Despite a rough end to last season, Lady Vols basketball had its first two players selected in the WNBA draft in the Kim Caldwell Era. Janiah Barker went to the Las Vegas Aces in the second round, and the Dallas Wings picked Zee Spearman in the third.
With an entirely new roster for next season featuring 13 transfers, Tennessee has another player projected to be in the mix to be taken in the 2027 WNBA Draft. According to an updated big board from Women’s Hoops Master Class, Maryland transfer Kaylene Smikle was listed as the No. 16 prospect.
This positioning would make her a projected early second-round pick in the draft with the potential to make a push into the first round.
Former Lady Vol Talaysia Cooper was also listed as the No. 5 prospect, now with Ole Miss after entering the portal this offseason.
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Smikle is coming off a senior season that was shut down due to a knee injury, which required surgery. In seven games and five starts, she averaged 13.1 points per game on 44.4% shooting from the field and 35% on threes. She also contributed 3.9 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 0.7 steals per outing.
The year before, her first with the Terrapins, Smikle was fantastic. In 33 appearances and starts, she averaged 17.9 points per game on 44.8% shooting from the field and 34.7% on threes. This went along with 4.4 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.5 steals. As a result, she was named to the All-Big Ten First Team by the media and Second Team by coaches.
“Kaylene Smikle is an elite scorer and a two-time All-Big Ten First Team selection,” Caldwell said. “She can score in a variety of ways and will be a match-up problem for opponents.”
Smikle started her career at Rutgers. As a true freshman, she averaged 17.9 points, 4.5 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 2.2 steals per game. A three-time Big Ten Freshman of the Week, she was named to the Big Ten All-Freshman Team and to the Big Ten All-Second Team by the media and coaches. She also set the Rutgers program record for scoring as a freshman.
