Tennessee’s rebuilt women’s basketball roster took a hit this week, with junior guard Avery Mills set to miss an extended stretch after suffering a right knee injury during a team skill workout on Tuesday, June 30.
Lady Vols coach Kim Caldwell delivered the news on Tuesday. Mills, a Liberty transfer, was one of the biggest additions Tennessee made this offseason, and her absence comes before she has had a chance to suit up for the program.
Mills arrives in Knoxville with a strong résumé. Last season, she earned First-Team All-CUSA honors after appearing in 26 games and making 25 starts.
She averaged 15.3 points per game while shooting 42.9% from the field and 42.7% from three. She also chipped in 4.0 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game.
Her production has climbed steadily since her freshman year. In 33 games off the bench with no starts, Mills averaged 6.8 points and shot 51.9% overall, 46.2% from deep and 91.3% at the free throw line. That 50/40/90 line earned her a place on the CUSA All-Freshman Team.
A 5-foot-9 guard from Lynchburg, Virginia, Mills drew praise from Caldwell when she signed.
“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.”
Mills is part of a massive turnover in Tennessee’s program. The Lady Vols brought in 15 newcomers this offseason after losing every player from last year’s roster because of eligibility or the transfer portal.
That overhaul followed a rough finish to the 2025-26 season, when Tennessee dropped eight straight games and then fell to seven-seed NC State in the Round of 64 as a 10-seed in the NCAA Tournament.
Caldwell responded to the roster reset by leaning heavily on the portal. Mills was the first addition, and Tennessee later added 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).
The Lady Vols also added two freshmen, four-star Gabby Minus and international prospect Irene Oboavwoduo, to complete the roster.
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