Lady Vols basketball went on the road for its biggest test yet in the 2025-26 season. No. 14 Tennessee met No. 3 UCLA in Pauley Pavilion, but got run out of the building, losing 99-77.
Here are three takeaways from the defeat.
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The Worst Defensive Showing Under Kim Caldwell
The Lady Vols had some spurts of strong defensive efforts and aggression in the press, but it was mostly an uninspiring effort. There were far too many open looks for UCLA, particularly from range. A reason for this was often losing players in the press, as well, which hurt UT at times a year ago.
The main culprit was Gabriela Jaquez. She slipped behind the arch for a good number of open looks from three and knocked them down at an elite clip. She finished with 29 points on 10-for-14 shooting and 5-for-6 on threes.
UCLA was efficient as a team, as well. It shot 58.5% from the floor and 58.8% from range with only 12 turnovers.
The result? The most points Kim Caldwell has ever allowed as the Lady Vols’ head coach. It tops the mark of 93 that Liberty produced last season in a Tennessee win and LSU’s mark of 89 in UT’s loss a year ago.
Janiah Barker Played Well in her Return to UCLA
There was plenty of bad in the loss to UCLA, but a bright spot was once again Janiah Barker. The Bruins transfer has been the most consistent piece of the team all year and is fitting the billing of a WNBA first-round selection. The emotions of going back to her old school didn’t get the best of her, either.
She dropped 25 points on 9-of-17 shooting from the field. She also knocked down 3-of-7 3-pointers. This went with three rebounds and two steals, though she did turn it over four times.
There was far too often she looked like the only player who was finding success. Tennessee needs the other four on the floor to play complementary around her, or there are going to be more struggles like today.
Need More Out of Mia Pauldo
When the Lady Vols added five-star guard Mia Pauldo, expectations were sky high. In the exhibition against Columbus State and in practices open to the media, you could see why everyone was excited. She proved to have an elite jump shot and was capable of setting up teammates for easy buckets.
That hasn’t been the case recently, though. In the trip to UCLA, she had a rough afternoon, resulting in her sitting for long stretches. She was taken out of the game with 2:38 left in the third quarter. She wouldn’t get back on the floor until 4:22 was left in the fourth and the game was out of hand.
Pauldo finished with three points on 1-of-5 shooting. She also had two assists and a turnover. She is capable of being a really effective point guard, and Tennessee is going to need her to play to that standard against Stanford.
Final Stats
Up Next
Next, Tennessee will complete its second and final leg of the trip to play in California. The Lady Vols meet Stanford on Wednesday, Dec. 3, in the ACC/SEC Challenge. The game is scheduled for 9:15 p.m. ET and will air on ESPN2.
Then, UT returns to Knoxville to host Winthrop on Sunday, Dec. 14. That game will air at 2 p.m. ET on SECN+
