ANN ARBOR, MI – Kim Caldwell fell into her own trap searching for answers to Lady Vols basketball’s problems.
The second-year Tennessee coach did the very thing she tells any coach not to do if they want to play a style like hers, if they want to press like she does.
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Caldwell came up with a Plan B.
“You can’t play this style of play and put it in a Plan B, and we put it in a Plan B,” Caldwell said. “I think when you do that, you lose your identity. You lose your buy-in, you lose your staff a little bit, and there’s fault from the top, and that’s from me. I did that in the middle of the season, and I know better than to do that, and it was the worst year of my professional career.”
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Tennessee guard Ruby Whitehorn (2) celebrates with Tennessee guard Kaiya Wynn (5) after Columbus State receives a foul during a NCAA exhibition game between the Tennessee Lady Vols and Columbus State Cougars at Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center in Knoxville, Tennessee on Oct. 29, 2025.
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Tennessee guard Ruby Whitehorn (2) celebrates with Tennessee guard Kaiya Wynn (5) after Columbus State receives a foul during a NCAA exhibition game between the Tennessee Lady Vols and Columbus State Cougars at Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center in Knoxville, Tennessee on Oct. 29, 2025.
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Tennessee forward Janiah Barker (0) celebrates making a three-point basket during a NCAA exhibition game between the Tennessee Lady Vols and Columbus State Cougars at Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center in Knoxville, Tennessee on Oct. 29, 2025.
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Mia Pauldo, Tennessee women’s basketball star freshman guard for Lady Vols, Kim Caldwell
Tennessee guard Mia Pauldo (13) and Tennessee guard Mya Pauldo (12) celebrates on the sidelines during a NCAA exhibition game between the Tennessee Lady Vols and Columbus State Cougars at Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center in Knoxville, Tennessee on Oct. 29, 2025.
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Tennessee forward Janiah Barker (0) playfully sits on basketball coach Kim Caldwell while talking with Talaysia Cooper (55) during an NCAA college basketball game between the Tennessee Lady Vols and East Tennessee State Buccaneers on November 7, 2025, in Knoxville, Tenn.
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Tennessee forwards Alyssa Latham (33) and Zee Spearman (11) helps teammate Nya Robertson (1) up after Robertston took a tumble during an NCAA college basketball game against East Tennessee State Buccaneers on November 7, 2025, in Knoxville, Tenn.
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Look back at the best Lady Vols basketball uniforms through the years
From left, Tennessee’s Jaida Civil (15), Kaniya Boyd (4), Deniya Prawl (25), and Lauren Hurst (7) encourage Zee Spearman (11) at the free-thrown line during an NCAA college basketball game against East Tennessee State Buccaneers on November 7, 2025, in Knoxville, Tenn.
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Tennessee forward Zee Spearman (11) and Belmont guard Avery Strickland (13) hug after a NCAA women’s basketball between the Tennessee Lady Vols and Belmont Bruins at Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center in Knoxville, Tenn. on Nov. 13, 2025.
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Tennessee guard Mia Pauldo (13) celebrates after making a three-point basket during a NCAA women’s basketball between the Tennessee Lady Vols and Belmont Bruins at Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center in Knoxville, Tenn. on Nov. 13, 2025.
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Belmont guard Jailyn Banks (23) reaches in front of Tennessee guard Nya Robertson (1) during a NCAA women’s basketball between the Tennessee Lady Vols and Belmont Bruins at Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center in Knoxville, Tenn. on Nov. 13, 2025.
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Tennessee guard Nya Robertson (1) celebrates with Tennessee guard Jaida Civil (15) after hitting a 3-pointer during a women’s college basketball game between the Lady Vols and Coppin State held at Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center in Knoxville, Tenn., on Nov. 23, 2025.
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Tennessee guard Nya Robertson (1) dances with Tennessee forward Zee Spearman (11) after a women’s college basketball game between the Lady Vols and Coppin State held at Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center in Knoxville, Tenn., on Nov. 23, 2025.
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Tennessee guard Nya Robertson (1) celebrates after making a 3-pointer during a women’s college basketball game between the Lady Vols and Coppin State held at Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center in Knoxville, Tenn., on Nov. 23, 2025.
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Tennessee guard/forward Lauren Hurst (7) passes the ball as she comes up against Winthrop guard Jada Ryce (10) in an NCAA college basketball game on Dec. 14, 2025, in Knoxville, Tennessee.
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Tennessee guard Mia Pauldo (13) with the 3-point basket during the NCAA college basketball game against Winthrop on Dec. 14, 2025, in Knoxville, Tennessee.
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Tennessee forward Alyssa Latham (33) tries to get into position for the inbound pass while defended by Winthrop forward Tocarra Johnson (25) and guard Cori Lard (22) during an NCAA college basketball game on Dec. 14, 2025, in Knoxville, Tennessee.
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Mia Pauldo, Tennessee women’s basketball star freshman guard for Lady Vols, Kim Caldwell
Winthrop basketball coach Semeka Randall Lay talks with Tennessee guard Mia Pauldo (13) in the post game hand-shake after an NCAA college basketball game between Winthrop Eagles and Tennessee Lady Vols on Dec. 14, 2025, in Knoxville, Tennessee.
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Tennessee forward Janiah Barker (0) enters the court for the NCAA college basketball game against Southern Indiana on Dec. 22, 2025, in Knoxville, Tennessee.
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Tennessee guard Kaniya Boyd (4) and forward Janiah Barker (0) tell teammates to get in position during an NCAA college basketball game against Southern Indiana on Dec. 22, 2025, in Knoxville, Tennessee.
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Tennessee’s Kaniya Boyd (4) and Janiah Barker (0) leave the court after the win over Southern Indiana in an NCAA college basketball game on Dec. 22, 2025, in Knoxville, Tennessee.
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Tennessee basketball coach Kim Caldwell paces the floor during the NCAA college basketball game against Florida on January 1, 2026, in Knoxville, Tenn.
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Mia Pauldo, Tennessee women’s basketball star freshman guard for Lady Vols, Kim Caldwell
The ball goes flying as Tennessee guard Mia Pauldo (13) takes a fall during an NCAA college basketball game against the Florida Gators on January 1, 2026, in Knoxville, Tenn.
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Tennessee guards Kaiya Wynn (5) and Kaniya Boyd (4) walk off the court after the win over Florida in an NCAA college basketball game on January 1, 2026, in Knoxville, Tenn.
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Tennessee basketball coach Kim Caldwell talks to guard Mya Pauldo (12) during an NCAA college basketball game against the Arkansas Razorbacks on January 11, 2026, in Knoxville, Tennessee.
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Tennessee forward Janiah Barker (0) stays down after getting hurt in an NCAA college basketball game against the Arkansas Razorbacks on January 11, 2026, in Knoxville, Tennessee.
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Mia Pauldo, Tennessee women’s basketball star freshman guard for Lady Vols, Kim Caldwell
Tennessee guards Mia Pauldo (13) and Mya Pauldo (12) during the NCAA college basketball game against the Arkansas Razorbacks on January 11, 2026, in Knoxville, Tennessee.
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Tennessee’s Zee Spearman (11) falls on the court during a game between the Lady Vols and Kentucky at Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center in Knoxville, Tenn., Jan. 22, 2026. Tennessee defeated Kentucky.
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Teammates gather around Tennessee’s Mia Pauldo (13) after hitting the ground hard during a game between the Lady Vols and Kentucky at Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center in Knoxville, Tenn., Jan. 22, 2026. Tennessee defeated Kentucky.
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Tennessee’s Deniya Prawl (25) and Tennessee’s Jersey Wolfenbarger (8) on the court during a game between the Lady Vols and Kentucky at Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center in Knoxville, Tenn., Jan. 22, 2026.
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Tennessee Deniya Prawl (25) shows her frustration after missing another free throw during a women’s college basketball game between the Lady Vols and Mississippi State held at Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center in Knoxville, Tenn., on Jan. 29, 2026.
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Tennessee guard Talaysia Cooper (55) is defended by Mississippi State forward Madison Francis (40) during a women’s college basketball game between the Lady Vols and Mississippi State held at Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center in Knoxville, Tenn., on Jan. 29, 2026.
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Tennessee guard Nya Robertson (1) doesn’t like the call during a women’s college basketball game between the Lady Vols and Mississippi State held at Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center in Knoxville, Tenn., on Jan. 29, 2026.
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Tennessee basketball coach Kim Caldwell and Missouri basketball coach Kellie Harper meet before the start of their NCAA college basketball game on Feb 12, 2026, in Knoxville, Tennessee.
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Tennessee guards Nya Robertson (1), Deniya Prawl (25), and Kaiya Wynn (5) celebrate the win over Missouri after their NCAA college basketball game on Feb 12, 2026, in Knoxville, Tennessee.
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Tennessee guard Talaysia Cooper (55) tries to get past Missouri guard Abbey Schreacke (23) during an NCAA college basketball game on Feb 12, 2026, in Knoxville, Tennessee.
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Tennessee guard Jaida Civil (15) celebrates after scoring against Texas during an NCAA college basketball game on Feb. 15, 2026, in Knoxville, Tennessee.
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Tennessee guard Talaysia Cooper (55) moves the ball while guarded by Texas guard Rori Harmon (3) in an NCAA college basketball game on Feb. 15, 2026, in Knoxville, Tennessee.
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Tennessee guards Mia Pauldo (13) and Kaniya Boyd (4) cheer for their teammates during an NCAA college basketball game against Texas on Feb. 15, 2026, in Knoxville, Tennessee.
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A Tennessee fan yells along with Tennessee forward Janiah Barker (0) before Barker heads to the free throw line during a NCAA basketball game at Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center in Knoxville, Tenn., on Feb. 19, 2026.
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Tennessee forward Janiah Barker (0) makes a three with her hands after making a three-point basket during a NCAA basketball game at Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center in Knoxville, Tenn., on Feb. 19, 2026.
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Tennessee coach Kim Caldwell throws her hands up during a NCAA basketball game at Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center in Knoxville, Tenn., on Feb. 19, 2026.
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Tennessee forward Jersey Wolfenbarger (8) is recognized by Tennessee basketball coach Kim Caldwell during the senior day festivities before the start of the NCAA college basketball game against Vanderbilt on Mar. 1, 2026, in Knoxville, Tennessee.
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Tennessee’s Kaiya Wynn (5) is recognized by Tennessee basketball coach Kim Caldwell during senior day celebration before the start of the NCAA college basketball game against Vanderbilt on Mar. 1, 2026, in Knoxville, Tennessee.
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Tennessee basketball coach Kim Caldwell during the NCAA college basketball game against Vanderbilt on Mar. 1, 2026, in Knoxville, Tennessee.
It wasn’t just Caldwell’s worst season – it was Tennessee’s worst season in program history.
No. 10 seed Tennessee finished 16-14 after falling to No. 7 seed NC State 76-61 in the first round of the Women’s NCAA Tournament on March 20 at the Crisler Center. The .552 winning percentage is the lowest the storied program has ever recorded, and the 16 wins tied the fewest of the NCAA era.
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The Lady Vols went winless in March for the first time ever, ending the season on an eight-game losing streak, which is the longest of the NCAA era.
“There have been very few times that I have hit failure, and I have never hit failure to this extreme,” Caldwell said. “It’s a tough place to do it publicly, and I didn’t like who I was at certain times.”
Caldwell’s Plan B involved abandoned the press at times, tightening the rotation and walking the ball up the floor before running sets, but things got worse. The Lady Vols lost 11 of their last 13 games.
That affected the buy-in of the team, Caldwell said, because the players knew there was another option if they didn’t get a couple stops, and they could stay on the floor longer. There was no “clear leadership” from Caldwell of what they were going to do and why they were doing to do it, she said, and they never got consistent rotations for the first time in her career.
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“I have always been able to recruit players and stack talent and get them to run through a wall for me and get them to play hard, and I wasn’t able to do that,” Caldwell said. “One thing I can put my finger on is that I bailed on what we want to do first, and then how can I blame anyone else from doing it? You cannot do that, and I know that.”
Talaysia Cooper, the team’s leading scorer in both of Caldwell’s seasons, pointed to effort as the biggest change that has to be made this offseason.
“This is an effort-based program,” Cooper said. “If you don’t want to work hard, if you don’t want to press, don’t think about coming here because this is what she does and she’s not changing it.”
It will have to wait for next season for Caldwell and the Lady Vols.
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“I know you’re not supposed to pray for winning and all of those things, but you just pray for peace in your program and for God to be there with you, and there are lessons in this, and he’s building,” Caldwell said. “Learn the lessons we’re supposed to learn and try to build it the right way, but keep your character along the way and know who you are.”
Cora Hall is the University of Tennessee women’s athletics reporter for Knox News. Email: cora.hall@knoxnews.com; X: @corahalll; Bluesky: @corahall.bsky.social. Support strong local journalism and unlock premium perks: subscribe.knoxnews.com/offers
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Kim Caldwell’s ‘worst year’ as coach was a terrible season for Lady Vols
