Jaida Civil Enters Transfer Portal, Leaving Lady Vols With No Players on Roster
Image: Kate Luffman/Tennessee Athletics
By Aidan Sidoti
KNOXVILLE – The Kim Caldwell era is officially on life support.
Tennessee freshman guard Jaida Civil has entered the transfer portal, she announced Monday, leaving the Lady Vols with zero returning players for the 2026-27 season.
Civil becomes the 13th Lady Vol to depart this offseason after a tumultuous year in Knoxville that ended with a 76-61 loss to NC State in the First Round of the NCAA Tournament, capping an eight‑game losing streak.
A former McDonald’s All‑American from Vero Beach (FL), Civil appeared in 30 games during her freshman campaign, starting 10. She averaged 6.4 points and 4.0 rebounds in 18.8 minutes per game, highlighted by a career‑high 21 points on the road at Oklahoma, showing why she was one of the most highly regarded prospects in the 2025 cycle.
Her departure leaves Tennessee with just one incoming player in four‑star signee Gabby Minus, after five‑star forward Oliviyah Edwards was released from her Letter of Intent over the weekend, further thinning an already depleted roster.
With the portal officially opening Tuesday, Caldwell and her staff now face a complete rebuild from the ground up. The Lady Vols will be one of the most active programs in the country as they attempt to reconstruct an entirely new roster ahead of Caldwell’s third season.
