The Tennessee women’s basketball team has been under a lot of scrutiny over the past few weeks, especially after losing its entire roster and a top recruit this offseason. Much of the criticism has been directed at head coach Kim Caldwell, but athletic director Danny White has also taken some of the blame. Since White took over, the Lady Vols haven’t quite returned to the level they once consistently reached.
Lady Vols grab a key guard as roster overhaul continues for Kim Caldwell
Not to mention, White made the hire of Kim Caldwell, who ended the year on eight straight losses, and he has since publicly backed her. In light of this, people like ESPN's Holly Rowe have criticized White for how he's handled the Lady Vols program. Rowe posted on X, but it has since been deleted a tweet saying, "What Danny White is allowing to happen to @LadyVol_Hoops is making me so sad. Gut wrenching to watch him let one of the greatest programs in womens sports history disintegrate. I am devastated."
In an interview with the Knoxville news Rowe cam out again andf doubled down on he rorginal pst syaing "I do stand byu what I said."
Holly Rowe explained her deleted post taking a shot at Tennessee AD Danny White in an interview with FOS.
— Cora Hall (@corahalll) April 9, 2026
"I took it down because I just thought it was getting turned into something yucky, but I do stand by what I said."https://t.co/6ipoXu36mC
Holly Rowe's take isn't wrong
Holly Rowe makes a compelling point. Ever since White has been leading Vols athletics, the women's basketball program hasn't thrived as it once did. Listening to White, you wouldn’t think there was any pressure on Caldwell at all. It felt like everything was being painted as completely fine. Which is completely not true, the Lady Vols completely fell apart and were a much better than a 16-14 year last season.
Sure, White isn't the coach, but at ther end of the day it falls on the person at the top. He hired Caldwell and has allowed the exodus to happen. Caldwell has one last chance to prove she can take tennesse back to the Final Four, but this season has to be the make-or-break year. She's on her last chance in Knoxville. It's good to see media figures like Rowe sticking up for Tennessee fans because the Vol nation does deserve better than what White is giving them.