Category: Lady Vols

Kim Caldwell introduces Nolan Harvath to Lady Vols’ basketball program

Tennessee head coach Kim Caldwell introduces Nolan Harvath to the Lady Vols’ basketball program.

First-year head coach Kim Caldwell introduced Nolan Harvath to Tennessee’s basketball program on Thursday. Harvarth will serve as director of women’s basketball sports performance.

“I have had the pleasure of working with Nolan in the past, and he knows what we are trying to accomplish,” Caldwell said. “He sees the vision we have and is dedicated to making sure we are the hardest working team in the country. I know he is going to show up to work focused on ensuring our program is getting better every single day.”

Harvarth served as a member of West Virginia’s strength and conditioning staff from 2020-24.

He worked alongside Caldwell at Glenville State, serving as director of strength and conditioning from 2018-20 and assistant athletic director from 2019-20.

PHOTOS: Kim Caldwell through the years

Karoline Striplin announces transfer destination

Former Lady Vol Karoline Striplin announces transfer destination.

Former Lady Vols forward Karoline Striplin announced her transfer destination on Thursday. She transferred to Indiana after entering the NCAA transfer portal on April 19.

“I am choosing to enter the transfer portal for my senior year to expand my horizons on and off the court,” Striplin announced. “Once again, thank you to everyone who has been with me over the past three seasons. I can’t wait to make the most out of one more!”

Striplin played three years at Tennessee. She appeared in 33 games for the Lady Vols last season, including 11 starts. Striplin averaged 7.2 points, 3.1 rebounds and 14.4 minutes per contest during the 2023-24 season.

She recorded a .491 field goal percentage and a .310 three-point field goal percentage.

As a sophomore, Striplin appeared in 33 games and made 28 starts in 2022-23.

PHOTOS: Kim Caldwell through the years

Kim Caldwell discusses Lazaria Spearman signing with Lady Vols

Tennessee basketball head coach Kim Caldwell discusses Lazaria Spearman signing with the Lady Vols.

Tennessee announced the signing of Miami basketball transfer Lazaria Spearman on Wednesday.

“We welcome Lazaria to the Lady Vol program and are excited about the height and athleticism she brings to our team,” Tennessee head coach Kim Caldwell said. “It’s not easy to find someone with her combination of length and ability to play in transition.

“She really clicked with our team and is fun to be around. I can’t wait to have her on the court with us.”

The 6-foot-4 forward appeared in 60 games, including 10 starts, at Miami from 2022-24. She averaged 5.8 points and five rebounds per contest, while also recording 26 blocks and 33 steals.

PHOTOS: Kim Caldwell through the years

Photo by Dan Harralson, Vols Wire

Kim Caldwell discusses Alyssa Latham signing with Lady Vols

Tennessee basketball head coach Kim Caldwell discusses Alyssa Latham signing with the Lady Vols.

First-year head coach Kim Caldwell announced the signing of Syracuse freshman transfer forward Alyssa Latham on Wednesday.

“What a great opportunity it is to welcome an ACC All-Freshman Team member and one of the top first-year players in the country,” Caldwell said. “She has a very bright future ahead of her, and we’re excited she has three years where we can work with and develop her. I look forward to seeing how much her game grows.”

Latham played one season at Syracuse during the 2023-24 campaign. She averaged 8.6 points, seven rebounds and 0.7 assists per game, while recording 42 blocks and 38 steals last season.

PHOTOS: Alyssa Latham at Syracuse

PHOTOS: Kim Caldwell through the years

Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports

Photos of new Lady Vol Alyssa Latham at Syracuse

Photos of new Lady Vol basketball player Alyssa Latham during her one season at Syracuse.

Syracuse basketball transfer forward Alyssa Latham committed to Tennessee on Saturday.

She played one season as a freshman for the Orange during the 2023-24 campaign. Latham averaged 8.6 points, seven rebounds and 0.7 assists per game, while recording 42 blocks and 38 steals last season.

Latham scored 23 points against Alabama on Nov. 30, 2023, setting a career-high in Syracuse’s, 79-73, win against the Crimson Tide.

The 6-foot-2 forward helped guide Syracuse to a 24-8 (13-5 ACC) record last season. Syracuse advanced to the NCAA Tournament second-round. The Orange defeated Arizona during the NCAA Tournament first-round, while being eliminated by UConn in second-round play.

PHOTOS: Lady Vols’ basketball head coach Kim Caldwell through the years

Below are photos of Latham during her one season at Syracuse.

Photos of Kim Caldwell through the years

Photos of Lady Vols’ basketball head coach Kim Caldwell through the years.

Kim Caldwell was hired as the Lady Vols’ basketball head coach on April 7 and introduced at Tennessee on April 9.

She is the fourth Tennessee women’s basketball head coach during the NCAA era, joining Pat Summitt, Holly Warlick and Kellie Harper.

Caldwell served as Marshall’s head coach for one season during the 2023-24 campaign, compiling a 26-7 (17-1 SBC) record and advancing to the first-round of the NCAA Tournament. Marshall won the 2024 Sun Belt Conference regular-season and tournament championships

Caldwell also served as head coach at Glenville State in Division II from 2016-23. She compiled a 191-24 record and won the 2022 NCAA Tournament Division II championship.

Below are photos of Caldwell through the years.

Kennedy Dykes signs with Tennessee

Kennedy Dykes, daughter of Jimmy Dykes, signs with Tennessee.

Kennedy Dykes signed to be a cheerleader at Tennessee on Wednesday.

Dykes is the daughter of ESPN and SEC Network basketball analyst Jimmy Dykes.

“So proud of our daughter Kennedy for signing with the University of Tennessee cheer team,” Jimmy Dykes announced. “She’s headed to Rocky Top.”

Jimmy Dykes served as women’s basketball head coach at Arkansas from 2014-17, compiling a 43-49 (15-33 SEC) record. He guided the Razorbacks to the NCAA Tournament during his first season.

He also served as a men’s assistant coach in the Southeastern Conference at Arkansas (1984-85) and Kentucky (1987-89).

PHOTOS: Kim Caldwell introduced as Tennessee Lady Vols’ basketball head coach

Tennessee places first in combined attendance

Tennessee totals top combined attendance in football, men’s and women’s basketball.

Tennessee posted the highest overall attendance of any school in the country for the 2023-24 season across football, men’s basketball and women’s basketball.

A total of 1,161,218 fans attended 38 events for the three sports in Knoxville. The Vols and Lady Vols outdrew LSU by more than 96,000 fans. The Tigers had 44 home events in the three sports.

South Carolina was the only other school to have one million in attendance for the three sports. The Gamecocks had 41 home events.

“The unwavering support of our fans is what makes Knoxville America’s college sports city and gives us the best fan base in all our sports,” Tennessee vice chancellor and director of athletics Danny White said. “We appreciate our fans’ passion and dedication, which powers our student-athletes to achieve their goals an d turns every home game into a truly unforgettable experience.”

Tennessee was the only school to place top 10 for attendance in football, men’s basketball and women’s basketball.

Kim Caldwell announces Tennessee coaching staff

Lady Vols’ head coach Kim Caldwell announces Tennessee basketball staff.

Kim Caldwell was introduced as the Lady Vols’ basketball head coach on April 9.

Caldwell announced her Tennessee assistant coaching staff on Tuesday.

Roman Tubner (former associate head coach and recruiting coordinator at Alabama), Gabe Lazo (former associate head coach and defensive coordinator at Mississippi State), Jenna Burdette (former associate head coach at Marshall) and Angel Rizor (former assistant coach at Marshall) are part of Caldwell’s staff at Tennessee.

“I am very pleased to welcome our new coaching staff members to Rocky Top,” Caldwell said. “It’s an outstanding group of high-energy coaches that is gifted in the areas of recruiting, teaching, motivating, mentoring and player development. I’m so excited to get our basketball team on the court with this group and can’t wait to see what we can collectively do as a staff to help our current players and future Lady Vols become the best they can possibly be.”

PHOTOS: Kim Caldwell introduced as Tennessee’s basketball head coach

Photo by Dan Harralson, Vols Wire

Photos of Rickea Jackson at 2024 WNBA draft

Photos of Lady Vols’ Rickea Jackson at the 2024 WNBA draft.

The 2024 WNBA draft was held on Monday at Brooklyn Academy of Music in Brooklyn, New York.

Tennessee forward Rickea Jackson was selected by Los Angeles in the first round (No. 4 overall). She is the fourth consecutive Lady Vol selected in the first round of the WNBA draft during the last four years.

The Lady Vols have produced 44 all time selections in WNBA college drafts and 46 including elite drafts.

Jackson averaged 20.2 points, 8.2 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game during the 2023-24 season at Tennessee. She played for the Lady Vols from 2022-24 after transferring from Mississippi State.

Below are photos of Jackson at the 2024 WNBA draft.