After an impressive year one directing Lady Vols basketball, head coach Kim Caldwell had things crash down on her in year two. After signing a top portal and high school class, it fell apart completely down the stretch, resulting in eight-straight losses to round out the season. This was capped off with a Round of 64 loss to NC State in the NCAA Tournament.
Following the season, every single possible returner on the roster hit the transfer portal and found a new home. In response, after moving on from a pair of assistant coaches, as well, Caldwell and her staff landed an entirely new 15-player roster for her third season.
While she looks to integrate her new roster to the program, Caldwell is well aware of what is on the line. In an exclusive interview with ESPN’s Andrea Adelson, Caldwell noted that she realizes that another bad season could be the end.
“I feel like if we have another year like last year, then yeah, that’s it,” Caldwell said in the interview. “We have to put a better product on the floor. We have to play hard. We have to look the way I want my team to look. That is more so what I am concerned about and focused on.”
Spent some time this week with Tennessee women’s hoops, and found an introspective and honest Kim Caldwell. No excuses. Knows what is on the line. Excited about her revamped team. “I feel like if we have another year like last year, then yeah, that’s it.” https://t.co/rBl1eBzGKN
— Andrea Adelson (@aadelsonESPN) July 1, 2026
More From RTI: Lady Vols Basketball Legend Candace Parker is Receiving a Massive Honor in Knoxville This Weekend
Tennessee didn’t have much time to build its 15-player roster. The Lady Vols held a commitment from four-star incoming freshman Gabby Minus, but essentially had to go from scratch. With new assistants Bill Ferrara and Isoken Uzamere on staff, UT went to work.
“Kids in the portal have either had a bad experience or they’re looking for a better one,” Ferrara said about the portal recruiting. “They had a good one, and they want a better one. You know how valuable it is that I sat in there and watched Kim just tell everybody the truth about every single thing, every single question.
“So yeah, that’s what we did on all the visits. We just told them how it’s going to be said, it’s going to be hard. We said we’re going to be waking you up at six in the morning on Fridays, and we’re going to be running you on the track. We said that we’re going to be pressing everybody. And that’s the best way to attract what you want. You want hard-working kids with a chip on their shoulder? You have to tell them what it’s going to be like. You can’t roll out Lamborghinis and lie to them. So, it’s been fun for me to watch Kim do that.”
Here is a look at each player on the Lady Vols’ 2026-27 roster:
Transfers:
- G Avery Mills (Liberty)
- G Naomi White (NAU)
- F Harper Peterson (Stanford)
- F Zhen Craft (Georgia)
- G Rylie Theuerkauf (Georgia)
- G Harissoum Coulibaly (Auburn)
- F Fatmata Janneh (Texas A&M)
- G Kaylene Smikle (Maryland)
- G Shaelyn Steele (Penn State)
- G Jada Eads (Seton Hall)
- F Aaliyah Moore (Texas)
- G Kennedy Fauntleroy (ECU)
- F Riley Makalusky (WVU)
Freshmen:
- G Gabby Minus
- G Irene Oboavwoduo
