The Lady Vols basketball program enters the 2026-27 season with a brand-new roster and a lot to prove under head coach Kim Caldwell in her third season.
Tennessee opens its regular-season slate by hosting Duquesne at the Food City Center on Nov. 2 at 6:30 p.m. ET on SEC Network+. The team previously debuted an exhibition against Florida A&M on Oct. 27, cruising to a 132-63 victory.
Caldwell and her staff reconstructed the roster with 15 new players after losing all eight possible returners to the transfer portal following a 16-14 campaign last season. The incoming group features 13 transfers alongside a freshman class highlighted by 6-foot-1 wing Gabby Minus and international guard Irene Oboavwoduo.
The high-volume transfer class brings immediate collegiate experience to Knoxville. Fifth-year guard Kaylene Smikle arrives from Maryland, senior forward Fatmata Janneh joins from Texas A&M, fifth-year point guard Kennedy Fauntleroy comes over from East Carolina, junior point guard Jada Eads transfers from Seton Hall, and junior guard Naomi White steps in from Northern Arizona.
Tennessee also added five SEC transfers to the fold: Aaliyah Moore from Texas, Harissoum Coulibaly from Auburn, Rylie Theuerkauf and Zhen Craft from Georgia, and Janneh.
The nonconference schedule features marquee matchups against UCLA on Nov. 22 at 5:30 p.m. on ESPN, a trip to Virginia Tech on Dec. 3 at 9 p.m. on ESPN2, a road test at UConn on Dec. 12 at 2:30 p.m. on FOX, and a neutral-site game against Baylor at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville on Dec. 18 at 6 p.m. on ESPN2. Overall, the Lady Vols face nine opponents ranked in the preseason polls, including seven during Southeastern Conference play.
Below is the complete 2026-27 schedule for Lady Vols basketball, with all times listed in Eastern Time:
- Oct. 27: vs. Florida A&M (6:30 p.m., SEC Network+).
- Nov. 2: vs. Duquesne (6:30 p.m., SEC Network+)
- Nov. 5: at Coppin State (7 p.m., MEAC Network)
- Nov. 10: vs. New Haven (6:30 p.m., SEC Network+)
- Nov. 12: vs. Middle Tennessee (6:30 p.m., SEC Network+)
- Nov. 17: at Belmont (7:30 p.m., ESPN+)
- Nov. 19: vs. Radford (7 p.m., SEC Network)
- Nov. 22: vs. UCLA (5:30 p.m., ESPN)
- Nov. 27: vs. Florida Gulf Coast (6:30 p.m., BDG Live)
- Nov. 29: vs. Creighton or Houston (4 p.m. / 6:30 p.m., BDG Live)
- Dec. 3: at Virginia Tech (9 p.m., ESPN2)
- Dec. 6: vs. Georgia State (2 p.m., SEC Network+)
- Dec. 8: vs. NC Central (7 p.m., SEC Network)
- Dec. 12: at UConn (2:30 p.m., FOX)
- Dec. 15: vs. Alabama A&M (7 p.m., SEC Network)
- Dec. 18: vs. Baylor at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville (6 p.m., ESPN2)
- Dec. 21: vs. Morehead State (2 p.m., SEC Network+)
- Dec. 31: at Texas A&M (3 p.m., SEC Network+)
- Jan. 3: vs. Ole Miss (5 p.m., ESPN)
- Jan. 7: at Texas (7 p.m., ESPN2)
- Jan. 10: vs. Oklahoma (5 p.m., ESPN)
- Jan. 14: vs. Georgia (6:30 p.m., SEC Network+)
- Jan. 18: at Florida (7 p.m., SEC Network)
- Jan. 21: at Kentucky (8 p.m., ESPNU)
- Jan. 24: vs. Alabama (1 p.m., SEC Network)
- Jan. 28: vs. South Carolina (6:30 p.m., SEC Network)
- Feb. 4: at Mississippi State (7:30 p.m., SEC Network+)
- Feb. 7: at Vanderbilt (1 or 4 p.m., ESPN)
- Feb. 11: vs. Auburn (6:30 p.m., SEC Network+)
- Feb. 14: at Missouri (2 p.m., SEC Network)
- Feb. 21: vs. Kentucky (1 p.m., SEC Network)
- Feb. 25: vs. LSU (6 p.m., ESPN)
- Feb. 28: at Arkansas (3 p.m., SEC Network+)
Disclaimer: The analytical insights and data provided in this article are for informational and entertainment purposes only and do not constitute medical advice or sports betting recommendations.
