Dawn Staley praised Tennessee’s Kim Caldwell for returning 1 week after giving birth

“Women have the strength of 10 men.”

Tennessee head coach Kim Caldwell is a warrior.

Caldwell, new to the Lady Volunteers program this season, has been conquering two things: building a program and growing a baby. That’s right. Caldwell’s been coaching her squad while pregnant, which earned her peers’ respect, including LSU coach Kim Mulkey, who gave her a baby gift earlier this month. But Caldwell’s determination also caught the eye of South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley.

One week after having a baby boy, the Tennessee coach was back on the sidelines Monday night, coaching against the Gamecocks. That decision left Staley in awe. Here’s what she shared postgame about Caldwell (See the 54-second mark of the YouTube video below):

“Women have the strength of 10 men—no doubt about it …When you have a coach that really wants to hang another banner, it comes as a sacrifice. She’s probably a better woman than me. I don’t know if I could be detached from my little one for that long, but she’s got great help, and she wanted to be here with her team.”

Women have to make decisions like that, and when they do, I feel like other women should honor them and let them know that we see you. We feel you. We hear you.”

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Jenna Burdette serves as acting head coach in Lady Vols’ loss at Texas

Assistant coach Jenna Burdette serves as acting head coach for the Lady Vols at Texas.

No. 7 Texas (19-2, 5-1 SEC) defeated No. 17 Tennessee (15-4, 3-4 SEC), 80-76, on Thursday at Moody Center in Austin, Texas.

Rankings reflect the USA TODAY Sports women’s basketball coaches poll.

Tennessee assistant Jenna Burdette served as the Lady Vols’ acting head coach at Texas.

“Head coach Kim Caldwell did not accompany the Tennessee women’s basketball team to Austin for tonight’s game at Texas,” Tennessee announced. “She and husband Justin are the proud parents of a new son, Conor Scott Caldwell. Mom, dad and baby are doing well.

“Assistant coach Jenna Burdette, who is in her fourth season working alongside Caldwell, will serve as the acting head coach in Caldwell’s absence.”

Caldwell is in her first season as the Lady Vols’ head coach.

PHOTOS: Kim Caldwell through the years

Lady Vols’ latest ranking after second SEC win

A look at the Lady Vols’ latest top 25 basketball ranking.

Tennessee (14-2, 2-2 SEC) won its second Southeastern Conference game on Sunday during the 2024-25 women’s basketball season. The Lady Vols defeated Arkansas, 93-63, at Bud Walton Arena in Fayetteville, Arkansas.

The Lady Vols will next play on Thursday against Mississippi State at Food City Center. Tipoff between Tennessee and the Bulldogs is slated for 7 p.m. EST and will be televised by SEC Network.

Tennessee remains ranked No. 15 for a second consecutive week in the USA TODAY Sports women’s basketball coaches poll.

PHOTOS: Kim Caldwell through the years

South Carolina, LSU, Texas, Kentucky, Oklahoma and Alabama are also ranked in the top 25 from the SEC. The entire USA TODAY Sports women’s basketball coaches poll is listed below.

Rank School Record Points
1 UCLA 16-0 750 (30)
2 South Carolina 16-1 717
3 Notre Dame 14-2 679
4 LSU 19-0 654
5 USC 16-1 643
6 UConn 15-2 557
7 Texas 16-2 557
8 Ohio State 16-0 535
9 Maryland 15-1 533
10 Kansas State 17-1 488
11 TCU 17-1 465
12 Kentucky 15-1 386
13 Oklahoma 14-3 376
14 North Carolina 15-3 349
15 Tennessee 14-2 320
16 Duke 13-4 297
17 Georgia Tech 15-2 237
18 California 16-2 212
19 Alabama 16-2 188
20 West Virginia 13-3 186
21 North Carolina St. 12-4 165
22 Michigan State 13-3 108
23 Utah 13-3 92
24 Baylor 14-3 68
25 Minnesota 16-1 49

Schools dropped out

No. 23 Iowa; No. 24 Florida State

Others receiving votes

Oklahoma State 23; South Dakota State 20; Nebraska 20; Creighton 18; Florida State 17; Mississippi State 10; Ole Miss 8; Iowa 8; Louisville 3; Michigan 2; FGCU 2

List of voters

The USA TODAY Sports Board of Coaches is made up of 31 head coaches at Division I institutions. All are members of the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association. The board for the 2024-25 season: Ashleen Bracey, Illinois-Chicago; Jen Brown, Queens University; Dan Burt, Duquesne; Fred Chmiel, Bowling Green; Janell Crayton Del Rosario, Bethune-Cookman; Denise Dillon, Villanova; Carrie Eighmey, South Dakota; Dalila Eshe, Yale; Heather Ezell, Wyoming; Bill Fennelly, Iowa State; Cindy Fisher, San Diego; Aqua Franklin, Lamar; Ty Grace, Howard; Hana Haden, Georgia Southern; Johnnie Harris, Auburn; Brian Holsinger, Montana; Rick Insell, Middle Tennessee; Renee Jimenez, UC Santa Barbara; Chris Kielsmeier, Cleveland State; Mike Lane, NJIT; Amy Mallon, Drexel; Mike McGuire, Radford; Kim McNeill, East Carolina; Lynn Milligan, Rider; Dan Nielson, Utah Valley; Shawn Poppie, Clemson; Samantha Quigley Smith, Southern Illinois-Edwardsville; Missy Traversi, Army; Jonathan Tsipis, Western Carolina; Way Veney, Central Connecticut State; Coquese Washington, Rutgers.

Three Lady Vols combine for 55 points in win at Arkansas

No. 15 Tennessee basketball defeats Arkansas, 93-63.

No. 15 Tennessee (14-2, 2-2 SEC) defeated Arkansas (8-11, 1-3 SEC), 93-63, on Sunday at Bud Walton Arena in Fayetteville, Arkansas.

Rankings reflect the USA TODAY Sports women’s basketball coaches poll.

Three Lady Vols combined for 55 points against Arkansas: Talaysia Cooper (20), Zee Spearman (18) and Ruby Whitehorn (17).

Arkansas guard Izzy Higginbottom led all scorers with 26 points.

Tennessee forward Sara Puckett led all players with nine rebounds, while Lady Vols’ guard Samara Spencer was the contest’s leader in assists (8).

Tennessee totaled 29 bench points, 40 points in the paint, 28 points off turnovers, 21 second-chance points and 22 fast break points versus the Razorbacks.

The Lady Vols will next play Mississippi State on Thursday. Tipoff between Tennessee and the Bulldogs is slated for 7 p.m. EST (SEC Network).

PHOTOS: Kim Caldwell through the years

Kim Caldwell. Photo by Dan Harralson, Vols Wire

How to watch Lady Vols versus Arkansas today: Time, TV channel

Here is how to watch the Lady Vols at Arkansas, including time, channel, TV schedule and streaming info.

No. 15 Tennessee (13-2, 1-2 SEC) will return to action on Sunday at Arkansas (8-10, 1-2 SEC). Rankings reflect the USA TODAY Sports women’s basketball coaches poll.

Tipoff between the Lady Vols and Razorbacks is slated for 1 p.m. EST at Bud Walton Arena in Fayetteville, Arkansas.

Tennessee enters Sunday’s SEC contest with a two-game losing streak. The Lady Vols lost two home games to Oklahoma and LSU by a total of three points. Tennessee started the 2024-25 basketball season 13-0 under first-year head coach Kim Caldwell.

PHOTOS: Kim Caldwell through the years

Here is how to watch the Tennessee-Arkansas basketball game, including time, TV schedule and streaming information.

What channel is Tennessee vs. Arkansas game on? Time, TV schedule

TV channel: SEC Network

Start time: 1 p.m. EST

Brenda VanLengen (play-by-play) and Steffi Sorensen (analyst) will be on the call.

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Tennessee Lady Vols 2024-25 basketball results

Oct. 31 Carson-Newman (Exhibition — W, 135-49)

Nov. 5 Samford (W, 101-53)

Nov. 7 UT Martin (W, 90-50)

Nov. 12 Middle Tennessee State (W, 89-75)

Nov. 16 Liberty (W, 109-93)

Nov. 26 Western Carolina (W, 102-50)

Dec. 4 Florida State (W, 79-77)

Dec. 7 Iowa (W, 78-68 — Brooklyn, New York)

Dec. 14 North Carolina Central (W, 139-59)

Dec. 18 at Memphis (W, 90-75)

Dec. 20 Richmond (W, 92-67 — West Palm Bech, Florida)

Dec. 21 Tulsa (W, 102-61 — West Palm Beach, Florida)

Dec. 29 Winthrop (W, 114-50)

Jan. 2 at Texas A&M (W, 91-78)

Jan. 5 Oklahoma (L, 87-86)

Jan. 9 LSU (L, 89-87)

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Kim Caldwell recaps Tennessee’s two-point loss to LSU

Tennessee head coach Kim Caldwell discusses the Lady Vols’ loss to LSU.

No. 4 LSU (18-0, 3-0 SEC) defeated No. 15 Tennessee (13-2, 1-2 SEC), 89-87, on Thursday at Food City Center in a top 15 matchup.

Rankings reflect the USA TODAY Sports women’s basketball coaches poll.

The Lady Vols have lost two games this season by a total of three points. Tennessee also lost to Oklahoma, 87-86, on Sunday at Food City Center.

First-year head coach Kim Caldwell recapped Tennessee’s loss to LSU.

“Another tough one, but same story,” Caldwell said. “Not boxing out, not putting four quarters together, foul shots, same thing, and so when you think about it, it’s a really hard pill to swallow. We’re three points away from being a top five team in the country, and I don’t think that, that’s a positive. I think that, that’s a negative. I don’t, we don’t, want moral victories. We don’t want people telling us, oh you fought so hard, you’re so close, you’re so close. It’s our job to get it done. It’s our job to put four quarters together. It’s our job to go get the offensive rebounds, and so as a coach, those three points are on me. We have to find ways to fix them, to get them back, to play the correct people, and fix our practices, watch the film and make sure we get those things fixed because I think this team has something to be, really has an opportunity to be really special. It’s unfortunate for the seniors that we’re letting it slip by.”

PHOTOS: Kim Caldwell through the years

READ: 2024-25 Tennessee Lady Vols basketball roster

Lady Vols open SEC play with win at Texas A&M

Tennessee basketball opens SEC play with a win at Texas A&M.

No. 13 Tennessee (13-0, 1-0 SEC) opened Southeastern Conference play on Thursday. The Lady Vols defeated Texas A&M (7-6, 0-1 SEC), 91-78, at Reed Arena in College Station, Texas.

Thursday’s SEC win is the first for Tennessee under first-year head Kim Caldwell. The Lady Vols are 37-6 all time in their first SEC game of a season.

Jewel Spear led Tennessee in scoring with 20 points. She converted 7-of-11 field goal attempts and 6-of-8 three-point attempts.

Samara Spencer led the Lady Vols in assists (8), while Zee Spearman was Tennessee’s leading rebounder (6).

Tennessee totaled 49 bench points, 44 points in the paint, 34 points off turnovers, 23 second chance points and 16 fast break points versus the Aggies.

PHOTOS: Kim Caldwell through the years

Kim Caldwell. Photo by Dan Harralson, Vols Wire

Lady Vols to open SEC basketball play

Tennessee will tipoff SEC basketball play in Kim Caldwell’s first season as head coach.

No. 13 Tennessee (12-0) will open Southeastern Conference basketball play on Thursday. Rankings reflect the USA TODAY Sports women’s basketball coaches poll.

The Lady Vols will travel to Texas A&M (7-5) at Reed Arena in College Station, Texas.

Tipoff between Tennessee and the Aggies is slated for 8 p.m. EST and can be watched on SEC Network+. Audio for the game will be provided by Texas A&M’s radio team: Steve Miller (play-by-play) and Tab Bentz (analyst).

Tennessee would start the 2024-25 basketball season 13-0 with a win against the Aggies, marking its first 13-0 start since 2017-18 (15-0) and the seventh time in program history.

The Lady Vols have scored 100 points six times during the 2024-25 season. The all-time record for the Lady Vols is seven in 1987-88.

Tennessee leads the basketball series versus Texas A&M, 11-8, dating to 1997.

PHOTOS: Kim Caldwell through the years

Kim Caldwell. Photo by Dan Harralson, Vols Wire

Lady Vols defeat Winthrop to remain undefeated

No. 13 Tennessee basketball defeats Winthrop to remain undefeated.

No. 13 Tennessee (12-0) played its final basketball game in 2024. The Lady Vols defeated Winthrop (6-7), 114-50, on Sunday at Food City Center.

Rankings reflect the USA TODAY Sports women’s basketball coaches poll.

The Lady Vols remain undefeated during their first season with Kim Caldwell as head coach.

Tennessee led Winthrop, 61-32, at halftime.

Six Lady Vols scored 10-plus points in the contest. Sara Puckett led the Lady Vols in scoring (17) and rebounds (8).

Kaniya Boyd and Samara Spencer recorded four assists each to lead Tennessee.

The Lady Vols converted 10-of-31 three-point attempts and scored 47 points off turnovers.

Tennessee will next play Texas A&M to open Southeastern Conference play on Jan. 2, 2025. Tipoff between the Lady Vols and Aggies is slated for 8 p.m. EST in College Station, Texas (SEC Network+).

PHOTOS: Kim Caldwell through the years

Kim Caldwell. Photo by Dan Harralson, Vols Wire

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.