Chamique Holdsclaw is the template. The 6-foot-2 senior forward was a walking double-double. The athlete accumulated 3,025 points and 1,295 rebounds, both Tennessee and SEC records, in her Vols career. She guided the Lady Vols to three consecutive national championships (1996–98) and was the Naismith Player of the Year in 1998 and 1999. Holdsclaw’s career record at Tennessee? A ridiculous 131–17.
Prior to Chamique, there was Bridgette Gordon. Famed for her aggressive scoring, Gordon scored 2,462 career points. She even assisted in bringing Tennessee its initial two national championships in 1987 and 1989.
Candace Parker did not only transform Tennessee basketball — she transformed basketball, plain and simple. A 6-foot-4 do-everything forward, Parker was the first female to dunk in an NCAA Tournament game. She led the Lady Vols to consecutive NCAA championships in 2007 and 2008, earning Final Four Most Outstanding Player both seasons.
Tamika Catchings was the consummate two-way player. As a standout among standouts on Tennessee’s perfect 1998 season (39–0), she averaged 15.9 points and 7.6 rebounds. A four-time All-American, she concluded her career with 2,113 points, 1,004 rebounds, 449 assists, and a reputation for toughness. She recovered from a late college ACL injury to be a 10-time WNBA All-Star, league MVP, and five-time Defensive Player of the Year.
Kara Lawson was famous for her clutch shooting and high IQ. She was the glue for Tennessee during the early 2000s. Lawson amassed 1,950 career points, handed out 456 assists, and led the Lady Vols to three Final Four berths.
A rugged, aggressive defender, Dena Head guided the Lady Vols to the 1991 NCAA title and was SEC Player of the Year in 1992. She accumulated 1,943 career points and had more than 500 assists.
Patricia Roberts had only a season at Tennessee but made the most of it. In 1977, she scored a breathtaking 29.9 points per game. And if that wasn’t a lot already, then she ranked among the all-time school greats.
