Lady Vols basketball will look a lot different in Kim Caldwell’s second season as the coach.
Tennessee has six returners after losing five seniors to graduation and three players to the transfer portal. All three players who entered the portal had limited roles, and Caldwell and her staff brought in three key transfers to compliment Tennessee’s incoming freshmen. The Lady Vols added SMU guard Nya Robertson, UCLA forward Janiah Barker and LSU forward Jersey Wolfenbarger.
Tennessee appears to be done in the transfer portal with a 14-player roster for next season. Caldwell said they would only add a shooter out of the portal to fill the last roster spot if it’s the right fit on and off the court.
“It’s got to be the right person,” Caldwell said at the Big Orange Caravan on May 1. “I like our roster. I like how many we have, so if we’re going to fill one more it’s got to be a good fit.”
Here’s how transfers and freshmen could fit into Caldwell’s lineups for the 2025-26 season:
What does Lady Vols basketball’s 2025-26 roster look like?
Tennessee’s six returners are Talaysia Cooper, Ruby Whitehorn, Zee Spearman, Kaiya Wynn, Alyssa Latham and Kaniya Boyd. There are six seniors, which include all three transfers, two juniors, one sophomore and five incoming freshmen.
The Lady Vols’ freshman class, which is ranked No. 2 in the nation, includes Mia and Mya Pauldo, Deniya Prawl, Jaida Civil and Lauren Hurst. Mia Pauldo, Prawl and Civil were all McDonald’s All-Americans and all three are five-stars.
Lady Vols basketball lineup predictions for 2025-26
Starting lineups aren’t as important in Caldwell’s system with how frequently she makes substitutions. Caldwell went 12 players deep in her rotations in nonconference play during her first season, but that was shortened to 10 players once SEC play began. The 10 players make up two units that play most of their time together.
Here’s a prediction on what those two lineups could look like.
Lineup 1
PG: Kaniya BoydSG: Talaysia CooperSG: Nya Robertson/Kaiya WynnForward: Janiah BarkerForward: Jersey Wolfenbarger
Lineup 2
PG: Mia PauldoSG: Ruby WhitehornSG: Jaida Civil/Deniya PrawlForward: Alyssa LathamForward: Zee Spearman
The starting lineup probably will be mostly returners – it wouldn’t be surprising if Boyd, Cooper, Whitehorn, Barker and Spearman all started. But expect starters to fluctuate with Caldwell basing her starters off production throughout the season.
How Lady Vols newcomers can make an impact
The two lineups will depend on who plays the best with each other this offseason and early in nonconference play. Caldwell’s lineups last season typically had a few types of players: a point guard who can push the pace, a guard who can drive and score in multiple ways, at least one shooter and two forwards. Depending on the matchup, sometimes she went with a four-guard lineup.
Mia Pauldo is a natural replacement for Samara Spencer as a point guard who can play with pace, thrives in transition and can shoot from deep. Prawl and Civil likely will be in the rotation immediately, too, with their size and versatility. Civil, 6-foot, has the potential to be a player similar to Cooper with her defense and scoring ability.
Barker and Wolfenbarger were key additions out of the portal for Tennessee, giving the Lady Vols some flexibility with frontcourt lineups and more size. Barker, 6-4, and Wolfenbarger, 6-5, both have the potential to follow the blueprint of Spearman’s development last season.
Robertson will be a strong veteran presence for Tennessee, and she can fill a lot of needs with her scoring and defensive ability. She can shoot, get downhill and score, and is great at getting herself to the free throw line.
Cora Hall covers University of Tennessee women’s athletics. Email her at cora.hall@knoxnews.com and follow her on X @corahalll. If you enjoy Cora’s coverage, consider a digital subscription that allows you to access all of it.