The Lady Vols are hitting the road again, and this next stretch is where things start to get real.
No. 20 Tennessee (12-3, 4-0 SEC) heads to Tuscaloosa to take on No.
21 Alabama (17-2, 3-2 SEC) at Coleman Coliseum on Sunday, Jan. 18 (2 p.m. ET, SEC Network).
It’s the first of four ranked opponents the Lady Vols will face in their next five games-a gauntlet that will test just how far this team has come under first-year head coach Kim Caldwell.
Tennessee enters this one riding high. They had a few days off after dismantling Arkansas 85-50 at home on Jan. 11, and they’ll need every ounce of that rest as they dive into what could be the most defining stretch of their season.
Alabama, meanwhile, is coming off a tough 58-54 loss to Auburn on the road. The Tide were without Essence Cody, their standout forward who’s been a force on both ends of the floor this season-averaging nearly 14 points, over five rebounds, and contributing with steals and blocks as well. Her status for the Tennessee game could be a game-changer, especially given how much Alabama relies on her interior presence.
Before the Auburn loss, Alabama had been rolling. They dropped their SEC opener to South Carolina (no shame there), then rattled off three straight wins, including a signature upset of then-No.
7 Kentucky and a solid road win over Missouri. This is a team that’s shown it can respond to adversity-and they’ll be looking to do just that against a red-hot Lady Vols squad.
This matchup also carries special significance-it’s Alabama’s “We Back Pat” game, part of the SEC’s weeklong initiative to honor the legacy of Pat Summitt and raise awareness and funds for the Pat Summitt Foundation in the fight against Alzheimer’s. Any time Tennessee plays in one of these games, it adds an emotional layer, especially for a program that still carries Summitt’s legacy in everything it does.
On the court, Tennessee is expected to get a major boost: leading scorer Talaysia Cooper is set to return after missing the Arkansas game. Cooper was a late scratch after taking a ball to the head during shootaround, but Caldwell said on Jan. 16 that she expects her to be ready for Alabama.
That’s big. Cooper’s ability to create off the dribble and defend multiple positions is a huge part of Tennessee’s identity on both ends.
And while Cooper was out, Tennessee’s freshmen stepped up in a big way. The depth and versatility of this team are starting to show, and Caldwell’s system-fast-paced, aggressive, and analytics-driven-is beginning to click.
That Arkansas win wasn’t just about the scoreline; it was about the way the Lady Vols played. Clean, efficient, and relentless.
Looking ahead, this Alabama game kicks off a brutal run: Kentucky, Ole Miss, Mississippi State, and then a trip to UConn. It’s the kind of stretch that separates contenders from pretenders. But the Lady Vols are 4-0 in SEC play, playing some of their best basketball of the season, and getting healthier at the right time.
Tipoff is set for 2 p.m. ET on the SEC Network. Buckle up-things are about to get interesting in Knoxville.