UNCASVILLE, CT – The celebration surrounding the careers of Chamique Holdsclaw and Candace Parker as the latest members of the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame is a welcome reminiscence of Lady Vols basketball incredible history.
It is also, unavoidably, a stark reminder of where the Tennessee is right now.
The Lady Vols recorded the worst winning percentage in program history at 16-14 last season, which ended with an eight-game losing streak. All eight returners entered the transfer portal following Tennessee coach Kim Caldwell's second season, and Caldwell had to rebuild her entire roster.
Holdsclaw, who led the Lady Vols to three straight national championships during her career from 1995-99, was asked for her perspective on the state of the program
a day before the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame enshrinement for the 2026 class on Aug. 15 in Springfield, Massachusetts.
Holdsclaw said it has been "a common conversation" amongst former Lady Vols.
"We got to get it back, we got to get some consistency," Holdsclaw said. "I know it’s a different time, and NIL is basically like, if you can pay, I’ll play. It gets tough, I think these kids should get what they deserve, especially with the jersey sales and things. But I think we got to get a system that works for the players that are at our university. I like Coach Caldwell, and hopefully this year they turn things around. We’ll see."
Holdsclaw was also asked why Tennessee's historic rival UConn has been able to sustain success while the Lady Vols have declined. Holdsclaw pointed out the obvious – the Huskies are still coached by Geno Auriemma, who built the program into a powerhouse with 12 national championships.
"Just like Coach (Pat) Summitt had it locked in, they have their stuff, they run their program a certain way," Holdsclaw said. "And you know it doesn’t matter who you are. You’re going to come, you’re going to fall in line."
Tennessee is on its third head coach since Summitt retired in 2012 following her Alzheimer's diagnosis in 2011. Summitt's longtime assistant and former All-American point guard Holly Warlick was hired and went to three Elite Eights with a 172-67 record over seven years.
Kellie Harper, another of Summitt's former point guards, replaced Warlick who was fired after the 2018-19 season and made two Sweet 16 trips with a 108-52 record in five years.
Caldwell became the first Lady Vols coach who didn't play for Summitt after Harper was fired after the 2023-24 season. Caldwell coached at Division II Glenville State, which she led to a national championship, for seven seasons before spending one season in Division I at Marshall.
Caldwell's first season at Tennessee was a success that included a win over UConn in Knoxville and a run to the Sweet 16 before a disastrous second season.
"(UConn) can get stars to play with stars. Everybody’s like OK, we’re going to move this ball. These teams just go out there and play as one, and we don’t have that right now," Holdsclaw said. "The last couple years, we don’t know, who’s the star? Who is the star? The ball is just passing around. Who’s going to take this shot? Who’s going to be the leader? And you can’t win like that. We’re going to get back there, I think it’s been a growing process.
"But UConn has Geno – when Geno retires, ask that question (again), because they’re probably going to go through some growing pains."
Cora Hall is the University of Tennessee women's athletics reporter for Knox News. Email: cora.hall@knoxnews.com; X: @corahalll; Bluesky: @corahall.bsky.social. Support strong local journalism and unlock premium perks: subscribe.knoxnews.com/offers
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Why Chamique Holdsclaw says Lady Vols basketball must 'get it back' to be winners
