Avery Mills is giving Tennessee fans a reason to smile.
The Lady Vols guard, who has been sidelined since tearing her ACL and meniscus on June 30, 2026, posted a positive update on Sunday that showed her back in the gym and shooting jump shots. On her Instagram story, Mills wrote, "Little wins day by day. Thank you lord."
That’s a meaningful step in her recovery, especially considering how recently the injury happened. It has been just over four months since the setback, and the fact that she is already back working on jumpers suggests she is on, or even ahead of, schedule.
Mills arrived in Knoxville with real expectations attached. The guard from Lynchburg, Virginia, came over from Liberty after building an impressive resume there over two seasons. She set the Flames’ single-season three-point percentage record at 43.8 percent and ranks No. 11 in program history with 124 made threes across her two years.
That kind of shooting touch is exactly why her absence has been so noticeable as Tennessee has opened the 2026-27 season with two non-conference wins. The Lady Vols beat Duquesne behind Kaylene Smikle’s 31 points and near-perfect night from the field, then followed that with a road win at Coppin State, where Kennedy Fauntleroy reached 1,000 career points.
Even with that early success, Mills remains one of the team’s biggest missing pieces. The injury timeline had already pointed to an extended absence, and it still makes sense to think Tennessee may choose to let her finish the rehab process without rushing her back this season.
For now, though, the update is a welcome one. Mills is back in the gym, the shots are going up, and Tennessee fans have something concrete to celebrate as her recovery continues.
In Other News...
Why Alabama Still Sits Ahead Of Tennessee Just Got Clear
The latest College Football Playoff rankings left Tennessee still chasing Alabama, even though both teams carry two losses. The Vols landed at No. 8 while the Crimson Tide stayed at No. 3, and committee chair Hunter Yurachek pointed to Alabamas stronger schedule and better collection of quality wins as the separator.
For Tennessee, the path forward is still right there on the schedule, but it is not an easy one. Matchups with Texas A&M, LSU and Vanderbilt will give the Vols chances to strengthen their case, and in a crowded playoff race, every week now feels like an audition for a higher spot. [Read more 🡒]
Tennessee Just Landed A Top Commit With One Huge Catch
Tennessees 2027 baseball class already has a headline name in in-state catcher Blake Lundy, a highly rated prospect by Perfect Game who gives the Volunteers another important piece in the early stages of that group. He joins a run of top commits for Tennessee, adding to the programs recent momentum on the recruiting trail and reinforcing how quickly the Vols are stacking talent for the future.
Lundys commitment, though, comes with the familiar uncertainty that shadows elite baseball recruiting. He is still eligible for the upcoming MLB Draft, and his path could still turn toward professional baseball instead of Knoxville. For Tennessee, the good news is clear: if he chooses the college route, the Volunteers will be waiting as his landing spot. [Read more 🡒]
Tennessee Gets One Break But Another Loss Just Got Much Tougher
Tennessee got a small bit of relief in its first injury update of the week ahead of Texas A&M, with tight end DaSaahn Brame not appearing on the availability report after leaving the previous game. But the bigger news was far more damaging for a defense already stretched thin: sack leader Tyree Weathersby is out for the season after suffering a knee injury, a significant blow to a pass rush that has leaned on him for production.
Weathersby became the eighth Tennessee player to go down with a season-ending injury this year, underscoring how much attrition the Volunteers have had to absorb as the schedule tightens. The report also listed six other players who have now been sidelined for several straight games, leaving Tennessee to keep piecing together depth at multiple spots while trying to stay competitive in a crucial stretch. [Read more 🡒]