Lady Vols Face Total Roster Reset: Jaida Civil and Seven Teammates Enter Transfer Portal
The University of Tennessee women’s basketball program is facing an unprecedented roster overhaul. Following the conclusion of the 2025-26 season, the Lady Vols have seen a complete exodus of their eligible players, leaving head coach Kim Caldwell with no returning players for her third season at the helm.
The transition reached a critical point on Monday, April 6, 2026, when freshman guard Jaida Civil announced her intention to enter the NCAA transfer portal. Civil’s departure marks the final blow to the existing roster, as she was the last player with remaining eligibility on the team.
The Final Piece: Jaida Civil’s Departure
Jaida Civil, a 6-foot guard and part of the 2025 recruiting class—which was rated No. 1 nationally by 247Sports—announced her decision via Instagram. Civil described the move as the “hardest decision” she has ever made, citing deep thought, and prayer. Despite her departure, Civil praised Kim Caldwell, calling her “one of the best up and coming coaches in the country” and expressing gratitude for the opportunity to play in Knoxville .
A Complete Roster Exodus
Civil is the eighth and final player to leave the program. The list of players entering the transfer portal includes:
- Jaida Civil
- Deniya Prawl
- Alyssa Latham
- Kaniya Boyd
- Lauren Hurst
- Mia Pauldo
- Mya Pauldo
- Talaysia Cooper
Notably, all five of Tennessee’s freshmen have announced their intention to leave the program after just one season .
Program Struggles and Performance Metrics
The mass departure follows a challenging second season under Coach Caldwell. The Lady Vols finished the 2025-26 season with a 16-14 record, capped by a first-round NCAA Tournament loss .
The season was marred by a historic eight-game losing streak to close the year—the first such skid in the program’s NCAA women’s basketball era dating back to the 1981-82 season. The 14 losses tied a school record set during the 2015-16 season . Over her two seasons as head coach, Caldwell has compiled a total record of 40–24 (16-16 SEC) and reached the 2025 Sweet 16 .
Coaching Staff Shakeups
The roster instability is mirrored by turnover within the coaching staff. Coach Caldwell recently fired assistant coach Roman Tubner. To bolster her staff, Caldwell hired Bill Ferrara, the former associate head coach at Florida State, on March 30. Ferrara was brought in specifically for his expertise in recruiting and high-scoring, 3-point oriented offenses . another assistant coach departed to join Kim Mulkey at LSU before ultimately being hired as the head coach at UCF.
Key Takeaways: The State of the Lady Vols
- Zero Continuity: Tennessee officially has no returning players from the 2025-26 roster.
- Freshman Flight: 100% of the 2025 freshman class is exiting the program.
- Recruiting Urgency: Coach Caldwell must now recruit an entirely new roster for the 2026-27 season.
- Portal Window: The transfer portal, which opened on April 6, remains open through April 20.
Looking Ahead
The Lady Vols now face the daunting task of a total rebuild. With the roster completely empty, the program’s success in the coming year depends entirely on Coach Caldwell’s ability to utilize the transfer portal and new recruiting efforts to restore the standard of excellence historically associated with Tennessee women’s basketball.