It's almost time for Kim Caldwell's third season as Lady Vols basketball coach after an offseason full of change.
Tennessee will take the court for the first time ahead of the 2026-27 season for an exhibition against Florida A&M at Food City Center on Oct. 27. The Lady Vols will host Duquesne for their season opener Nov. 2.
Before Tennessee's season begins, meet the 15 new players on the Lady Vols' roster.
Kaylene Smikle, guard
Kaylene Smikle is a big guard out of the Big Ten at 6-feet tall. She's one of the top transfers Tennessee signed, even with Smikle coming off a knee surgery in December. She led Maryland in scoring as a junior, averaging 17.9 points, 4.4 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.5 steals during the 2024-25 season, which ended in the Sweet 16 and All-Big Ten first
team honors. Smikle, who played her first two seasons at Rutgers, is a career 34.9% 3-point shooter, and the fifth-year is projected to be one of Tennessee's leading scorers.
Avery Mills, guard
Avery Mills, a 5-9 guard, was the top 3-point shooter to commit to the Lady Vols this spring. The Liberty transfer led the Flames in scoring last season (15.3 points) as a sophomore, and she shot 42.7% on 7.4 attempts from 3-point range per game. Mills underwent ACL and meniscus repair surgery in July, and it's unlikely she'll be cleared to play this season.
Harissoum Coulibaly, guard
Harissoum Coulibaly was one of five SEC transfers to commit to Tennessee. The 5-10 guard sophomore led Auburn in scoring last season, averaging 10.4 points, three rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.6 steals. Coulibaly brings a ton of SEC experience despite her youth and she's comfortable being a primary ball handler in a physical league. She's not the strongest shooter, but Coulibaly can get downhill and should be a strong defender.
Gabby Minus, guard/forward
Four-star freshman Gabby Minus is the only player who stayed through the Lady Vols' exodus this spring, and she brings great size at 6-1 and athleticism. Minus should be impactful as a defender and rebounder right away, and she's a player who could be plugged into a lot of lineups and do well. She'll likely need the first half of the season to adjust, but has the potential to produce consistently in SEC play.
Zhen Craft, forward
Zhen Craft is one of five forwards on the team and one of four players 6-2 or taller. The Georgia transfer averaged 5.7 points and 4.2 rebounds as a freshman and shot 47% from the field. Craft is a mobile forward who should fit well into Caldwell's system, and Tennessee needs her to be a consistent finisher at the rim and rebounder.
Shaelyn Steele, guard
Shaelyn Steele transferred in from Penn State, where she averaged 12 minutes, 1.8 points, 1.1 assists and 1.1 steals as a sophomore last season. Caldwell said the 5-6 guard didn't expect to come in and play point guard, but she has done well filling in this summer. Steele is a strong defender, but she isn't the strongest shooter and her role may be limited once Jada Eads is fully healthy again.
Jada Eads, point guard
Jada Eads is one of the biggest X-factors on the team – specifically, how her knee holds up after a torn ACL in January ended her sophomore season at Seton Hall. The 5-7 point guard was one of the more impressive players during open practice Sept. 25 despite coming off eight months of rehab. Eads, who made the All-Big East first team as a freshman, averaged 10.6 points on 35.8% shooting, 5.1 rebounds, 4.1 assists and two steals last season.
As long as she stays healthy, Eads will be crucial for Tennessee's offense. She has a great handle, plays with pace and has a nice pull-up jumper. Eads can keep the offense moving and will also be a strong addition defensively.
Irene Oboavwoduo, guard
Irene Oboavwoduo is a freshman out of Manchester, England, and the 5-10 guard was a late addition to Tennessee's 2026 class this spring. Oboavwoduo had a decorated youth career overseas and even earned a call-up to the Great Britain senior women's national team for the EuroBasket 2027 qualifiers in November. However, it remains to be seen how her talents will translate to the U.S. college game, especially the SEC.
Rylie Theuerkauf, guard
Rylie Theuerkauf is another strong shooter Tennessee signed out of the portal. The 5-9 guard shot 40.6% on 5.5 attempts from 3-point range for Georgia last season, which were career highs. Theuerkauf can create her own shot off the dribble and moves well off the ball to get open for catch-and-shoot opportunities. She isn't a defensive standout among Tennessee's guards, but she got experience at Georgia playing within a defensive system that used pressing and traps.
Harper Peterson, forward
Harper Peterson is the only forward on the team who's at least 6-3. She transferred to Tennessee after two seasons at Stanford, where she suffered a season-ending injury nine games into her freshman year. She only appeared in 10 games last season, so there's not much film on Peterson. She's a career 38.5% 3-pointer shooter, but she has only taken 13 in her career. Peterson is tall, but she may struggle with the physicality of the SEC.
Riley Makalusky, forward
Riley Makalusky is a 6-2 senior forward who transferred in from West Virginia, where she averaged 4.7 points, two rebounds and 14.8 minutes. Makalusky is a career 39.4% 3-point shooter, and she led the Big East as a freshman at Butler (46.1%). If Tennessee can get her shooting like that, she'll be a valuable piece of the offense, but she may also struggle with physicality in the SEC.
Naomi White, guard
Naomi White is a true three-level scorer who transferred in from Northern Arizona. The 5-9 guard led all Division I freshmen in scoring last season (20.8 points), and Caldwell said Sept. 25 she has "no doubt" that White's talents will translate. The junior can create her shot from anywhere and make tough jumpers, and if Tennessee can space the floor well for her, White has the potential to be a leading scorer as she gains more confidence.
Aaliyah Moore, forward
Aaliyah Moore is an SEC veteran who spent the last five seasons at Texas. The 6-1 forward only played two full seasons for the Longhorns due to knee injuries. Moore said Sept. 25 that she's finally playing pain-free, and she looked solid on the court during open practice. Moore brings invaluable experience, and she's a strong defender and rebounder. As long as she stays healthy, she'll be a staple in Tennessee's frontcourt.
Kennedy Fauntleroy, point guard
Kennedy Fauntleroy is the top point guard that Tennessee brought in. The 5-7 fifth-year is on her fifth school after playing at Georgetown, Oklahoma State, Arizona State and East Carolina. Fauntleroy is a great two-way player, and she'll be crucial for the Lady Vols on both ends of the court with her ability as a playmaker and shooting ability. She's a career 31.4% 3-point shooter and has averaged 3.4 assists and 2.2 steals over 89 career games.
Fatmata Janneh, forward
Fatmata Janneh is the best forward Tennessee signed out of the portal. The 6-2 senior nearly averaged a double-double at Texas A&M last season (11.4 points, 9.7 rebounds) and she's a solid, physical defender. Tennessee needs her to be one of the best rebounders in the SEC again, and Janneh should be a very capable scorer with her ability to stretch the floor. She shot 33% on 3.3 attempts from 3-point range per game last season, and she should thrive in Caldwell's system.
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:knoxnews.com/subscribe
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Meet Lady Vols basketball's 15 new players for Kim Caldwell's third season
