The Arrest
Lazaria "Zee" Spearman, a former Tennessee Lady Vols basketball standout, was taken into custody in Lawrenceville, Georgia, in June 2025 after police clocked her vehicle traveling roughly 100 mph in a 55 mph zone. Officers reported a blood alcohol concentration of 0.104 percent, well above the state's 0.08 percent limit, and also discovered a bottle of Don Julio tequila along with a marijuana storage case inside the car.
A subsequent breath test at the county jail showed her BAC had fallen to 0.073 percent, still indicating alcohol consumption, while the presence of cannabis added another charge to the incident. The episode was initially kept internal, with head coach Kim Caldwell aware of the matter before it resurfaced in a recent report.
A Career in Transition
Spearman had contributed on the court for 30 games during the previous season, averaging 10.2 points per game, and earned a spot on the Dallas Wings' draft list. However, the Wings waived the player before she could make her professional debut, leaving her future in the sport uncertain.
The University of Tennessee's women's program, known as the Lady Vols, has announced that the 2026‑27 roster will feature a completely new set of athletes as it looks to move past the controversies of the prior year. Coach Caldwell emphasized that the team will focus on rebuilding chemistry and competitiveness.
While the legal proceedings continue, the case underscores the challenges faced by student‑athletes balancing high‑profile careers with personal conduct, and it remains to be seen how the organization will integrate these lessons into its future strategy.