“That offends me”: Tennessee HC Kim Caldwell sounds off on “seniors aren’t your players” narrative

Tennessee coach Kim Caldwell expressed frustration with the narrative surrounding the Lady Volunteers roster after suffering a narrow 89-87 defeat to the LSU Tigers. Caldwell was asked postgame about how much emphasis she places on securing wins for her seniors, and she didn’t hold back.

Caldwell pushed back against the "seniors aren't your players" narrative, highlighting her desire to achieve immediate results.

"I get a little bit offended with, 'You have time to rebuild, you have time to rebuild, these seniors aren't your players.' That offends me," Caldwell said.

"They are my players, they chose to stay, and I chose to coach them. And so, I don't want to wait. ... These are my players, I wanna win for them, I wanna win right now."

She added that her seniors have earned their playing time and deserve the opportunity to shine.

"I want them to be able to have the experience too. I want them to get what they deserve. And, I think they deserve to win these last two games," she said.

Kim Caldwell recruited many experienced players ahead of her debut season at Tennessee

Kim Caldwell replaced Kellie Harper as the head coach of Tennessee’s women’s basketball program ahead of the 2024-25 season. During the offseason, Caldwell and her recruiting staff took full advantage of the transfer portal, prioritizing experienced players over high school prospects.

The Lady Volunteers brought in Samara Spencer, Alyssa Latham, Zee Spearman and Favor Ayodele, while also retaining fifth-year guard Jewel Spear and junior Talaysia Cooper, among others. Caldwell’s strategy appears effective, as the Lady Volunteers have tallied an impressive 13-2 overall record so far.

Kim Caldwell's team is ranked No. 16 in the AP Top 25 women’s college basketball poll, cementing its credentials as a contender in the SEC. Although Tennessee is currently 1-2 in conference play, the Lady Volunteers are likely to make the postseason for the fifth consecutive season.

The Lady Volunteers will face the Arkansas Razorbacks in their next game, which is set for January 12 at 1 p.m. ET.