KNOXVILLE, TN – January 22, 2026 – Guard Mia Pauldo #13 of the Tennessee Lady Volunteers during the game between the Kentucky Wildcats and the Tennessee Lady Volunteers at Food City Center in Knoxville, TN. Photo By Kate Luffman/Tennessee Athletics

Lady Vols basketball freshman point guard Mia Pauldo has been ruled out for Tennessee’s game against Missouri on Thursday night. She suffered multiple hits to the head against South Carolina on Sunday, though the exact reason she will miss the game against the Tigers is not certain at this point. Kim Caldwell will be asked to provide an update after the game.

Pauldo has emerged as one of the best players for the Lady Vols this season. She is averaging 11.6 points, 2.6 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game on the year.

She’s elevated her game in SEC play, as well. In conference play alone, she’s posted 14.4 points per game. This is the 17th-highest mark in the SEC so far and the second-best on the team. Talaysia Cooper’s 15.5 points is the only Lady Vols’ mark that is higher.

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However, Pauldo is coming off a rough performance against the No. 3 Gamecocks. In the historic 43-point loss, Pauldo produced no points on 0-for-10 shooting from the field and 0-for-9 from range. She grabbed three rebounds, passed for two assists and came up with a steal, though, in 24 minutes.

However, her father, DJ Pauldo, revealed that she was down a contact lens early in the game and played the first half with them.

“I don’t think she made bad plays,” Caldwell said about Pauldo after the game. “I think she still played hard. I just think her shot didn’t fall tonight. And we are better when she’s better.”

For Missouri, it will be without Averi Kroenke, Sydney Mains and Hannah Linthacum. Jordana Reisma is listed as questionable and Jayla Smith is probable, as well.

Tip-off is set for 6:30 p.m. ET and will air on SECN+. Along with the normal SEC implications at play, it also marks the return of Missouri head coach and former Lady Vols player and head coach Kellie Harper.