Following a turbulent season, the Tennessee Lady Vols will enter next year with zero returning players. Freshman guard Jaida Civil, the last remaining returner on the roster, announced via Instagram that she will enter the NCAA transfer portal.
"This has been the hardest decision I've ever had to make. After deep thought and prayer, I have decided to enter the transfer portal," Civil stated. "This isn't goodbye — it's gratitude. Tennessee will always be a part of me."
In her statement, Civil thanked head coach Kim Caldwell, whose second year has seen a mass departure of players. Civil becomes the eighth Lady Vol to enter the portal this offseason. The other four players from this season's roster are graduating seniors.
Coach Caldwell, hired before the 2024-25 season, employs a unique hockey-style substitution system. However, her second year resulted in a 16-14 record and a first-round exit from both the SEC and NCAA tournaments. The program now faces a complete roster rebuild for the 2025-26 season.