It’s safe to say that Lady Vols basketball has a lot of work to do in the transfer portal. After losses to eligibility and seven potential returners intending to enter the transfer portal, just Jaida Civil remains on the roster at this point.
Tennessee was also set to bring in a pair of highly-recruited high school prospects, but five-star forward Oliviyah Edwards has requested a release from her signing. This leaves just four-star Gabby Minus in the incoming freshman class.
Kim Caldwell and company’s transfer portal effort to rebuild the depleted roster will get into full swing on Monday. The portal opens at midnight after the conclusion of the national title game. It will remain open for 15 days. Graduate transfers and players undergoing a coaching change are already eligible to enter, though. That’s how Alyssa Latham has already landed at her new school.
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Here’s what the Lady Vols’ 2026-27 roster looks like as of April 6, 2026, at noon ET:
Returners
Not in the Portal
- N/a
Additions
Incoming Transfers
- N/a
High School Signees
- Gabby Minus
Departures
Intend to Enter the Transfer Portal
- Fr. G Deniya Prawl
- Jr. F Alyssa Latham (Virginia Tech)
- R-So. G Kaniya Boyd
- Fr. G/F Lauren Hurst
- Fr. G Mia Pauldo
- Fr. G Mya Pauldo
- R-Jr. G Talaysia Cooper
- Fr. G Jaida Civil
Out of Eligibility
- Sr. F Janiah Barker
- Sr. F Zee Spearman
- Sr. G Nya Robertson
- Sr. F Jersey Wolfenbarger
Requesting Release From Signing
- Oliviyah Edwards
Stepped Away from Program
- R-Sr. G Kaiya Wynn
Dismissed from Team Before the Season
- Sr. G Ruby Whitehorn (Arizona State)
8 Responses
Something is not right with coach all the girls are leaving.smh
Fire Caldwell immediately. Get a big time D1 coach before the season. We need someone to bring us back.
Hopefully UT is happy with all the money they saved by firing Kelly Harper, because that was the only reason to get rid of her. They now reap what they sowed.
Bring Candace Parker to Knox new will be elite
Kelly Harper lost the locker room as well only reason why she kept alot of the players is because they couldn’t just transfer like are able to now nobody is saying what Kim did is right but her holding players accountable i comment her for that she admitted where she went wrong took accountability on her part why the players want do the same they getting paid to play.
I think when they got off to a bad start they would quit playing hard, Jada civil is the only one I would have kept anyway. Kim needs some reliable shooters. It went well the first year because you had some reliable shooting, Tess Darby, Spears,.. Give her some time Rome wasn’t built in a Day. I say good riddance to all those who left, if you quit once you will again when the going gets a little rough
No one can come in and replace Pat Summit in two years. Kim was a gamble but she’s always been a winner and needs more time. Tennessee played at least 5 or 6 of the top schools including the final 4. No other team had a tougher schedule. Tennessee played closer to UCLA, Texas and Uconn than their opponents in their conference championships. I know this isn’t horseshoes but NIL has made it much tougher for a coach to instill a culture. The players can just leave if they don’t like their playing time or whatever. Tennessee isn’t an outlier. I think OSU lost 8 players to the portal. And finally UCLA just won it all last night. Their coach has been there for 15 years and this is her first title.
Caldwell said her team had a lot of quit in them and they just proved it. Why are so many people upset that this group are leaving when they played horrible basketball, were unwilling to play as a team or take direction. Obviously, the wrong players were recruited, one reason why the assistant coaches are gone.