The University of Tennessee is coming back this season on a mission. The Lady Volunteers, who finished out the 2024-25 season with a 24-10 record, lost in the second round of the SEC tournament to Vanderbilt and ultimately advanced to the Sweet Sixteen before closing out the postseason with a loss to Texas. The team is heading into the 2025-26 season with a strong roster, but recent moves — including signing the No. 2 freshman in the country, Oliviyah Edwards — also indicate they're looking ahead to an even stronger 2026-27 season.
To be clear, the Lady Vols have also spent the 2025-26 preseason contending with a serious issue: the arrest of Ruby Whitehorn, who was temporarily suspended from the team after being charged with felony charges of domestic assault and aggravated burglary on August 8, 2025. Whitehorn ultimately pleaded guilty to two misdemeanor charges of aggravated trespassing and aggravated burglary and was reinstated to the team.
"It's not an ideal situation," Caldwell told reporters. "It's not of a situation that reflects our program the way we want it to. There's a strong legacy here and it did not withhold the name of the brand ... We've addressed it seriously, and we're hoping that we can now move on and put our next foot forward."
Whitehorn's record can be expunged in one year if she avoids any other legal conflict. Whitehorn was arrested after she reportedly kicked in the front door and bedroom door of another woman. Caldwell also noted: "She really wanted to be a part of this program, and she understands the severity of what she did."
The Lady Vols are looking toward the future
ESPN's 2026 SportsCenter Next 100 class has Edwards ranked as the No. 2 freshman in the country, making her commitment to the Lady Vols a crucial one for the program in the years to come. Edwards, who previously played for Elite Sports Academy in Washington, was pursued by other programs including LSU, Florida, and South Carolina, but told reporters this week that Tennessee was the right fit.
"I chose the University of Tennessee because I felt welcomed from the very beginning," she told ESPN. "The freshman class reached out and made me feel a part of the family right away. Most importantly, I love their style of play and the freedom it gives me on the court. This program has an amazing legacy, and I cannot wait to be a part of it."
Last year Edwards averaged 17 points and 7.8 rebounds on 63.5% shooting and helped lead her team to the Final Four in the Adidas 3ssb circuit. She has a tremendous upside, and in some ways even more potential than the No. 1 recruit Saniyah Hall, who will play for USC this fall.
Edwards is Tennessee's first class of 2026 recruit and the highest ranked recruit the program has boasted since 2019, when former coach Holly Warlick brought in Jordan Horston.