Full Breakdown
Lady Vols Basketball Faces Roster Changes After Disappointing Season
3/24/2026, 2:14:14 PM
Overview of Departures
Following a challenging season that culminated in a first-round exit from the NCAA Tournament, the University of Tennessee's women's basketball team, the Lady Volunteers, is experiencing significant roster turnover. Head coach Kim Caldwell's second season ended with a disappointing 76-61 loss to No. 7 seed North Carolina State, marking the team's eighth consecutive defeat and tying the record for the fewest wins in NCAA history at 16.
Two players have announced their intentions to enter the NCAA transfer portal: freshman guard Deniya Prawl and junior forward Alyssa Latham. The transfer portal opens for immediate eligibility on April 6 and will remain open until April 20.
Player Profiles and Performance
Deniya Prawl
Deniya Prawl, a 6-foot-2 guard from Toronto, Canada, was a highly touted recruit, ranked as a five-star prospect and No. 17 overall in the 2025 class. During her freshman season, she played in 29 games, averaging 4.0 points and 2.7 rebounds in 15.5 minutes per game. Prawl's performance included a notable outing against NC State, where she scored nine points and recorded four rebounds. Despite her potential, Prawl's shooting struggles, particularly from three-point range (14.7%), contributed to her decision to transfer.
Alyssa Latham
Alyssa Latham, a 6-foot-2 forward from Glenwood, Illinois, plans to enter the portal as a graduate transfer after two seasons at Tennessee, following a year at Syracuse. Latham averaged 4.7 points and 3.4 rebounds in 19.1 minutes per game this past season. She was a consistent presence in the lineup, starting in 16 of 27 games. Latham's departure leaves the Lady Vols with only six potential returners for the upcoming season.
Context of the Season
The Lady Vols finished the season with a 16-14 record, the lowest winning percentage in program history at .552. The team struggled significantly in the latter part of the season, losing 11 of their last 13 games. Caldwell acknowledged the challenges faced during the season, stating, “I can’t put it on roster construction. I got to put it on me, right?” This reflects the pressure on Caldwell to improve the team's performance moving forward.
Implications for the Future
The departures of Prawl and Latham signal a potential overhaul of the Lady Vols' roster as Caldwell seeks to rebuild the team. With only eight players eligible to return, the coaching staff will need to actively pursue new talent through the transfer portal to enhance the squad for the 2026 season. The upcoming offseason is critical for Caldwell, who faces scrutiny regarding her ability to attract and retain top players in a competitive landscape.
Official Statements & Responses
Caldwell expressed disappointment over the season's outcome and the subsequent player departures, emphasizing the need for improvement. She stated, “Not the game we wanted, really not the season we wanted,” highlighting the challenges faced both on and off the court.
Verbatim Quotes
- “There have been very few times that I have hit failure, and I have never hit failure to this extreme,” — Kim Caldwell, Head Coach
- “I can’t put it on roster construction. I got to put it on me, right?” — Kim Caldwell, Head Coach
As the Lady Vols prepare for a transformative offseason, the focus will be on rebuilding the roster and addressing the issues that led to a disappointing season.
