With new head coach Kim Caldwell taking over for Lady Vols basketball, the team has been active in the transfer portal so far.
Here’s a look at Tennessee’s roster when it comes to the transfer portal, both with who is coming in and who is leaving the Lady Vols.
Last updated June 19
Who’s in
Alyssa Latham
Alyssa Latham announced her decision to join Lady Vols basketball on social media April 21. Latham is the first player to join Tennessee since Kim Caldwell’s hiring.
Latham averaged 27.6 minutes per game for Syracuse during her freshman season, averaging 8.6 points and 7.0 rebounds per game. The 6-foot-2 forward scored a career-high 23 points against Alabama in November, playing 40 minutes in a Syracuse win.
Latham was named to the ACC All-Freshman team for her efforts last season — the first Syracuse player to do so since Kamilla Cardoso. She blocked 42 shots over a season where she started 26 of 32 games.
The Glenwood, Illinois, native played two NCAA Tournament games last season. In the first round, she scored 10 points and grabbed five rebounds as the Orange defeated Arizona. In Syracuse’s loss to Connecticut in the second round, Latham contributed six points, six rebounds and two blocks.
Lazaria Spearman
Miami transfer Lazaria Spearman announced her signing with Lady Vols basketball in a social media statement April 24.
Spearman played for the Hurricanes the last two seasons, playing 60 games and starting 10. Over her career, Spearman averaged 5.8 points and 5.0 rebounds per game. She increased her total in her sophomore campaign, averaging 6.3 points and 6.0 rebounds per contest.
The 6-foot-4 incoming junior played in three NCAA Tournament games during her freshman year, averaging 1.3 points and 2.3 rebounds in those games. She was part of Miami’s Elite Eight run during her tenure, including an upset of No. 1 seed Indiana.
Last season, Miami went 19-12 with an 8-10 record in ACC play. They were eliminated in the ACC Tournament quarterfinal by Virginia Tech. Spearman scored 12 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in Miami’s ACC Tournament win over North Carolina and contributed eight points in the loss to the Hokies.
Spearman scored a season-high 14 points in Miami’s wins over Alabama State and Clemson. She also earned a double-double in the win over Alabama State with 10 rebounds. Spearman scored in double digits on eight occasions and played 20 or more minutes 17 times.
Samara Spencer
Samara Spencer committed to the Lady Vols on May 5 after three years at Arkansas. The rising senior was Arkansas’ second-leading scorer last season, averaging 13.9 points per game.
Spencer played 33 games for the Razorbacks during her junior season, starting all of them. In addition to her scoring, she averaged 4.6 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game. She shot 33.6% from the field and 26% from 3-point range, averaging 1.2 made 3-pointers a game.
The 5-foot-7 guard was part of two NCAA Tournament teams, both losing in the first round.
Ruby Whitehorn
On May 13, Ruby Whitehorn announced her commitment to Lady Vols basketball on Instagram. The junior guard joins Tennessee after two seasons at Clemson.
Whitehorn averaged 12.3 points for the Tigers during her sophomore season. She also averaged 5.6 rebounds in her 31 games. She scored a season-high 26 points against Boston College during the ACC Tournament in March, playing 37 minutes in the loss.
Whitehorn was the No. 1 player in Michigan in ESPN’s 2022 class and the No. 15 player overall. She played at Detroit Edison Public School Academy, the same school where Rickea Jackson played.
Rapuluchi Ayodele
Rapuluchi Ayodele will be the fifth and final member of Tennessee’s transfer portal class after her financial aid agreement was finalized on June 18. The Spanish forward joins the Lady Vols from Pittsburgh, where she played in all 32 games and started on 15 occasions.
Ayodele played three seasons at the junior college level before joining the Panthers. In her senior season, she scored 4.7 points per game and grabbed 6.2 rebounds per contest. She is the second player on Tennessee’s roster to have played at Pittsburgh, joining Avery Strickland, who transferred in last season.
Who’s out
Karoline Striplin
Karoline Striplin has elected to enter the transfer portal, going elsewhere for her final season of eligibility. She posted a statement on social media confirming her departure from Lady Vols basketball.
“My time at Tennessee has truly been a blessing,” Striplin wrote. “Coach Kellie, thank you for giving me a chance to play on the biggest stage in college basketball. A heartfelt thank you to all of the coaches, managers, support staff, professors and fans who have poured into me over the last three years.”
Striplin averaged 7.2 points and 3.1 rebounds last season, playing 14.4 minutes per game. After starting 28 games during her sophomore season, Striplin started 11 times in her junior campaign. She shot 49.1% from the field.
