Kim Caldwell’s second season at Tennessee has already turned the page in a big way, and the Lady Vols’ 2026-27 schedule will put that overhaul on display early and often against familiar faces.
After the 2025-26 campaign ended in ugly fashion, Tennessee’s entire roster moved on through eligibility or the transfer portal. Caldwell has since rebuilt the group with 15 newcomers, including 13 transfers and two freshmen, and she said last week the fit has matched what she expected.
“I think they’ve been right on track with who I thought that they would be,” Caldwell said last week. “A team that is not afraid of anything, that leans on - I was a little bit surprised at how close they are together, but they are willing to work.
They want to work. They pass the ball really well to each other.
They are fun to be around, and so they’re who I thought they would be.”
That new roster will run into several former Lady Vols next season, beginning with the ACC-SEC Challenge trip to Virginia Tech on Dec. 3. That game will bring Tennessee face to face with Alyssa Latham and Lauren Hurst, both now with the Hokies, as Caldwell returns to a program led by players she once coached.
The SEC slate opens with another reunion. Tennessee heads to Texas A&M on Dec. 31, where guard Kaniya Boyd now plays. Then Ole Miss comes to Knoxville on Jan. 3, setting up matchups with Talaysia Cooper and Jaida Civil just a few days into the new year.
A few other outgoing transfers won’t be on Tennessee’s 2026-27 schedule. Deniya Prawl is at Louisville, while Mia Pauldo and Mya Pauldo are at Rutgers. Ruby Whitehorn is at Arizona State, though she was dismissed from the team before the season and did not play during the 2025-26 campaign.
One more former Tennessee signee will show up later in the year. South Carolina visits on Jan. 28, bringing forward Oliviyah Edwards back into the picture.
Former assistant coaches also won’t be on the schedule. Gabe Lazo is now the head coach at Central Florida, and Roman Tubner is an assistant at Louisville.
Here’s when the outgoing Lady Vols from last season are set to face Tennessee in 2026-27:
Dec. 3 - at Virginia Tech
Alyssa Latham
Lauren Hurst
Dec. 31 - at Texas A&M
Kaniya Boyd
Jan. 3 - vs. Ole Miss
Talaysia Cooper
Jaida Civil
Jan. 28 - vs. South Carolina
Oliviyah Edwards
Other outgoing transfers not on the schedule:
Deniya Prawl (Louisville)
Mia Pauldo (Rutgers)
Mya Pauldo (Rutgers)
Ruby Whitehorn (Arizona State) - dismissed from team before season
Former assistant coaches not on the schedule:
Gabe Lazo (head coach at Central Florida)
Roman Tubner (assistant at Louisville)
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What makes the situation so uneasy is the lack of clarity around what comes next. The Vols do not yet know the extent of the injury or how long Farooq might be out, leaving a defense that already counted on him waiting for answers as camp moves forward. [Read more 🡒]
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For now, Tennessee does not have a diagnosis or any clear timetable for Farooqs return, leaving the situation open-ended as camp moves forward. If the recovery stretches on, backup safeties TJ Metcalf and Dejuan Lane would be in line for a bigger role, which means the next stretch of practices will offer an early look at how much the Volunteers can lean on their reserves. [Read more 🡒]