Lady Vols Set to Host No. 11 Kentucky for a Key SEC Showdown

Ellie Williamson
7 days ago
2 min read

Knoxville, Tenn. - The No. 17 Tennessee Lady Volunteers (13-3, 5-0 SEC) will welcome the No. 11 Kentucky Wildcats (17-3, 4-2 SEC) to Food City Center on Thursday evening in a pivotal Southeastern Conference clash that carries both postseason and rivalry implications.

Coach Caldwell on the match up:

“They are a top team in the country for a reason.”

Tennessee enters the contest riding a six-game winning streak and has been one of the league’s most consistent squads through the first half of SEC play.

Last weekend’s road victory over No. 21 Alabama, 70-59, highlighted the Lady Vols’ balance on both ends of the floor and underscored their status as one of only three unbeaten teams in league action alongside South Carolina and Vanderbilt.

Led by sharpshooting guard Talaysia Cooper, who is averaging nearly 15 points per game, Tennessee’s offense emphasizes pace, precision, and spacing, ranking among the conference’s top scoring units.

Sophomore Mia Pauldo has also been a key contributor, consistently pushing up Tennessee’s offensive efficiency with her scoring and playmaking. The Lady Vols are sitting at the top of the conference. UT is No. 2 in SEC games in scoring offense (78.8) and third in scoring defense (62.0).

Coach Caldwell said her rotation will have challenges with Kentucky.

They are a really deep team 1-5. They have two great players and are surrounded by phenomenal 3 point shooters.

She went on to say you have to stay in front of them.

“They can go in transition. They can beat you at the half court. They are good defensively. They are good at protecting the rim.”

Kentucky arrives in Knoxville looking to build momentum after a competitive start to SEC play. The Wildcats have shown they can stretch the floor and they average nearly nine made three-pointers per game. The Cats are anchored defensively by forward Clara Strack, who leads Kentucky in rebounds while providing interior toughness.

Historically, Tennessee has dominated the all-time series with Kentucky. The Lady Vols own a significant lead since the rivalry began in 1976. The Lady Vols have also held the upper hand in recent meetings, winning four of the last five matchups.

Thursday’s game will be broadcast nationally on SEC Network with additional audio coverage on the Lady Vol Radio Network and SiriusXM. Tip-off is set for 6:30 p.m. ET.

Both teams know the stakes: a win for Tennessee reinforces its position atop the SEC standings, while a victory for Kentucky would strengthen its bid for national perception and tournament seeding. With contrasting styles, expect Tennessee’s dynamic perimeter game versus Kentucky’s balanced attack to be key.

You can learn more about these Lady Vols on TPL. Watch the latest episode on More Than Hoops.