What Lady Vols freshmen said about first year under Kim Caldwell, Tennessee's future

When Lady Vols basketball  signed the 2025 class, coach Kim Caldwell called the recruits "a great foundation" for the program. The five players, including three McDonald's All-Americans, were Tennessee's highest-ranked high school signing class since 2017. Caldwell said in November 2024 they were a class that could "leave their mark here," which they embraced.

Their first season as Lady Vols ended with an eight-game losing streak as they went 16-14 and lost in the NCAA first round for the third time in program history. "We'll meet when we get back and we'll figure out who wants to stay, what we're going to do," Caldwell said after Tennessee's loss to NC State on March 20. "We have a little while before (the portal) opens, but it's just going to continue to be crazier and crazier every year.

" Knox News caught up with all five freshmen during the open locker room on March 19 ahead of the NCAA Tournament opener. Here's what they said about their first year at Tennessee and the future. Mia and Mya Pauldo 'grateful' for freshman season Mia Pauldo, Tennessee's lone SEC All-Freshman selection, said she was grateful for everything she experienced this season, because not many guards her size at 5-foot-5 get to play in the SEC and represent the Lady Vols.

Pauldo and her twin sister, Mya, didn't expect the season to include as many "lessons" as it did, but it was all worth it. Mya said she didn't regret anything. Mia said she expected this season to be "an easy road" with all the talent on the roster.