Sunday afternoon at Thompson-Boling Arena wasn’t just about the scoreboard - though Tennessee’s 112-40 win over Winthrop certainly made a statement. It was also a homecoming for one of the Lady Vols’ all-time greats: Semeka Randall Lay. Now leading Winthrop as head coach, Randall Lay returned to the court where she once helped build a dynasty under the legendary Pat Summitt.
Randall Lay was part of the iconic 1998 national championship team, known as one of "The Three Meeks" alongside Chamique Holdsclaw and Tamika Catchings. That group didn’t just win - they redefined dominance in women’s college basketball.
These days, Randall Lay is in a different role, guiding a young Winthrop squad through the grind of the season. She’s been at the helm since the 2020-21 campaign, and while Sunday’s matchup was lopsided, it was never about the final score for her.
After the game, Randall Lay addressed the media with the kind of perspective only a former champion and seasoned coach can offer. “It’s always good to come back here,” she said.
“Especially with a new team - most of my roster came through the transfer portal. It was great to take them to the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame and play in this game.
This is my home away from home.”
As for the game itself? Randall Lay didn’t sugarcoat it.
“Game is what it is,” she said. “We were short-handed.
No excuses. Tennessee did what Tennessee should do to us.
We’re on to the next game.”
Despite the tough loss, there’s optimism in the Winthrop camp. The Eagles are off to one of their best starts in recent years, and Randall Lay pointed to standout performances from players like Madison Ruff as a big reason why.
“She plays hard on both ends, leaves it all out there,” Randall Lay said. “I need to clone four more of her.”
The matchup with Tennessee wasn’t originally on the schedule - it came together late - but Randall Lay saw it as a necessary challenge. With tough games ahead against Charlotte and Virginia, and a conference slate that opens with a gauntlet of top-tier opponents, she viewed this as a test that can help sharpen her team, even if the lessons weren’t immediate.
“We needed this opportunity to get ourselves ready,” she said. “We’ve got a tough stretch coming, and this helps us prepare mentally and physically.”
Before the game, her team visited the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame - a meaningful stop, especially for a group still learning the history of the sport. “They don’t know half the people who’ve contributed to this game,” Randall Lay said with a laugh. “Might have to start doing quizzes in July.”
When asked what she could take away from the game itself, Randall Lay was candid. “Honestly, not much,” she said.
“We had to change the lineup right before tipoff. One of our starters couldn’t go, and we were adjusting on the fly.
We’ve got kids just coming back from the flu, one played after having Covid. It’s been a funky week, and we’re just trying to get through it and make it to the break after Virginia.”
Still, amid the chaos, she found time to recognize talent on the other side - specifically Lady Vols freshman point guard Mia Pauldo. “I’ve got a great deal of respect for her,” Randall Lay said.
“You don’t see too many freshmen come in with that kind of charisma and love for the game. She reminds me of Madison in a lot of ways.
I hope she stays here and grows with this program. She’s fun to watch.”
And of course, no trip back to Knoxville would be complete without a few memories resurfacing. Randall Lay shared one with her team right before tipoff - a moment from her Final Four experience when the Lady Vols had to make a sudden lineup change after a key injury.
“Coach didn’t say much - it just happened,” she recalled. “I told my team today, we’ve just got to figure it out.
That’s what this is about.”
As the press conference wrapped, Randall Lay left with a smile and a message for the room: “Alright, y’all. Have a great holiday.
Good luck, win some basketball games. Win some championships - more important.”
That’s the voice of a competitor who’s been there, done that, and is now passing the torch to a new generation - both on her own bench and across the court.