Knoxville, Tennessee — The Lady Vols received Academic Special Mention honors as part of the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA)

In Knoxville, Tennessee, the Lady Volunteers women’s basketball program at the University of Tennessee recently received Academic Special Mention honors from the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA). In mid‑July of 2025, the WBCA released the results of the 2024–25 Academic Team Honor Roll, marking the thirtieth year of this academic recognition program. The Lady Vols were designated as a Special Mention team for achieving a collective grade point average of 3.323—a noticeable improvement compared to their 3.301 GPA in the previous year

Within the WBCA’s framework, teams across NCAA Division I, Division II, Division III, NAIA and two‑year colleges can be recognized. Each division ranks the top 25 teams in academic performance; those with GPAs of 3.0 or better that do not crack the top 25 are listed as Honorable or Special Mentions. In the 2024–25 academic year, the WBCA honored a total of 119 women’s basketball programs across the country for achieving GPA thresholds and academic excellence

The Lady Vols’ recognition marks their place among a group of 37 NCAA Power Five programs and nine SEC teams also honored that year for academic achievement. From the Southeastern Conference, Tennessee was one of nine teams recognized, reflecting strong commitment both on and off the court  Tennessee Athletics). Numerous other institutions across multiple conferences earned similar recognition: for example, South Florida posted a 3.584 GPA as a Special Mention, and Tennessee Tech ranked thirteenth nationally among NCAA Division I with a 3.699 GPA, just outside the Top 25 but still earning distinction (USF Athletics).

For the Lady Vols, the 3.323 GPA is more than a number; it represents the sustained commitment of the student‑athletes and coaching staff to creating a culture of academic integrity and striving for excellence beyond basketball. Eleven of their fifteen rostered athletes earned spots on the SEC Academic Honor Roll for the 2024–25 season—a sign of consistency across the entire team. That internal academic success supported their eligibility for national recognition (University of Tennessee Athletics).

Over the years, Tennessee’s women’s basketball program has long blended athletic prowess with academic expectation. Dating back to the era of legendary coach Pat Summitt, a hallmark of her leadership was that every Lady Vol player who completed her eligibility under her tenure graduated with a degree. Summitt’s philosophy entrenched the idea that scholarship and athletics were inseparable and provided a standard that continues to guide the program’s values even today (Wikipedia).

In more recent seasons, under coach Kellie Harper, the Lady Vols secured official WBCA Academic Special Mention honors in prior years as well. During the 2021–22 academic year, Tennessee posted a 3.397 GPA—the highest among SEC women’s programs that season and fourth‑highest in the nation—earning recognition as Special Mention. Twelve of fourteen roster players that year also made the SEC academic roll, setting a program record for academic honors among first‑year players (University of Tennessee Athletics). In the 2022–23 season, Tennessee recorded a 3.048 GPA and remained among the 29 Power Five schools to receive that academic label (University of Tennessee Athletics).

Improving from 3.048 to 3.301 to 3.323 across successive years demonstrates steady progress in the program’s academic culture and the investment made in supporting student‑athletes. Although they did not make the national Top 25, achieving a Special Mention still means meeting the WBCA’s baseline of a 3.0 team GPA and being among the upper echelon just outside that cutoff.

The WBCA Academic Top 25 program mandates that head coaches who are WBCA members submit their teams’ academic data for both semesters. The criteria include the names of all players on the roster at the start of the second semester, their attempted hours and GPA each semester, with grades converted onto a 4.0 scale. Teams must reach a minimum collective GPA of 3.0 to receive any recognition, and the top 25 are listed formally by rank, while other eligible teams are acknowledged with Special or Honorable Mention status (WBCA).

At national level, WBCA released the 2024–25 Top 25 rolls on July 22, 2025. That year saw University of Wisconsin–Green Bay earn the NCAA Division I top spot with a 3.862 GPA, followed by Boise State (3.803), Youngstown State (3.781), Western Illinois (3.775), South Dakota State (3.760), Creighton (3.757) and others. Tennessee Tech ranked thirteenth with 3.699. The Lady Vols were acknowledged among the broader field beyond that ranked list (WBCA).

Academic honors like this reflect the dual mission of NCAA athletics: excelling in sport and maintaining high educational standards. For Tennessee specifically, it helps reinforce the message to recruits, fans and alumni that the program honors its proud history while preparing young women for long-term success. With student‑athletes regularly making conference academic honor rolls and now earning national recognition, the foundations are being strengthened both structurally and culturally.

While public attention often focuses on wins, championships or coaching changes, the academic record is quietly essential. It influences eligibility, graduation rates, NCAA reporting, and the public image of the university. It also impacts federal funding metrics and university prestige. For athletic administrators, coaches and academic support staff, maintaining year‑over‑year improvements in team GPA is a performance indicator every bit as important as baskets scored.

In Knoxville, the Lady Vols’ fans and local media often note the academic side of the program with pride. From early programs under Summitt to today’s era under new leadership like Kim Caldwell, who began her first season in 2024–25, that reputation continues to attract strong recruits. Players who know they will be supported academically as well as athletically are more likely to succeed and graduate on time

Looking ahead, sustaining and improving that GPA will require continued institutional support: well‑trained academic advisors, tutoring, study halls, course planning, and cultural emphasis so student‑athletes remain engaged in academics even during travel and competition. It also invites accountability: if team GPA stagnates or drops below 3.0, WBCA recognition is lost.

In summary, the Lady Volunteers women’s basketball team earned WBCA Academic Special Mention honors in July 2025 for achieving a cumulative team GPA of 3.323 during the 2024–25 academic year. As one of 37 Power Five programs recognized—and among nine from the SEC—the Lady Vols improved on their GPA from prior years. Although falling short of the WBCA’s Top 25 ranking, the GPA surpasses the 3.0 minimum benchmark and demonstrates the program’s ongoing commitment to combining athletic success with academic performance. This recognition fits within a long legacy at Tennessee of graduating every player under Pat Summitt and keeping scholarship at the core, maintained through strong academic support and leadership in the modern era.