Category: Lady Vols

Rickea Jackson selected by Los Angeles in WNBA draft

Rickea Jackson selected No. 4 in WNBA draft by the Los Angeles Sparks.

Tennessee forward Rickea Jackson was selected by Los Angeles in the first round of the 2024 WNBA draft.

Jackson was the No. 4 overall selection in the draft, which was held Monday at Brooklyn Academy of Music in Brooklyn, New York.

The Sparks were 17-23 in 2023 and have missed the playoffs for the last three seasons. Los Angeles also had the No. 2 overall pick and selected Stanford’s Cameron Brink.

Jackson was recently named honorable mention by the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association.

She also earned honorable mention All-America honors two times at Mississippi State.

Jackson was a first-team All-SEC standout and has received All-America honorable mention acclaims from USBWA and the Associated Press.

Jackson received all-conference honors from USA TODAY Sports and the league’s coaches. She was also a finalist for the Cheryl Miller Award for a second consecutive year, recognizing the nation’s top forward.

The former Lady Vol averaged 20.2 points, 8.2 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game during the 2023-24 season.

Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Lady Vols add transfer Ajack Malual from Chaminade

Lady Vols add transfer Ajack Malual from Chaminade.

Tennessee announced the addition of junior rightside hitter Ajack Malual to the Lady Vols’ volleyball program.

Malual played at Chaminade from 2022-23.

“Our staff is excited about the addition of Ajack to our roster this summer,” Tennessee head coach Eve Rackham Watt said. “She is a player who we believe has a tremendous amount of potential and could really blossom in our program.

“As an opposite, she has a lightning fast arm with great range and will be a point scorer on the right side for us. She comes with high-level international experience as well as two seasons of college volleyball under her belt. That experience will be invaluable as we add her to our relatively young team this summer. We can’t wait to welcome her to Rocky Top.”

Rickea Jackson named honorable mention All-America status by WBCA

Tennessee’s Rickea Jackson named honorable mention All-America status by WBCA.

Rickea Jackson earned All-America honorable mention status from the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association on Wednesday.

Jackson received the honor for a second consecutive year. She is one of 42 players to be named honorable mention All-America by the WBCA for the 2023-24 season.

Jackson also earned honorable mention All-America honors two times at Mississippi State.

She was a first-team All-SEC standout and has received All-America honorable mention acclaim  from USBWA and the Associated Press.

Jackson received all-conference honors from USA TODAY Sports and the league’s coaches. She was also a finalist for the Cheryl Miller Award for a second consecutive year, recognizing the nation’s top forward.

She averaged 20.2 points, 8.2 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game for the Lady Vols in 2023-24.

David Yeazell-USA TODAY Sports

Photos of Kim Caldwell introduced as Lady Vols’ basketball head coach

A look at photos of Kim Caldwell being introduced as the Lady Vols’ basketball head coach.

Kim Caldwell was introduced as Tennessee’s women’s basketball head coach on Tuesday.

She is the fourth head coach for the Lady Vols during the NCAA era, joining Pat Summitt, Holly Warlick and Kellie Harper.

Caldwell has served as a collegiate head coach for eight seasons prior to being hired at Tennessee. She has compiled a 217–31 record, while winning the 2022 Division II national championship at Glenville State.

Caldwell also won the 2024 Sun Belt Conference regular-season and tournament championships at Marshall.

READ: Kim Caldwell’s offense and defense by the numbers

Below are photos of Caldwell’s introductory press conference as the Lady Vols’ head coach on Tuesday.

Lady Vols hire Kim Caldwell as basketball head coach

Tennessee hires Kim Caldwell from Marshall as the Lady Vols’ next basketball head coach.

Tennessee hired Kim Caldwell as the Lady Vols’ next women’s basketball head coach on Sunday.

“I am honored and humbled to accept the role as head coach of this historic program at the University of Tennessee,” Caldwell said. “I can’t help but reflect on accepting the Pat Summitt Trophy three seasons ago and be moved by the great responsibility and opportunity of now leading and building upon the incredible Lady Vol tradition she built. I am so excited to get to work and can’t wait to see what we all can accomplish together.”

Caldwell served as Marshall’s head coach during the 2023-24 season, compiling a 26-7 (17-1 SBC) record and advancing to the first-round of the NCAA Tournament.

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.

Caldwell played at Glenville State from 2007-11.

PHOTOS: Pat Summitt through the years

Gregg Pachkowski/USA TODAY Network

Eve Rackham Watt announces additions to Lady Vols’ volleyball

Tennessee head coach Eve Rackham Watt announces additions to Lady Vols’ volleyball.

Tennessee head coach Eve Rackham Watt announced the addition of two student-athletes to the Lady Vols’ volleyball program.

Libero and defensive specialists Orian Drore and Julianna Santiago are part of Tennessee’s 2024 recruiting class.

“We are delighted to finally announce Orian Drore will be joining our Lady Vol Volleyball program,” Rackham Watt said. “Orian is a player who will compete from day one as a libero and help solidify our back row play. She has an excellent platform and good range on defense but what really separates her is the ability to out of system set and communicate at a high level. She will join us this May, as we train for our foreign tour, and our staff is looking forward to watching her develop.

“Juliana is a player who we have watched play for a couple of years now. She has gotten better every season, and we always believe in looking for local talent first. We are excited to add one of the best in-state players to our roster, while continuing to bolster our defensive specialist unit. What I love most about ‘Santi’ is how hard she plays, her competitiveness and how vocal she is with her teammates. I know she will be a great addition to our program, and she too will join us in May as we start training for our international trip.”

Drore is from Mater Academy in Hialeah Gardens, Florida, while Santiago hails from Battleground Academy in Nashville, Tennessee.

Julianna Santiago (11). Mark Zaleski/USA TODAY Network

Jewel Spear announces return to Tennessee

Lady Vols’ guard Jewel Spear announces return to Tennessee.

Jewel Spear announced she will return to Tennessee for an extra year of eligibility she was granted due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Spear transferred to Tennessee from Wake Forest.

Spear was one of two players to start every game for the Lady Vols last season. She was Tennessee’s second leading scorer behind Rickea Jackson. Spear averaged 13.1 for the Lady Vols, who finished 20-13 (10-6 SEC) before being eliminated in the second round of the NCAA Tournament by North Carolina State.

She recorded a .373 three-point field goal percentage in 2023-24.

Spear was a two-time All-ACC performer at Wake Forest.

PHOTOS: Kellie Harper through the years

Kellie Harper will not return to Tennessee as head coach

Danny White announces leadership change in the Lady Vols’ basketball program.

Tennessee announced a change in leadership for the women’s basketball program on Monday.

Vice chancellor and director of athletics Danny White discussed the change in leadership.

“After a thorough review of our women’s basketball program, I have informed Kellie we are making a change in leadership,” White said. “Decisions like these are never easy to make, especially with someone who has done so much for the Lady Vols as a three-time national champion student-athlete. Her love and passion for Tennessee and the Lady Vols is second to none. She has invested so much heart and soul into our program and truly has given her all for Tennessee. I thank Kellie for her stewardship of our women’s basketball program and wish her and Jon well in the next chapter of their lives.”

PHOTOS: Kellie Harper through the years

How to watch Tennessee-Auburn softball series

How to watch the Tennessee-Auburn softball series Friday-Sunday.

Auburn (15-9-1, 2-7 SEC) will host No. 4 Tennessee (26-4, 6-0 SEC), Friday-Sunday, at Jane B. Moore Field in Auburn, Alabama.

The Lady Vols enter the series with an 18-game win streak. Tennessee’s last loss took place Feb. 25 against UCLA.

First pitch for game No. 1 between Tennessee and the Tigers is slated for 6 p.m. EDT and will be televised by SEC Network. Tiffany Greene (play-by-play) and Madison Shipman (analyst) will be on the call.

Saturday’s contest is scheduled for 5 p.m. EDT and can be watched on SEC Network+. Sunday’s series finale will take place at 2 p.m. EDT (SEC Network+).

Tennessee leads the all time series versus Auburn, 44-27.

North Carolina State eliminates Lady Vols from NCAA Tournament

North Carolina State eliminates Lady Vols from the NCAA Tournament.

No. 3 seed North Carolina State (29-6, 13-5 ACC) defeated No. 6 seed Tennessee (20-13, 10-6 SEC), 79-72, Monday in the second-round of the NCAA Tournament at Reynolds Coliseum in Raleigh, North Carolina.

The Lady Vols led, 23-16, in the first quarter before North Carolina State scored the final eight points of the period. North Carolina State also ended the first half on a 10-0 run to open an 18-point lead.

The Wolfpack led, 49-31, at halftime.

Rickea Jackson scored a game-high 33 points in her final game for Tennessee, including 14 points in the first quarter, She also recorded 10 rebounds and was one of three Lady Vols to score 10-plus points in the contest.

Jasmine Powell totaled 13 points, seven assists and six rebounds, while Tamari Key recorded 10 points and two rebounds for Tennessee.

Aziaha James scored 22 points to lead the Wolfpack.

PHOTOS: Kellie Harper through the years

Photo by Lance King/Getty Images