Friday, May 8, marks the WNBA Opening Night for the upcoming 2026 season. The premier women’s basketball professional league, now featuring 15 teams, will include five former Lady Vols basketball stars on opening night rosters.
This features rookie Janiah Barker with the Aces, Rickea Jackson with the Sky, Rae Burrell with the Sparks, Jordan Horston with the Storm and Isabelle Harrison with the Tempo.
“It was always a goal for them, and they worked really hard to do that,” Caldwell said about Barker and Zee Spearman being drafted this year. “And we’re incredibly proud of them. I’m going to continue to root for them every single step of the way. And I think it says a lot about the way that we play, that we got two of our bigs drafted in one year, and again, they put the work in, and I’m excited to see what they do next.”
Spearman was waived by the Wings after being selected by Dallas in the third round.
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Here’s a closer look at each Lady Vol in the WNBA this year:
Janiah Barker – Las Vegas Aces
- Year(s) at UT: 2025-26
- Final year of college stats:
- 14.3 points
- 6.6 rebounds
- 1.2 assists
- Year(s) in the WNBA: 1
- 2025 WNBA stats:
- N/a
Rickea Jackson – Chicago Sky
- Year(s) at UT: 2022-24
- Final year of college stats:
- 20.2 points
- 8.2 rebounds
- 2.3 assists
- Year(s) in the WNBA: 3
- 2025 WNBA stats:
- 14.7 points
- 3.2 rebounds
- 1.7 assists
Rae Burrell – Los Angeles Sparks
- Year(s) at UT: 2018-22
- Final year of college stats:
- 12.3 points
- 3.9 rebounds
- 1.6 assists
- Year(s) in the WNBA: 5
- 2025 WNBA stats:
- 7.5 points
- 2.3 rebounds
- 1.2 assists
Jordan Horston – Seattle Storm
- Year(s) at UT: 2019-23
- Final year of college stats:
- 15.6 points
- 7.1 rebounds
- 3.3 assists
- Year(s) in the WNBA: 4
- 2025 WNBA stats:
- N/a (injury)
- 2024 WNBA stats:
- 6.8 points
- 4.3 rebounds
- 1.8 assists
Isabelle Harrison – Toronto Tempo
- Year(s) at UT: 2011-15
- Final year of college stats:
- 12.2 points
- 8.6 rebounds
- 0.7 assists
- Year(s) in the WNBA: 11
- 2025 WNBA stats:
- 4.9 points
- 2.6 rebounds
- 0.7 assists
