tennessee guard more civil announced on Monday that she was entering the transfer portal, and olivia edwardsThe No. 2 recruit in the SC Next 100 class of 2026 has requested to release his national letter of intent with the Lady Volunteers, leaving the program with just one player on the roster for next season.
The announcements add significant uncertainty to the storied program, which went 16-14 last season under second-year coach Kim Caldwell. Every player with remaining eligibility has entered the transfer portal – including all Over-hyped, second-rate freshman class. senior Jania Barker And Zee Spearman The Lady Vols will be graduated, leaving them with only the No. 62 wing. gabby minus Ready to roll in for the next season.
The Lady Vols, a preseason top 10 team in the Associated Press poll, finished the season with an eight-game losing streak, their longest in the modern era. They lost to UConn by 30 points in February, the largest margin of victory for any team in the series and the second-worst defeat in Tennessee history. Overall, the team lost seven games by at least 15 points, the most in 40 years. The Lady Vols were the No. 10 seed in the NCAA Tournament but lost to NC State 76–61 in the first round. This was only the third time since 1982 that they failed to win a first round match.
Civil, a freshman from Vero Beach, Florida, played seven minutes in that loss to the Wolfpack on March 20. For the season, he averaged 6.4 points and 4.0 rebounds. He announced himself in a instagram post.
Edwards, a 6-foot-3 forward from Washington, originally signed with Caldwell’s program in November over offers from USC, South Carolina, LSU, Florida and Washington. At the time, Edwards, who was named a McDonald’s All American this season, was the highest-ranked recruit to sign under Caldwell and Tennessee’s top signee – then no. 2 jordan horston In 2019.
“As a family, we are very grateful to the University of Tennessee for the time they spent recruiting Olivia,” Edwards’ mother Jordan West told ESPN. “At this time, with all the current changes to the women’s basketball team, I believe it is in the best interest of my daughter to step aside and resume her recruiting.”
Prior to Edwards’ decision, Tennessee had the nation’s No. 10 recruiting class. Now it will be out of the top 25. Caldwell figures to be active in the transfer portal as he tries to make his third roster spot in Knoxville.
Edwards is the second five-star recruit to become available in the last week. trinity jonesThe No. 11 recruit in the class of 2026 had already been released from his letter of intent with Clemson.
