Roster Revamp: Freshman Standout Jaida Civil Enters Transfer Portal, Lady Vols Face Rebuilding Season
Freshman basketball player Jaida Civil from the Lady Vols team has made the decision to enter the transfer portal, as revealed on April 6. Standing at 6 feet tall, Civil is the last remaining player from the previous season. She joins seven other players, including Deniya Prawl, Alyssa Latham, Kaniya Boyd, Lauren Hurst, Mia and Mya Pauldo, and Talaysia Cooper, who have either announced their intentions to transfer or have reportedly entered the portal. With Civil's departure, the Lady Vols now have no returning players from the 2025-26 roster, requiring Coach Kim Caldwell to build an entirely new team for the upcoming season.
The departure of Civil marks the fifth freshman player from Tennessee's team to announce their exit from the program after just one season. The transfer portal window, which now allows for immediate eligibility, has been extended this year to run from April 6 to April 20, following the national championship game. Civil expressed that her decision to transfer was incredibly difficult in a statement shared on Instagram.
In conclusion, the Lady Vols basketball team is undergoing significant changes as multiple players, including freshman standout Jaida Civil, have decided to enter the transfer portal. With an entirely new roster to be recruited for the upcoming season, Coach Kim Caldwell faces the challenge of rebuilding the team for her third season at the helm.