A shock in Rocky Top as Kayia Wynn quit on her team and coach Kim Caldwell of the Lady Vols.
The fifth-year senior guard decided to walk away from Tennessee women’s basketball Tuesday with just one regular season game remaining and March Madness nearly here.
Wynn had been on the Vols’ roster since 2021.
“This decision was not made lightly or instantly,” Wynn wrote on social media. “For the past five years I have given my all for Tennessee and have not regretted doing so once.”
Wynn tore her Achilles and missed all of the 2024-25 season and played in just nine games this year, and the “breaking point” came Sunday during senior day, an 87-77 loss to No. 5 Vanderbilt.
Some schools will allow seniors to start their final home game, but Caldwell opted against that tactic.
Wynn ultimately did not appear in the game, stating that she turned down an opportunity to appear in the final minute with the game decided.
“Obviously, my last two seasons on the team have been less than ideal for many reasons, but the one night I was most looking forward to was senior night,” Wynn explained in her post. “As someone who has never started a career game, l was hoping to start in my last appearance in Thompson-Boling. That obviously did not happen, and to be asked to check into the game with 15 seconds left while losing was not how I wanted to spend my final moments in my arena after five years.”
“Although that was not the sole reason, it was the breaking point for me. I have the utmost love and respect for my teammates and this program and wish everyone nothing but the best. Thank you Lady Vol Nation for the past 5 years, you all made this kid from Tennessee so extremely happy.”
Caldwell took over as the head of the Tennessee program in April 2024, replacing Kellie Harper.
Wynn tore her Achilles during a team practice that October, sidelining her for Caldwell’s entire first season.
She did directly mention Caldwell in her post, both in referencing senior day plus saying her goodbyes.
Wynn averaged 4.4 points per game the 2023-24 season, playing in a career-high 33 games and averaging 13.4 minutes.
She averaged just 5.8 minutes per game and just 0.6 points per game this season.
Caldwell has not yet been asked to comment on losing a senior guard at the end of the season, but the season has spiraled with the Volunteers losing nine of the past 11.
“We had a lot of quit in us tonight,” Caldwell said after a 93-50 loss to No. 3 South Carolina on Feb. 8, the largest margin of defeat in program history. “And that’s something that’s been consistent with our team is when we’re not comfortable and things don’t go our way, I have a team that’ll just quit on you and you can’t do that in big games.”
It’s possible that Caldwell has lost the locker room, but the season is not over.
Tennessee is 16-12 and still on track to make the women’s NCAA Tournament, though a far cry from the normal top seed that you’d come to expect from a program with such a rich history.
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