The Lady Vols are set to welcome back their standout freshman point guard, Mia Pauldo, to the court this Thursday. Pauldo's absence from Wednesday night's availability report against Texas A&M signals her return to action.
Coach Caldwell had been tight-lipped about Pauldo's return timeline during her three-game hiatus. The injury, sustained during a tough loss to South Carolina, kept her sidelined but didn't occur during practice sessions.
In Pauldo's absence, Tennessee showcased resilience, crushing Missouri, narrowly falling to a top-five Texas team, and struggling on the road against a ranked Ole Miss squad. Nya Robertson has been stepping up as the starting point guard during this period.
Pauldo has been a revelation this season for the Lady Vols, averaging 11.6 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game. Her performance in SEC play has been particularly impressive, with her scoring jumping to 14.4 points per game-ranking her 16th in the SEC and second on the team, trailing only Talaysia Cooper’s 18.18 points.
Speaking of Cooper, her absence from the injury report is a relief for the Lady Vols. She had a scare with an injury late in the Ole Miss game but managed to return after a brief exit. Meanwhile, Texas A&M will miss Vanessa Saidu for their upcoming clash.
With just a quick turnaround from their last game, the Lady Vols face the Aggies at 6:30 p.m. ET on SECN+.
Following that, they gear up for another significant challenge on the road against No. 11 Oklahoma, set for Sunday at 2 p.m.
ET on ESPN.