Non-Lady Vol Basketball News 2025-26

[VolBall09]

Have to think Stanford is going to have a mass transfer situation. I just don’t see that many talented players staying there after this season. It’s obvious at this point Paye doesn’t have the sauce.

They have a really athletic post/forward in Agara I think we should go for if she opts to transfer. Young player with huge upside, athleticism and a high motor.

 

[lvocd]

I wouldn't be surprised if Paye stepped down. It's shocking how disastrous this season has been so far.

 

[Rooster1]

DI Women's Basketball Rankings - NCAA Women's Basketball NET Rankings | NCAA.com

Uconn still ranked #2 in NET rankings, in spite of having a 3-3 record in Quad1 games. What is their signature win this year? And yet they are still ranked above ND (who beat them), SoCal (who beat them), UCLA who is undefeated, Texas etc etc.

Something is fishy with those net rankings when Uconn continues to be ranked 2.

 

[Rooster1]

Have to think Stanford is going to have a mass transfer situation. I just don’t see that many talented players staying there after this season. It’s obvious at this point Paye doesn’t have the sauce.

They have a really athletic post/forward in Agara I think we should go for if she opts to transfer. Young player with huge upside, athleticism and a high motor.

They seem to be recruiting fine, bringing in three 5 star players in next class. So at the very least she can recruit. But something is definately off elsewhere.

2026 SportsCenter NEXT 100 - ESPN

Get the inside scoop on the top ranked high school girls' basketball players. In-depth player briefings, film and more on ESPNHS.com.

www.espn.com

 

[CoryDallasLV]

A bit of disrespect to the SC WBB team, who have played the #1 SOS in the nation and have the top defense, and yet not one player makes the 15 finalists for the Naismith DPOTY. Wow. Watch the smoke rise from this one in Columbia. They just threw gas on the fire.


Naismith Defensive Player of the Year Watch List

Lauren Betts	UCLA
Talaysia Cooper	Tennessee
Rori Harmon	Texas
Hannah Hidalgo	Notre Dame
Ayoka Lee	Kansas State
Rayah Marshall	USC
Megan McConnell	Duquesne
Aneesah Morrow	LSU
Khamil Pierre	Vanderbilt
Sedona Prince	TCU
JJ Quinerly	West Virginia
Taylor Thierry	Ohio State
Makayla Timpson	Florida State
JuJu Watkins	USC
Serah Williams	Wisconsin

Massey Ratings - College Basketball Women's Ratings

Computer ratings and rankings for CBW (College Basketball Women's), with links to team predictions, scores, and schedules.

masseyratings.com

Have to think their depth and balance is the only thing hurting them for individual recognition this year. I’m sure they’ll take the wins over those accolades anyway

 

[VolBall09]

They seem to be recruiting fine, bringing in three 5 star players in next class. So at the very least she can recruit. But something is definately off elsewhere.

2026 SportsCenter NEXT 100 - ESPN

Get the inside scoop on the top ranked high school girls' basketball players. In-depth player briefings, film and more on ESPNHS.com.

www.espn.com

Yeah I saw they had signed more really talented girls. That Stanford degree is hard to turn down. If they have hoop dreams they won’t be there long though. The fall off in one season is nuts. Tara was the master, can’t duplicate that with an assistant.

Even Holly did better than that for a couple seasons.

 

[Ladyvols4ever!]

A bit of disrespect to the SC WBB team, who have played the #1 SOS in the nation and have the top defense, and yet not one player makes the 15 finalists for the Naismith DPOTY. Wow. Watch the smoke rise from this one in Columbia. They just threw gas on the fire.


Naismith Defensive Player of the Year Watch List

Lauren Betts	UCLA
Talaysia Cooper	Tennessee
Rori Harmon	Texas
Hannah Hidalgo	Notre Dame
Ayoka Lee	Kansas State
Rayah Marshall	USC
Megan McConnell	Duquesne
Aneesah Morrow	LSU
Khamil Pierre	Vanderbilt
Sedona Prince	TCU
JJ Quinerly	West Virginia
Taylor Thierry	Ohio State
Makayla Timpson	Florida State
JuJu Watkins	USC
Serah Williams	Wisconsin

Massey Ratings - College Basketball Women's Ratings

Computer ratings and rankings for CBW (College Basketball Women's), with links to team predictions, scores, and schedules.

masseyratings.com

Ohhh, you may be right. I might have included Raven Johnson or Bree Hall on the list.

 

[brittannica]

I guess this is really non-Lady Vols news for 2025-2026 but Vic reported LSU and Texas will play each other twice next season. Curious to know who we drew.

Danny Davis (@danny-davis.bsky.social)

On a Zoom call this afternoon, Texas WBB coach Vic Schaefer said that LSU will be the Longhorns' home-and-home opponent in SEC play next season. South Carolina was the only team that appeared twice on UT's schedule this season. #HookEm

bsky.app

 

[Poultrygeist]

Dawn is ramping up recruiting efforts for the top post player in the 2026 class and #4 overall. That would be "Big Oh" ( Oliviyah Edwards ) who was in Columbia recently for the LSU game. I understand she has also visited Tennessee.

 

[LVfanLasVegas]

Stanford is disappointing although a dip was expected. How awful must it be for an athlete to have to make trips all the way across the country to play while also trying to get school work done. The ACC is brutal with 6 or 7 ranked teams and having to travel 4-6 hours has to take its toll on players and coaches. Might make recruiting difficult, might not.

 

[Rooster1]

I guess this is really non-Lady Vols news for 2025-2026 but Vic reported LSU and Texas will play each other twice next season. Curious to know who we drew.

Danny Davis (@danny-davis.bsky.social)

On a Zoom call this afternoon, Texas WBB coach Vic Schaefer said that LSU will be the Longhorns' home-and-home opponent in SEC play next season. South Carolina was the only team that appeared twice on UT's schedule this season. #HookEm

bsky.app

Likewise @brittannica Everyone is curious and would love to know that info.

 

[Rooster1]

Have to think their depth and balance is the only thing hurting them for individual recognition this year. I’m sure they’ll take the wins over those accolades anyway

Think that team feels the same @CoryDallasLV , they will just use that as fuel, they love that stuff. It’s obviously a team of girls who have their heads in the right place, they are unselfish and relentless hunters of victories, in spite of some weaknesses.

I don’t know how well they will play at Texas on Sunday, but this SC team has risen to the occasion many times this year, it’s not huge if they lose that game. This team is going to be competing for a final four spot. They don’t need a 1 seed to be favored for the final four. I think they will wind up a 1 seed, but they have many huge games ahead, including the conference tourney.

It’s just starting to get interesting, for many teams. This last run of conference games and the tourney will shake it all out.

 

[Rooster1]

Have to think their depth and balance is the only thing hurting them for individual recognition this year. I’m sure they’ll take the wins over those accolades anyway

Can you even imagine a list of the top 15 defensive players in the game without Raven or Breezy on it? They are reason number one why SC has the best defense in the nation. And that team hangs its hat on defense above all else. They have a first rate power D. That list is laughable.

 

[Rooster1]

This was a fascinating clip. Uconn fans can comment better on it, but wow.

 

[JustaChicken]

Hey @Rooster1 how are you feeling about tomorrow's big game at Texas? Prediction?

 

[CoryDallasLV]

Can you even imagine a list of the top 15 defensive players in the game without Raven or Breezy on it? They are reason number one why SC has the best defense in the nation. And that team hangs its hat on defense above all else. They have a first rate power D. That list is laughable.

Rooster, I also have to admit being ignorant with my post because I failed to read and comprehend before I commented that this was about defense, so my point is moot! Haha. Man, I have been so jumbled lately and failed to take the time to read properly. Apologies.

 

[superfly]

Hey @Rooster1 how are you feeling about tomorrow's big game at Texas? Prediction?

Our girls get up for these type of games....but....Texas is looking for payback. It is a game that we could lose but that's true with any road game against a ranked opponent. If Texas is too tight trying to pull if off...we win. If they are focused and relentless.....we lose. If we get this one it should be clear sailing from here in the SEC. UCONN looks very winnable.

 

[Rooster1]

Hey @Rooster1 how are you feeling about tomorrow's big game at Texas? Prediction?

I believe it will be a defensive matchup, low scoring. 71-65 SC, something like that.

 

[VolBall09]

Just one, out of context, video but something feels off. Body language is telling and their last several games have looked awful. Gottlieb CANNOT coach, have always said that.

I would not be at all surprised to see JuJu in the portal.

 

[knoxvol52]

Hopefully my eyes will not bleed out watching the Gamecocks vs Longhorns game before Tennessee takes over ESPN today

 

[glv98]

Just one, out of context, video but something feels off. Body language is telling and their last several games have looked awful. Gottlieb CANNOT coach, have always said that.

I would not be at all surprised to see JuJu in the portal.

I believe JuJu was way overhyped last year and reality is catching up with her. Like Paige, she's a great player but not 'generational' as prreviously advertised. And her coach is very mid at best.

 

[glv98]

Just to make Dark Phoenix feel better, Lauren Betts has made it official that she'll return to UCLA next yr and not declare for the drraft. Which makes this year official as a very weak draft.

 

[VolBall09]

I believe JuJu was way overhyped last year and reality is catching up with her. Like Paige, she's a great player but not 'generational' as prreviously advertised. And her coach is very mid at best.

I agree, I think she’s extremely athletic and very talented. I do think she’s a cut above Paige based on competitiveness alone. She doesn’t seem like she put in the work needed to hit the next level of her game to me though.

Everyone wants her to be the next Clark and she just isn’t. There won’t be another Clark for a long time and it’s due to her drive and competitiveness. The only previous player I would compare Clark to is Jackie Stiles and it’s no surprise their names show up near each other in the record books. Jackie also had that tireless work ethic and drive. It’s not something you can learn, you either have it or you don’t.

The media trying to make her the next Clark has put her in a bad spot. She’s very obviously trying for the record but not in a way that is beneficial to her development or her team. Her shooting has been terrible due to bad shot selection, which is a coaching issue mostly. Only reason her numbers are still so good is the amount she gets to the line. Over a third of her points in the last 8 games are from the line.

 

[glv98]

I agree, I think she’s extremely athletic and very talented. I do think she’s a cut above Paige based on competitiveness alone. She doesn’t seem like she put in the work needed to hit the next level of her game to me though.

Everyone wants her to be the next Clark and she just isn’t. There won’t be another Clark for a long time and it’s due to her drive and competitiveness. The only previous player I would compare Clark to is Jackie Stiles and it’s no surprise their names show up near each other in the record books. Jackie also had that tireless work ethic and drive. It’s not something you can learn, you either have it or you don’t.

The media trying to make her the next Clark has put her in a bad spot. She’s very obviously trying for the record but not in a way that is beneficial to her development or her team. Her shooting has been terrible due to bad shot selection, which is a coaching issue mostly. Only reason her numbers are still so good is the amount she gets to the line. Over a third of her points in the last 8 games are from the line.

IMO JuJu advantage over Paige is just her size and physicality. But Paige is a better shooter. And neither is on the same plain w CC as far as range. No one is, and that's CC's great advantage and what makes her so hard to guard.

Don't think it's fair to say JuJu hasn't put in the work. It's more that the game has just caught up to her. Last yr she was new and no one knew exactly how to guard her. She's like a rookie pitcher going thru the lineup for the second time; they've seen her bag and are adjusting.

It's clear Hannah and Lauren Betts are the best players and way ahead of the pack for NPOY. Things could change though.

 

[lvocd]

The comparison of Clark and Stiles is right on as far as their willingness to put the work in and competitiveness. Let's hope Clark doesn't literallly practice shooting so obsessively the joints literally wear out like Jackie's did. Hers was the most bizarre and sad end-of-career story in memory.