The transfer portal is set to shake up college basketball once again, and the Lady Vols are feeling the tremors. With the portal officially opening post-national championship, several players have already declared their intention to move on from Tennessee’s program.
This past Monday, Deniya Prawl and Alyssa Latham announced their decisions to leave. By Thursday, Kaniya Boyd and Lauren Hurst had joined them, marking a significant shift for the team.
The Lady Vols are coming off a season that didn’t quite hit the mark. Finishing with a 16-14 record (8-8 SEC), they entered the SEC Tournament as the 6-seed but fell to Alabama in the second round. Their NCAA Tournament run was cut short by NC State in the Round of 64 in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Head coach Kim Caldwell now faces the challenge of rebuilding as she heads into her third year. Though the portal remains closed for now, players are actively declaring their intentions to enter it or to transfer as graduates.
Reflecting on the evolving landscape, Caldwell remarked, “It’s a crazy world where we’ll regroup and see who’s staying and what our next steps are. The portal opening soon means it’s only going to get wilder each year.”
Here's the current transfer tracker for Lady Vols basketball as of Friday morning:
Departures
Intend to Enter the Transfer Portal
- Fr.
G Deniya Prawl
- Jr.
F Alyssa Latham
- R-So.
G Kaniya Boyd
- Fr.
G/F Lauren Hurst
Out of Eligibility
- Sr.
F Janiah Barker
- Sr.
F Zee Spearman
- Sr.
G Nya Robertson
- Sr.
F Jersey Wolfenbarger
Stepped Away from Program
- R-Sr. G Kaiya Wynn
Dismissed from Team Before the Season
- Sr. G Ruby Whitehorn (Arizona State)
Potential Returners
Not in the Portal
- R-Jr.
G Talaysia Cooper
- Fr.
G Mia Pauldo
- Fr.
G Jaida Civil
- Fr.
G Mya Pauldo
Additions
Incoming Transfers
- N/A
High School Signees
- Oliviyah Edwards (Five-star)
- Gabby Minus (Four-star)
As the Lady Vols navigate these changes, the focus will be on rebuilding and strengthening the roster for the upcoming season. With talented high school signees like Oliviyah Edwards and Gabby Minus on the horizon, there’s potential for a fresh start. The journey ahead will be one to watch as Caldwell and her team regroup and strategize for the future.