Leilani Kapinus commits to Vanderbilt women's basketball out of transfer portal

Two-time Big Ten All-Defensive Team guard Leilani Kapinus committed to transfer to Vanderbilt women's basketball from Penn State, she announced Sunday on social media.

Kapinus spent four years with the Nittany Lions. After missing her first season because of an injury, she started 94 games in three seasons. In 2023-24, she averaged 11.5 points per game and shot 58% from the field and 41% from 3-point range. She is a career 66% free-throw shooter.

She averaged 6.8 rebounds, 2.1 assists and two steals per game in 2023-24.

An experienced, facilitating guard, Kapinus is a similar player to Jordyn Cambridge, who used her final year of eligibility in 2023-24. Like Cambridge, Kapinus can run the offense and is a dogged defender. She fits well in Shea Ralph's hard-nosed defensive style.

Kapinus is Ralph's second transfer commit of the offseason. Vanderbilt also added Jane Nwaba from Pepperdine in the portal. Both players are in their final year of eligibility.

Ralph has had a good track record with transfers with the Commodores. Saint Louis transfer Ciaja Harbison was an All-SEC selection in 2023, and Ralph brought in two former McDonald's All Americans in Jordyn Oliver and Justine Pissott last offseason.

TRANSFER TRACKERVanderbilt women's basketball transfer portal tracker 2024: Who is joining, leaving Commodores

Aria Gerson covers Vanderbilt athletics for The Tennessean. Contact her at agerson@gannett.com or on Twitter @aria_gerson.