For about three decades, Tennessee was the standard for SEC women’s basketball. For the past decade, it’s been South Carolina that has clutched the conference’s crown.
On Monday night in Knoxville (7 p.m. ET, ESPN2), the two programs meet, with the No. 17 Lady Vols looking to re-establish the program among the SEC’s elite, as the No. 2 Gamecocks aim to approach another, unchartered level of greatness.
Tennessee head coach Kim Caldwell, charged with returning the Lady Vols to the top of the sport with her hyper-modern fast-paced, shoot-first system, will be back on the sidelines, missing just one game after giving birth to her son last Thursday. Speaking to reporters on Sunday, Caldwell described the “helpless feeling” of watching her team lose yet another close game as they came up short against Texas in Austin on Thursday, 80-76. Tennessee has suffered four losses by a combined eight points.
Coach Kim Caldwell announces that she will be back coaching the Lady Vols tomorrow against South Carolina.
This is just 7 days after giving birth to her son Conor. pic.twitter.com/lJ4WXvdlKc
— Tri-Star Network (@TennesseeNet) January 26, 2025
On the other side, of course, will be Dawn Staley, whose Gamecocks’ are fresh off a 69th-straight home win. South…
