2023–24 Tennessee Lady Volunteers basketball team

The 2023–24 Tennessee Lady Volunteers basketball team represented the University of Tennessee in the 2023–24 college basketball season. Led by former Lady Vol Kellie Harper,^[1] in her fifth year as head coach, the team played their games at Thompson–Boling Arena as members of the Southeastern Conference.

2023–24 Tennessee Lady Volunteers basketball
NCAA tournament, Second round
Conference	Southeastern Conference
Record	20–13 (10–6 SEC)
Head coach	Kellie Harper (5th season)
Assistant coaches	Samantha Willams Jon Harper Joy McCorvey
Home arena	Thompson–Boling Arena
Seasons ← 2022–23 2024–25 →

2023–24 SEC women's basketball standings

v t e	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		PCT			W		L		PCT
No. 1 South Carolina †	16	–	0		1.000			38	–	0		1.000
No. 6 LSU	13	–	3		.813			31	–	6		.838
Ole Miss	12	–	4		.750			24	–	9		.727
Alabama	10	–	6		.625			24	–	10		.706
Tennessee	10	–	6		.625			20	–	13		.606
Vanderbilt	9	–	7		.563			23	–	10		.697
Mississippi State	8	–	8		.500			23	–	12		.657
Auburn	8	–	8		.500			20	–	12		.625
Texas A&M	6	–	10		.375			19	–	13		.594
Arkansas	6	–	10		.375			18	–	15		.545
Florida	5	–	11		.313			16	–	16		.500
Kentucky	4	–	12		.250			12	–	20		.375
Georgia	3	–	13		.188			12	–	18		.400
Missouri	2	–	14		.125			11	–	19		.367
† 2024 SEC tournament winner Rankings from AP poll

The Lady Vols finished the season with a 20–13 overall record, 10–6 in the conference. They received a bye in the SEC tournament and advanced to the semifinals, where they lost by one point to South Carolina.^[2] The Lady Vols earned an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament, advancing to the second round before losing to North Carolina State.^[3]

On April 1, 2024, Tennessee announced that Harper was fired after five seasons.^[4]

On April 15, 2024, senior Rickea Jackson was selected by the Los Angeles Sparks, via the Seattle Storm, as the #4 overall pick in the 2024 WNBA draft.^[5]

Previous season

The 2022–23 team finished the season with a 25–12 overall record, 13–3 in the conference. They advanced to the finals of the SEC tournament, where they lost to South Carolina.^[6] Finishing strong in the conference, the Lady Vols earned an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament, advancing to the Sweet Sixteen before losing to Virginia Tech.^[7]

Roster

2023–24 Tennessee Lady Volunteers women's basketball team
Players	Coaches
Pos. # Name Height Year Previous school Hometown G 0 Jewel Spear 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) Sr Wake Forest University The Colony, TX G/F 1 Sara Puckett 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) Jr Muscle Shoals HS Muscle Shoals, AL F 2 Rickea Jackson 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) Sr Mississippi State University Detroit, MI G 5 Kaiya Wynn 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) Jr Foster HS Richmond, TX G 10 Destinee Wells 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m) Sr Belmont University Lakeland, TN F 11 Karoline Striplin 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) Jr Geneva HS Hartford, AL G 12 Edie Darby 5 ft 7 in (1.7 m) So Greenfield HS Greenfield, TN G/F 13 Avery Strickland 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) So University of Pittsburgh Knoxville, TN G 15 Jasmine Powell 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m) Sr University of Minnesota Detroit, MI C 20 Tamari Key 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) RS Sr Cary HS Cary, NC G/F 21 Tess Darby 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) Sr Greenfield HS Greenfield, TN F 53 Jillian Hollingshead 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) Jr University of Georgia Gainesville, GA G 55 Talaysia Cooper 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) So University of South Carolina Turbeville, SC	Head coach Kellie Harper (Tennessee) Assistant coach(es) Samantha Williams (Auburn) Jon Harper (Auburn) Joy McCorvey (St. John's) Legend (C) Team captain (S) Suspended (I) Ineligible (W) Walk-on Injured Current redshirt Roster

Schedule and results

Date time, TV	Rank#	Opponent#	Result	Record	High points	High rebounds	High assists	Site (attendance) city, state
Exhibition
10/30/2023* 6:30 p.m., SECN+	No. 11	Carson–Newman	W 105–72		17 – Jackson	8 – Tied	6 – Wells	Thompson–Boling Arena (7,819) Knoxville, TN
11/5/2023* 6:00 p.m., SECN	No. 11	USA Women's National Team	L 59–95		15 – Jackson	7 – Powell	3 – Wynn	Thompson–Boling Arena (6,179) Knoxville, TN
Non-conference regular season
11/7/2023* 6:30 p.m., SECN+	No. 11	Florida A&M	W 93–64	1–0	20 – Tied	12 – Hollingshead	6 – Wells	Thompson–Boling Arena (7,684) Knoxville, TN
11/9/2023* 6:00 p.m., ESPN2	No. 11	at No. 18 Florida State	L 91–92	1–1	31 – Jackson	17 – Jackson	4 – Jackson	Donald L. Tucker Center (2,898) Tallahassee, FL
11/13/2023* 6:30 p.m., SECN+	No. 15	Memphis	W 84–74 OT	2–1	24 – Puckett	12 – Spear	3 – Spear	Thompson–Boling Arena (7,729) Knoxville, TN
11/19/2023* 2:00 p.m., SECN+	No. 15	Troy	W 100–73	3–1	19 – Striplin	14 – Striplin	8 – Wells	Thompson–Boling Arena (7,782) Knoxville, TN
11/23/2023* 6:00 p.m., FOX	No. 19	vs. No. 21 Indiana Fort Myers Tip-Off	L 57–71	3–2	13 – Tied	7 – Puckett	3 – Wells	Suncoast Credit Union Arena (1,314) Fort Myers, FL
11/25/2023* 1:30 p.m.	No. 19	vs. No. 22 Oklahoma Fort Myers Tip-Off	W 76–73	4–2	19 – Powell	8 – Tied	3 – Spear	Suncoast Credit Union Arena (478) Fort Myers, FL
11/29/2023* 5:00 p.m., ESPN2	No. 20	No. 18 Notre Dame ACC–SEC Challenge	L 69–74	4–3	14 – Powell	7 – Powell	5 – Wells	Thompson–Boling Arena (8,211) Knoxville, TN
12/3/2023* 5:00 p.m., ESPN	No. 20	No. 16 Ohio State Jimmy V Classic	L 58–78	4–4	11 – Wells	7 – Hollingshead	3 – Tied	Thompson–Boling Arena (8,723) Knoxville, TN
12/6/2023* 7:30 p.m., ESPN+		vs. Middle Tennessee	L 62–73	4–5	29 – Striplin	6 – Tied	4 – Powell	Spragins Hall (5,015) Huntsville, AL
12/10/2023* 2:00 p.m., SECN+		Eastern Kentucky	W 72–63	5–5	17 – Striplin	9 – Hollingshead	5 – Powell	Thompson–Boling Arena (7,785) Knoxville, TN
12/19/2023* 6:30 p.m., SECN+		Wofford	W 85–63	6–5	18 – Spear	10 – Hollingshead	10 – Powell	Thompson–Boling Arena (7,900) Knoxville, TN
12/31/2023* 2:00 p.m., ESPN+		at Liberty	W 90–55	7–5	21 – Jackson	7 – Tied	7 – Wynn	Liberty Arena (2,105) Lynchburg, VA
SEC regular season
1/4/2024 8:00 p.m., SECN+		at Auburn	W 75–65	8–5 (1–0)	24 – Jackson	19 – Jackson	6 – Wynn	Neville Arena  Auburn, AL
1/7/2024 12:00 p.m., SECN		Kentucky Rivalry	W 87–69	9–5 (2–0)	27 – Jackson	7 – Tied	9 – Powell	Thompson–Boling Arena (8,823) Knoxville, TN
1/11/2024 7:00 p.m., SECN		Florida	W 88–81	10–5 (3–0)	20 – Tied	8 – Tied	4 – Powell	Thompson–Boling Arena (7,605) Knoxville, TN
1/14/2024 5:00 p.m., ESPN		at Texas A&M	L 56–71	10–6 (3–1)	12 – Puckett	7 – Puckett	5 – Puckett	Reed Arena (4,785) College Station, TX
1/18/2024 7:00 p.m., SECN		at Mississippi State	W 75–64	11–6 (4–1)	19 – Jackson	7 – Jackson	7 – Powell	Humphrey Coliseum (5,507) Starkville, MS
1/21/2024 3:00 p.m., SECN		Vanderbilt Rivalry	W 73–64	12–6 (5–1)	16 – Jackson	10 – Jackson	8 – Powell	Thompson–Boling Arena (9,088) Knoxville, TN
1/28/2024 3:00 p.m., ESPN		at Ole Miss	L 75–80	12–7 (5–2)	30 – Spear	6 – Jackson	6 – Powell	SJB Pavilion (3,863) Oxford, MS
2/1/2024 7:00 p.m., SECN		at Georgia	W 95–73	13–7 (6–2)	25 – Spear	8 – Key	9 – Powell	Stegeman Coliseum (2,596) Athens, GA
2/4/2024 2:00 p.m., SECN+		Missouri	W 80–69	14–7 (7–2)	22 – Spear	6 – Spear	6 – Tied	Thompson–Boling Arena (9,190) Knoxville, TN
2/8/2024 7:00 p.m., SECN+		at Alabama	L 56–72	14–8 (7–3)	13 – Jackson	7 – Key	3 – Tied	Coleman Coliseum (2,655) Tuscaloosa, AL
2/12/2024 7:00 p.m., SECN		Arkansas	W 81–55	15–8 (8–3)	21 – Jackson	10 – Hollingshead	7 – Spear	Thompson–Boling Arena (8,161) Knoxville, TN
2/15/2024 7:00 p.m., ESPN		No. 1 South Carolina	L 55–66	15–9 (8–4)	19 – Jackson	8 – Powell	3 – Jackson	Thompson–Boling Arena (11,073) Knoxville, TN
2/18/2024 2:00 p.m., SECN		at Vanderbilt Rivalry	W 86–61	16–9 (9–4)	24 – Jackson	7 – Jackson	4 – Jackson	Memorial Gymnasium (6,259) Nashville, TN
2/25/2024 12:00 p.m., ESPN		No. 13 LSU	L 60–75	16–10 (9–5)	16 – Jackson	9 – Jackson	6 – Powell	Thompson–Boling Arena (15,261) Knoxville, TN
2/29/2024 7:00 p.m., SECN		Texas A&M	W 75–66	17–10 (10–5)	27 – Jackson	7 – Key	6 – Powell	Thompson–Boling Arena (8,161) Knoxville, TN
3/3/2024 12:00 p.m., ESPN		at No. 1 South Carolina	L 68–76	17–11 (10–6)	29 – Jackson	8 – Jackson	3 – Powell	Colonial Life Arena (18,000) Columbia, SC
SEC tournament
3/7/2024 2:30 p.m., SECN	(5)	vs. (12) Kentucky Second Round / Rivalry	W 76–62	18–11	22 – Puckett	11 – Darby	4 – Powell	Bon Secours Wellness Arena (6,144) Greenville, SC
3/8/2024 2:30 p.m., SECN	(5)	vs. (4) Alabama Quarterfinals	W 83–61	19–11	24 – Spear	9 – Jackson	6 – Wynn	Bon Secours Wellness Arena (8,841) Greenville, SC
3/9/2024 4:30 p.m., ESPNU	(5)	vs. (1) No. 1 South Carolina Semifinals	L 73–74	19–12	22 – Jackson	9 – Jackson	8 – Jackson	Bon Secours Wellness Arena (12,784) Greenville, SC
NCAA tournament
3/23/2024* 12:00 p.m., ESPN	(6 P4)	vs. (11 P4) Green Bay First Round	W 92–63	20–12	26 – Johnson	9 – Johnson	6 – Powell	Reynolds Coliseum  Raleigh, NC
3/25/2024* 4:00 p.m., ESPN	(6 P4)	at (3 P4) No. 11 NC State Second Round	L 72–79	20–13	33 – Jackson	10 – Jackson	7 – Powell	Reynolds Coliseum (4,803) Raleigh, NC
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses. P4=Portland 4. All times are in Eastern Time. 2023–24 Schedule

Rankings

See also: 2023–24 NCAA Division I women's basketball rankings

Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
— = Not ranked RV = Received votes

	Week
Poll	Pre	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	Final
AP	11	15	19	20	RV	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	RV	RV	RV	—	—	RV	RV	Not released
Coaches	12	20	21	22	RV	—	—	—	—	—	—	RV	—	RV	RV	RV	RV	RV	RV	RV

References

1. Voepel, Mechelle (April 8, 2019). "Sources: Lady Vols to hire Harper as coach". ESPN.com. Retrieved July 17, 2023.
2. Iacobelli, Pete (March 9, 2024). "Cardoso's first-ever 3 rescues No. 1 South Carolina at SEC Tournament with 74-73 win over Lady Vols". Associated Press. Retrieved March 25, 2024.
3. Lady Vols’ comeback against NC State comes up short Lady Vols basketball can't complete comeback against No. 1 seed Virginia Tech in Sweet 16
4. "Tennessee Athletics Announces Change Of Leadership In Women's Basketball". Tennessee Volunteers Athletics. April 1, 2024. Retrieved April 1, 2024.
5. "WNBA Draft '24: Draft Results". April 15, 2024. Retrieved April 17, 2024.
6. South Carolina women's basketball stays perfect, wins SEC championship 74-58 vs. Tennessee
7. Lady Vols basketball can't complete comeback against No. 1 seed Virginia Tech in Sweet 16