‘The first ones to the fire’ – There are 2 new Lady Vols players that are already instant fan favorites on Rocky Top
Kim Caldwell and the Lady Vols put the finishing touches on their roster this week. Tennessee was forced to replace every single player on Caldwell’s roster following a mass departure of players.
Kim Caldwell and the Lady Vols officially put the finishing touches on their roster on Tuesday.
After starting the offseason with zero players on the team, Caldwell now has a full roster.
Two of the Lady Vols’ additions are instant fan favorites
All of the Lady Vols’ additions are important and will play in Caldwell’s fast-paced system.
Two of the additions, however, stand out a bit more than the others.
When the offseason started, the Lady Vols weren’t exactly an attractive destination due to the way the 2025-26 season ended (with an eight-game losing streak and some off-the-court drama).
On Tuesday, during a Big Orange Caravan Stop in Chattanooga, Caldwell spotlighted two players who were the “first ones to the fire” — four-star signee Gabby Minus and Liberty transfer Avery Mills.
“Gabby was amazing,” said Caldwell. “Every time we talked, [she was saying], ‘I’m all in, I’m all in, I’m all in. This is where I want to be.’ And so she was great on that end. And for it to be a young kid coming out of high school to be unwavering — and when I say she was unwavering, she did not waver one bit — it’s remarkable. And again, her and Avery Mills were the first ones to the fire, so to speak.”
Minus and Mills helped ensure that Caldwell and the Lady Vols carried some momentum into the rest of the transfer cycle. And that momentum obviously helped as Tennessee made 12 key transfer additions.
Mills spoke on her decision to join Tennessee earlier this month and made it clear that honoring the legacy of the Lady Vols is important to her.
“I strongly believe in coach Kim,” said Mills. “Regardless of the doubts, regardless of what people may be thinking, we’re going to do what we do — we’re going to put the
work in…We both have that chip, and it’s a big chip. I’m ready, and I’m really excited to just show what I can do.”
“It makes me want to work even harder,” added Mills of what it means to play for an iconic brand like the Lady Vols. “Just to really respect the name on the front of my jersey, and to honor them and to just keep this legacy going. I’m really excited to see where it goes.”
Every new player on Tennessee’s roster is important, but Minus and Mills are the two “OGs” in this class that really helped kick off the offseason for Caldwell and her staff.