Avery Mills, a guard who joined the Tennessee Lady Vols this offseason, will be sidelined for an extended period after sustaining a right knee injury during a team workout on June 30.
The injury follows her transfer from Liberty, where she averaged 15.3 points per game and earned First Team All‑Conference honors, as well as a spot on the Conference USA All‑Freshman Team in 2024.
A native of Lynchburg, Virginia, Mills arrived on campus with two seasons of eligibility remaining and was the first player to commit to Coach Kim Caldwell’s roster for the upcoming campaign.
A Setback with Long‑Term Implications
While the exact recovery timeline has not been disclosed, the coaching staff has indicated that Mills’ absence will be felt across both offensive and defensive schemes.
Her versatility as a scorer and defender was expected to bolster Tennessee’s backcourt, and her loss creates a clear vacancy that the program will address through internal development and potential external additions.
The Lady Vols have embraced a busy transfer portal strategy, welcoming 14 newcomers to the program — a move that reflects Coach Caldwell’s intent to build a deep, competitive squad for the upcoming season.