There’s only one team still standing undefeated in SEC women’s basketball play - and it’s the Tennessee Lady Vols. At 6-0 in conference action, they’ve climbed to the top of the standings in what’s arguably the toughest league in the country. That’s no small feat, especially considering the firepower across the SEC this season.
Now, it's worth noting that Tennessee has played one fewer game than both South Carolina and Vanderbilt, who sit just behind at 6-1. The Lady Vols were supposed to take the court Monday at Ole Miss, but that matchup was postponed due to weather. No makeup date has been announced yet, so Tennessee’s perfect SEC record will remain intact until Thursday, when they host Mississippi State in Knoxville.
Here’s how the SEC standings stack up as of Sunday evening:
- Tennessee - 6-0
- Vanderbilt - 6-1
- South Carolina - 6-1
- Texas - 4-2
- LSU - 4-2
- Ole Miss - 4-2
- Georgia - 4-3
- Oklahoma - 4-3
- Alabama - 3-3
- Kentucky - 4-4
- Mississippi State - 2-4
- Auburn - 2-5
- Florida - 1-5
- Texas A&M - 1-5
- Missouri - 1-6
- Arkansas - 0-6
Tennessee’s 6-0 start hasn’t come against a soft slate, either. They’ve already taken down two ranked SEC opponents - Alabama on the road and Kentucky at home - in back-to-back outings. And they’ve handled business elsewhere, too, with home wins over Florida and Arkansas and road victories at Auburn and Mississippi State.
Head coach Kim Caldwell acknowledged what this kind of start can mean for a team still finding its rhythm. “It definitely matters,” she said.
“It worked out in our favor to where we could stack some games and build some confidence. And I think that was big for us.
We’re not really playing great at home… but you gotta beat the teams that you can beat, because it does only get harder, and you try to get one that maybe you shouldn’t.”
That’s a telling quote. Caldwell knows the grind of the SEC doesn’t let up - and the Lady Vols’ schedule is about to get real.
Next up is Mississippi State on Thursday, Jan. 29, in Knoxville. Tip-off is set for 6:30 p.m.
ET on SECN+. Then comes a marquee non-conference showdown: a road trip to face UConn on Feb.
- That’s followed by another SEC road swing - at Georgia on Feb. 5 - before Tennessee heads into a heavyweight matchup at South Carolina on Feb.
So far, Tennessee has done what good teams do: take care of business against beatable opponents and step up when the spotlight shines a little brighter. But the road ahead will test just how far this team can go in the conference - and beyond.