Kim Caldwell Confirms Lady Vols Guard Returns Following Suspension
Image: Kate Luffman/Tennessee Athletics
By Aidan Sidoti
The Lady Vols officially opened preseason practice Tuesday, and with it came an update on senior guard Ruby Whitehorn following her off‑the‑court issues.
Whitehorn was arrested on Aug. 8 in Knox County and was initially charged with felony aggravated burglary and domestic assault.
On Sept. 5, Whitehorn pleaded guilty to two misdemeanors, according to Knoxville News Sentinel's Cora Hall.
Following the resolution of her case, Whitehorn was reinstated to the program in early September.
Head coach Kim Caldwell confirmed her return but acknowledged the gravity of the situation.
“She is back with the team, she joined the team early September. I think September 8th, that week, after a lengthy suspension,” Caldwell told reporters Tuesday. “It’s not an ideal situation, it’s not a situation that reflects our program the way we want it to. There’s a strong legacy here, and it did not withhold the name of the brand. It’s not something that helped us at all in recruiting. It’s something that we have addressed. We addressed it seriously and we’re hoping that we can now move on and put our next foot forward.”
The Detroit native was a key contributor for Tennessee last season. After transferring from Clemson, she started 28 of 34 games as a junior, averaging 11.6 points and 4.0 rebounds per game while helping lead the Lady Vols to the Sweet Sixteen in Caldwell’s debut season at Tennessee.
While Caldwell emphasized accountability and the importance of upholding Tennessee’s legacy, Whitehorn’s reinstatement also signals an opportunity for both parties to move forward.
