Wynn leaves Lady Vols; senior day 'breaking point'

Kaiya Wynn, a reserve guard on the Tennessee women's basketball team, said Tuesday she is leaving the program, calling what she felt was a slight on senior day this past weekend a "breaking point."

The Lady Vols lost the regular-season finale Sunday to No. 5 Vanderbilt 87-77 at Thompson-Boling Arena. Wynn didn't play in the game. She appeared in just nine games this season after missing all of 2024-25 because of an Achilles tendon injury. The Tennessee native has spent five years with the program.

"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. 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.

"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."

Tennessee and coach Kim Caldwell have not made an announcement about Wynn's departure.

Senior center Jersey Wolfenbarger, who appeared in 18 games this season, also did not play in Sunday's game. She transferred to Tennessee this season after playing two years at Arkansas and one at LSU. Tennessee's other seniors -- Janiah Barker, Nya Robertson and Zee Spearman -- all have started multiple games this season, including Sunday.

The Lady Vols are the No. 6 seed in this week's SEC tournament in Greenville, South Carolina. In Thursday's second round, they will face the Alabama-Missouri winner.

Tennessee (16-12, 8-8) has struggled since late January, when it was upset at home by Mississippi State. It has lost nine of its past 11 games, including the past six. That stretch included a 30-point loss at UConn and a program-worst 43-point loss at South Carolina.

After falling to the Gamecocks, Caldwell said, "We had a lot of quit in us tonight. ... 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."