Lady Vols basketball got some bad news this past week. Head coach Kim Caldwell announced on Tuesday that junior guard and Liberty transfer Avery Mills suffered a right knee injury during a team skill workout on Tuesday, June 30, and will be sidelined for an ‘extended period of time’.
Mills was a First-Team All-CUSA member this past season. In 26 games and 25 starts, she averaged 15.3 points per game on 42.9% shooting from the field and 42.7% on threes. She also contributed 4.0 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game on the season.
As a freshman, Mills played in 33 games with no starts. She averaged 6.8 points on 51.9% shooting from the field, 46.2% on threes and 91.3% from the free throw line. This 50/40/90 line helped her earn a spot on the CUSA All-Freshman Team.
Mills is from Lynchburg, Virginia. She stands at 5-foot-9 and plays guard.
“Avery Mills brings toughness, leadership and sharp shooting that will translate to the SEC immediately,” Caldwell said after her signing. “She is a great player and an even better person. Her impact on our team will be great, both on and off the floor.”
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Mills is one of 15 incoming players to Tennessee’s roster this offseason, which had to be built from the ground up. The Lady Vols lost every player from last year’s roster due to eligibility or the transfer portal.
That may not be a bad thing, though, with Tennessee falling apart down the stretch in 2025-26. The team lost eight-straight games to round out the season, including a Round of 64 elimination to seven-seed NC State in the NCAA Tournament as the 10-seed.
In response to the exodus to the portal, Caldwell attacked the transfer portal herself. Mills was the first commit, followed by Naomi White (Northern Arizona), Harper Peterson (Stanford), Zhen Craft (Georgia), Rylie Theuerkauf (Georgia), Harissoum Coulibaly (Auburn), Fatmata Janneh (Texas A&M), Kaylene Smikle (Maryland), Shaelyn Steele (Penn State), Jada Eads (Seton Hall), Aaliyah Moore (Texas), Kennedy Fauntleroy (ECU) and Riley Makalusky (West Virginia).
UT also brings in a pair of freshmen, four-star Gabby Minus and international prospect Irene Oboavwoduo, to fill out the roster.
