Lady Vols lose recruit Edwards, see roster cut to 1
Why it matters: The Lady Vols women's basketball program is left with only one player for next season, jeopardizing its competitive future.
- Oliviyah Edwards, the No. 2 recruit in the SC Next 100 class of 2026, requested a release from her national letter of intent with the Lady Volunteers, as confirmed by her mother, Jordan West, to ESPN.
- Jaida Civil, a freshman guard, announced via Instagram that she is entering the transfer portal, further depleting the team's roster.
- The Lady Vols now have only one player on their roster for next season, following a season where they went 16-14, ended on an eight-game losing streak, and suffered their second-worst loss in program history (a 30-point defeat to UConn).
- Coach Kim Caldwell will need to be highly active in the transfer portal to build her third roster, as the team's recruiting class has dropped out of the top 25 following Edwards' decision.
The Lady Vols women's basketball program faces unprecedented uncertainty as star recruit Oliviyah Edwards requested a release from her letter of intent and guard Jaida Civil entered the transfer portal, leaving the team with only one player for the upcoming season. This exodus follows a dismal 16-14 season, marked by an eight-game losing streak and record-breaking losses, prompting Edwards' family to cite "current changes" as the reason for her departure.
