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Tennessee Lady Vols’ projected 2022-2023 starring lineup

By Caleb Calhoun

Tennessee basketball coach Kellie Harper talks with Tennessee center Tamari Key (20) in the final minutes of the NCAA basketball tournament game against Belmont in Knoxville, Tenn. on Monday, March 21, 2022.Ladyvols Belmont
Tennessee basketball coach Kellie Harper talks with Tennessee center Tamari Key (20) in the final minutes of the NCAA basketball tournament game against Belmont in Knoxville, Tenn. on Monday, March 21, 2022.Ladyvols Belmont /
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Tennessee guard/forward Tess Darby (21) with a 3-point shot against Louisville during the NCAA tournament Sweet 16 basketball game on Saturday, March 26, 2022. in Wichita, KS.Lady Vols Louisville Ncaa
Tennessee guard/forward Tess Darby (21) with a 3-point shot against Louisville during the NCAA tournament Sweet 16 basketball game on Saturday, March 26, 2022. in Wichita, KS.Lady Vols Louisville Ncaa /

Small forward – Tess Darby

While Sara Puckett backs up Jordan Horston, the Tennessee Lady Vols’ primary three-point specialist will start on the wing now that Rae Burrell is gone. Tess Darby played this role last year, starting in 30 games, and she averaged just under five and a half points while shooting 38.3 percent from beyond the arc.

At 6’1″, Darby will join Horston and Jordan Walker to make a complete backcourt where Horston can do everything and Darby and Walker complement her. Entering her junior season, there will be times where she and Puckett play together and Puckett and Horston also play together, so these positions are interchangeable. It’s just Darby technically will start on the wing.

Backup No. 1: Justine Pissott

Here is why Puckett needs to back up Horston to still be part of the two-deep rotation. Justine Pissott is a five-star wing in the Lady Vols’ 2022 recruiting class, and given the hype behind her at 6’2″, it’s pretty obvious that Kellie Harper will want her to be a major factor early. To do that, she needs to back up Darby directly.

Backup No. 2: Kaiya Wynn

More of a guard, Kaiya Wynn occupies the third-team wing spot because it’s how Harper can go two-deep with Darby, Horston, Pissott and Puckett, who are going to be her four best players at the two and three. At 6’0″, Wynn played just over eight minutes last year as a true freshman. She could help some this year, but she’s more about the future.