Caldwell guides Lady Vols to best end-of-season AP Poll rank since 2021
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — The Associated Press released its final women's top 25 poll of the 2024-2025 season on Monday with Tennessee ranking No. 15 after the first season under head coach Kim Caldwell.
It's the highest end-of-season rank for the Lady Vols since they concluded the 2020-2021 season at No. 13. Tennessee entered the Top 25 in December and appeared in every subsequent edition of the poll, rising as high as No. 11 and never falling below No. 20.
WATCH: One-on-one interview with Lady Vol basketball assistant coach Gabe Lazo
Caldwell's first year on Rocky Top was an eventful one. She was introduced as the fourth head head coach of Tennessee in the NCAA era exactly one year ago on April 7, 2024. Tennessee started the season on a 13-game winning streak, ending the longest absence from the Associated Press Top 25 poll in program history.
The Lady Vols defeated UConn for the first time since 2007 in February. She guided Tennessee to 24 wins and appearance in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament. She gave birth to her first child in January and returned to the sidelines after missing just one game.
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Tennessee rewarded her with a one-year contract extension that would keep her in Knoxville until 2030. She and her staff have landed a top-two recruiting class for next season featuring five players rated in the top 100 of espnW's rankings.
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