapinus, who were dealing with injuries earlier in the season, have now returned. Their contributions will be vital as the team continues to face tough opponents.

Upcoming Opponents

Next up, Vanderbilt will face Hampton (1-2) on Wednesday. The Pirates have a win over DII Bowie State but have struggled against DI competition, losing to Radford and Norfolk State. This will be a challenging test for Vanderbilt as they look to maintain their winning streak.Hampton's women's basketball schedule in the next five games includes a matchup against Vanderbilt on Nov. 20, followed by games against Eastern Kentucky, at Georgia, at East Carolina, and against Gardner-Webb.

Game Details

The game between Vanderbilt and Hampton will be available on streaming only. It can be accessed via the ESPN app with a login for any cable or streaming service that carries SEC Network, including Fubo, which offers a free trial to new subscribers.The date of the game is Nov. 20, with a time of 6:30 pm. CT. It will be played at Memorial Gymnasium.

Injury Updates

Sacha Washington has missed all four games for Vanderbilt due to a medical issue. Iyana Moore also missed the Butler game due to back spasms, and her status for the Hampton game is uncertain.Despite these setbacks, Vanderbilt's depth and talent have allowed them to continue winning.

Schedule Overview

Vanderbilt's women's basketball schedule for the next five games is as follows:Nov. 20: HamptonNov. 22: SamfordNov. 26: Arizona at Acrisure ClassicNov. 27: Cal or Michigan State at Acrisure ClassicDec. 1: Appalachian StateVanderbilt basketball news has been filled with notable events. Mikayla Blakes' performance earned her the SEC Freshman of the Week award, and Shea Ralph received a contract extension before the start of the season, although the terms remain undisclosed.We occasionally recommend interesting products and services. If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links, we may earn an affiliate fee. USA TODAY Network newsrooms operate independently, and this doesn't influence our coverage.Aria Gerson covers Vanderbilt athletics for The Tennessean. Contact her at agerson@gannett.com or on X, formerly Twitter, @aria_gerson.