Tennessee’s 2025-26 women’s basketball season will tipoff Nov. 4.
The Lady Vols will play North Carolina State in the Ro Greensboro Invitational. The season opening matchup will be contested in Greensboro, North Carolina (4 p.m. EST, ESPN2).
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“I think our newcomers have elevated the level of our practice,” Tennessee head coach Kim Caldwell said at SEC media days. “Anyone can have a great practice. You can’t show up and just walk in the gym. You have to show up ready or you’re going to get your tail kicked.
“We have five freshmen. They’re doing a great job. They’re tough. They are not scared of anyone. They’re not scared to talk, to lead. They win our sprints. They have been great. If you don’t show up ready, and in the right mindset to practice, a freshman is going to, again, make you look bad.”
More: Lady Vols basketball picked to finish fifth in SEC
The preseason USA TODAY Sports women’s basketball coaches poll was released on Thursday. The Lady Vols are ranked No. 9 to start their 2025-26 season.
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USA TODAY Sports women’s basketball coaches poll
|
Rank |
Team |
Record |
PTS |
1st |
Prev |
Chg |
Hi/Lo |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
0-0 |
772 |
28 |
NR |
– |
1/1 |
|
|
2 |
0-0 |
741 |
3 |
NR |
– |
2/2 |
|
|
3 |
0-0 |
688 |
0 |
NR |
– |
3/3 |
|
|
4 |
0-0 |
686 |
0 |
NR |
– |
4/4 |
|
|
5 |
0-0 |
628 |
0 |
NR |
– |
5/5 |
|
|
6 |
0-0 |
594 |
0 |
NR |
– |
6/6 |
|
|
7 |
0-0 |
559 |
0 |
NR |
– |
7/7 |
|
|
8 |
0-0 |
516 |
0 |
NR |
– |
8/8 |
|
|
9 |
0-0 |
509 |
0 |
NR |
– |
9/9 |
|
|
10 |
0-0 |
487 |
0 |
NR |
– |
10/10 |
|
|
11 |
0-0 |
431 |
0 |
NR |
– |
11/11 |
|
|
12 |
0-0 |
390 |
0 |
NR |
– |
12/12 |
|
|
13 |
0-0 |
351 |
0 |
NR |
– |
13/13 |
|
|
14 |
0-0 |
346 |
0 |
NR |
– |
14/14 |
|
|
15 |
0-0 |
322 |
0 |
NR |
– |
15/15 |
|
|
16 |
0-0 |
291 |
0 |
NR |
– |
16/16 |
|
|
17 |
0-0 |
285 |
0 |
NR |
– |
17/17 |
|
|
18 |
0-0 |
282 |
0 |
NR |
– |
18/18 |
|
|
19 |
0-0 |
198 |
0 |
NR |
– |
19/19 |
|
|
20 |
0-0 |
164 |
0 |
NR |
– |
20/20 |
|
|
21 |
0-0 |
148 |
0 |
NR |
– |
21/21 |
|
|
22 |
0-0 |
113 |
0 |
NR |
– |
22/22 |
|
|
23 |
0-0 |
91 |
0 |
NR |
– |
23/23 |
|
|
24 |
0-0 |
82 |
0 |
NR |
– |
24/24 |
|
|
25 |
0-0 |
76 |
0 |
NR |
– |
25/25 |
Others receiving votes
West Virginia 72; Richmond 67; Michigan State 64; Alabama 40; South Dakota State 19; Florida State 15; Princeton 9; Creighton 9; Washington 8; Indiana 7; Stanford 4; James Madison 4; Nebraska 2; South Florida 1; Minnesota 1; George Mason 1; Fairfield 1; California 1
List of voters
The USA TODAY Sports Board of Coaches is made up of 31 head coaches at Division I institutions. All are members of the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association. The board for the 2025-26 season: Octavia Blue, Kennesaw State; Ashleen Bracey, Illinois-Chicago; Jen Brown, Queens; Dan Burt, Duquesne; Jeff Cammon, Saint Mary’s; Fred Chmiel, Bowling Green; Janell Crayton, Bethune-Cookman; Denise Dillon, Villanova; Carrie Eighmey, South Dakota; Dalila Eshe, Yale; Heather Ezell, Wyoming; Bill Fennelly, Iowa State; Aqua Franklin, Lamar; Ty Grace, Howard; Hana Haden, Georgia Southern; Corry Irvin, Chicago State; Renee Jimenez, UC-Santa Barbara; Chris Kielsmeier, Cleveland State; Mike Lane, NJIT; Amy Mallon, Drexel; Kristen Mattio, Northern Colorado; Mike McGuire, Radford; Kim McNeill, East Carolina; Dan Nielson, Utah Valley; Shawn Poppie, Clemson; Terry Primm, Siena; Samantha Quigley Smith, Southern Illinois-Edwardsville; Shea Ralph, Vanderbilt; Jonathan Tsipis, Western Carolina; Coquese Washington, Rutgers; Trevor Woodruff, Bucknell.
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This article originally appeared on Vols Wire: Lady Vols basketball preseason USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll ranking
