The 2024-25 women’s college basketball season came to an end on Sunday afternoon when Connecticut knocked off South Carolina to win its 12th national championship.
ESPN released its way-too-early top 25 rankings for the 2025-26 season earlier this week. The Tennessee Lady Vols landed at No. 8 on the list after a strong first season under head coach Kim Caldwell.
“Despite just a .500 SEC record, a win over UConn and a Sweet 16 appearance make Kim Caldwell’s debut season as coach a massive success,” ESPN’s Charlie Creme wrote. “It appears much of her core will return, led by Talaysia Cooper, Zee Spearman and Ruby Whitehorn. Caldwell also landed a highly regarded recruiting class led by No. 11-ranked Mia Pauldo from New Jersey. Mia will be joined by twin sister Mya, No. 56 on the HoopGurlz list.”
While Tennessee ranks No. 8 nationally, they rank just fifth in the SEC coming in behind No. 2 South Carolina, No. 4 Texas, No. 6 LSU and No. 7 Oklahoma. Instate rival Vanderbilt came in behind Tennessee at No. 11 while ESPN listed Ole Miss and Kentucky as the first teams out of the top 25.
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The Lady Vols posted a 24-10 (8-8 SEC) record in Caldwell’s first season in Knoxville. Tennessee lost a number of tight games in the regular season, falling to LSU twice, Oklahoma, Texas and Vanderbilt by less than five points in the regular season.
Tennessee landed as a five-seed in the NCAA Tournament, knocking off Ohio State in the Round of 32 to return to the Sweet 16. The Lady Vols were neck-and-neck with Texas through three quarters before struggling in the game’s final 10 minutes to end their season.
Caldwell’s squad loses Jewel Spear, Samara Spencer, Tess Darby and Sara Puckett to graduation as well as reserves Favor Ayodele and Avery Strickland to the transfer portal. The Lady Vols return key players Talayshia Cooper, Zee Spearman and Ruby Whitehorn and signed one of the top prep classes that include three top 20 and five top 55 recruits nationally.
The Lady Vols are also looking to bolster their roster through the transfer portal this offseason as Caldwell’s squad looks for more in her second season as head coach.
