A New Chapter for the Lady Vols
The 2026‑27 women’s basketball season marks the third chapter for Kim Caldwell as head coach of the Tennessee Lady Vols, a tenure that has already reshaped the program’s identity and expectations.
Tennessee will contest a 16‑game SEC schedule that blends eight home contests with eight road trips, beginning with a double‑header against Kentucky, the team’s designated rotating opponent for the cycle.
The home slate includes matchups against Alabama, Auburn, Georgia, LSU, Oklahoma, Ole Miss and South Carolina, while the road portion will take the Vols to Arkansas, Florida, Mississippi State, Missouri, Texas, Texas A&M and Vanderbilt, among other venues.
Details on start times, broadcast partners and venue assignments will be released in the coming weeks, giving fans a clearer picture of when and where each game will unfold.
On the roster front, the Lady Vols will welcome two incoming freshmen — Gabby Minus and Irene Oboavwoduo — while also integrating a host of transfer additions such as Harissoum Coulibaly, Zhen Craft, Jada Eads, Kennedy Fauntleroy, Fatmata Janneh, Riley Makalusky, Avery Mills, Aaliyah Moore, Harper Peterson, Kaylene Smikle, Shaelyn Steele, Rylie Theuerkauf and Naomi White.
Beyond the SEC, Tennessee has scheduled non‑conference contests against Liberty, Penn State, Maryland, Stanford, Northern Arizona, West Virginia, Seton Hall and ECU, a lineup designed to test depth and broaden exposure.
With a blend of seasoned transfers, promising newcomers and a demanding schedule, the Lady Vols are poised to evaluate their progress early and build momentum toward the postseason.