The March Madness competition is now entering the Sweet Sixteen phase, with the first weekend handing a few draft prospects a major boost in the selection. While all eyes were on the senior stars carrying their team in the tournament, sophomore Mikayla Blakes is also in the spotlight following her best season, matching Caitlin Clark’s accomplishments.
Though there were discussions about her plays, Blakes’ opponent, Hannah Hidalgo, openly put her at the Fever guard’s level. The Vanderbilt star is also ready for the defensive challenge from Hidalgo.
Mikayla Blakes Draws Caitlin Clark Comparison
The Sweet-16 phase will tip off on March 27, with 10 teams looking to extend their run in the competition. One of the exciting match-ups would be Vanderbilt vs Notre Dame. Both programs have strong rosters with superstars like Blakes and Hidalgo leading them from the front. Understanding the challenges ahead, in the pre-game interview, Hidalgo praised her opponent.
“The way she’s able to put the ball in the hoop, it’s like Caitlin-type of level. She can score on all three levels, whether that’s getting all the way to the basket, her midrange, or her three. Of course, that’s always tough to guard,” Hidalgo said.
Hannah Hidalgo and Mikayla Blakes went head-to-head at their respective New Jersey high schools, and they also played each other in AAU ball.
— Kyle Smedley (@KyleMSmedley) March 26, 2026
Here’s Hidalgo on those games ahead of leading 6 seed Notre Dame women’s basketball vs. 2 seed Vanderbilt in the Sweet Sixteen Friday. pic.twitter.com/dSgFWJ8fQv
While the Notre Dame star is also among the top scorers, ranking third in the nation, her defensive gameplay attracted much praise. Blakes also highlighted the same aspect while analyzing the game.
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“One thing about people, when they steal the ball a lot, you can’t be afraid to dribble in front of them, and we’re just going to have to use ball fakes as well. She’s really good at reading passing lanes, but we can’t just fully look at where we’re throwing the ball, because she’ll probably get it,” Blakes said.
The comparison between the Vanderbilt star and the former Iowa playmaker is understandable, considering the extraordinary season the player is having and matching CC’s multiple records.
Mikayla Blakes Matching Caitlin Clark’s Records
The 2024 rookie has been one of the top stars in college history and even earned an All-Time First team by AP without winning a title. The competition also used the prolific scorer for its latest March Madness advertisement, combining Clark with Magic Johnson and Charles Berkley.
While her records are incredible, Blake is matching them with her offensive gameplay. In the 2025-26 season, Blakes recorded her fifth straight 30-point game against a top-25 ranked opponent, surpassing Clark’s four-game senior-season streak.
Mikayla Blakes enters elite company alongside Caitlin Clark 🤝 pic.twitter.com/fKJYGjSdkn
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) February 27, 2026
By March 2026, Blakes moved into the top five on the NCAA all-time sophomore single-season scoring list, exceeding the 867-point total set by Clark in 2022. Apart from CC’s records, the player also made her mark, becoming the first SEC player in the last 25 years to record four consecutive 30-plus point games.