Former Lady Vols basketball star guard Talaysia Cooper is staying in the SEC to round out her career. After three years with Tennessee and two on the court, Cooper entered the transfer portal following this past season. Now, she’s committed to Ole Miss, she announced on Wednesday.
Cooper was Tennessee’s leading scorer and assister in the 2025-26 season, posting 16.0 points and 3.6 assists per game. This came on 42.9% shooting from the field and 34.3% from range. She also contributed 4.7 rebounds and 2.7 steals per contest.
“First, I just want to say thank you to the University of Tennessee, the coaching staff, my teammates, and everyone who has supported me during my time here,” Cooper wrote about her decision to transfer. “Being a Lady Vol has meant more to me than I can fully put into words. I’ve grown a lot on and off the court, and I’ll always be grateful for the relationships and experiences I’ve gained here.
“After a lot of thought and prayer, I’ve decided to enter the transfer portal to continue my journey. This decision wasn’t easy at all, but I’m trusting what’s best for me moving forward. I will always have love and respect for Tennessee and everything this program stands for. Thank you for everything.”
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Cooper appeared in 29 games during the 2025-26 season and started in 25. However, in the SEC Tournament loss to Alabama, she was benched by Kim Caldwell for the majority of the second half. Caldwell said it was a coach’s decision, but didn’t expand on the exact reason for the decision. Cooper returned as a full member in the NCAA Tournament, which resulted in a Round of 64 loss to NC State.
This past season included the trip to play at Ole Miss. The Rebels won at home 94-81, featuring drama stemming from a blow-by in the handshake line from Caldwell to Ole Miss head coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin. Cooper finished with 30 points in the game with two rebounds, two assists and a steal.
This was Cooper’s second season on the court at UT, but third in the program. After beginning her career at South Carolina, she transferred in under Kellie Harper. The timing of her transfer left her ineligible, though, and she sat out the season.
Now, it’ll be the final season of eligibility for Cooper as she looks to play her way onto WNBA draft boards. She’ll also likely return to Knoxville with the Rebels next season, though the schedule is not yet revealed.
