The Tennessee Lady Volunteers have earned a spot in the NCAA Tournament for the 43rd straight year, making them the only program to qualify every year since the tournament began in 1982.
The Lady Vols, a 5 seed ranked No. 20, will take on No. 12 seed South Florida (23-10) in the first round in Columbus, Ohio. The Lady Vols have a strong history in the tournament, holding a 131-34 overall record in NCAA play.
Lady Vols Lasting Legacy
The Lady Vols basketball program is one of the most successful in NCAA history. It is known for its dominance under legendary coach Pat Summitt, who led the team to eight national titles (1987, 1989, 1991, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2007, and 2008) and an 84.2% win rate.
Tennessee is the only team to appear in every NCAA Tournament since it began in 1982, a streak now over four decades long. Star players like Chamique Holdsclaw, Tamika Catchings, and Candace Parker helped build this legacy, with Parker leading the team to back-to-back titles in 2007 and 2008.
Despite not reaching the Final Four since 2008, the Lady Vols remain influential in the sport, producing 21 All-Americans and 42 WNBA draft picks. The 2024 hiring of Kim Caldwell signals a push to restore past dominance.
The Lady Vols opened this season with a 7-0 start, including a 78-68 upset over No. 17 Iowa, but they peaked at No. 15 in the AP rankings. SEC play brought challenges, with losses to No. 1 South Carolina (twice), No. 8 LSU, and No. 13 Oklahoma. They dropped three of their last five regular-season games.
A strong SEC Tournament run included four wins before a narrow one-point loss to South Carolina. Talaysia Cooper (15.8 ppg), Samara Spencer (13.2 ppg), and Ruby Whitehorn (11.6 ppg) lead Tennessee into their first-round matchup with South Florida.
This season feels like a turning point for Tennessee as Caldwell looks to bring the Lady Vols back to the top. The team’s strong start and solid SEC tournament run have sparked hope for a deep tournament push.
With Cooper, Spencer, and Whitehorn leading the way, Tennessee is showing signs of progress as it tries to end its Final Four drought.
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The Lady Vols’ rich history and strong leadership under Caldwell give them a solid foundation heading into the tournament. With key players stepping up and momentum from the SEC Tournament, Tennessee hopes to make a deep run and add to its legacy.
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