Lady Vols Suffer 15-Point Loss to Mississippi State

Head coach Kim Caldwell recaps the team's disappointing performance at home.

Jan. 29, 2026 at 9:07pm

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The Lady Vols basketball team hosted a rematch against Mississippi State, but this time the Bulldogs came out on top with a 77-62 victory. After the game, head coach Kim Caldwell met with the media to discuss the team's lack of effort and what went wrong in the 15-point loss. No Tennessee players were made available for comment.

Why it matters

This loss is a setback for the Lady Vols, who had previously defeated Mississippi State by 10 points earlier this month. The team's inability to show up and compete at home raises concerns about their consistency and ability to bounce back from tough losses.

The details

Mississippi State head coach Sam Purcell and players Kharyssa Richardson and Trayanna Crisp also met with the media to discuss their team's dominant performance. The Bulldogs were able to flip the script from the previous matchup and handily defeat the Lady Vols on their home court.

  • The game took place on January 29, 2026.

The players

Kim Caldwell

The head coach of the Lady Vols basketball team.

Sam Purcell

The head coach of the Mississippi State Bulldogs basketball team.

Kharyssa Richardson

A forward for the Mississippi State Bulldogs basketball team.

Trayanna Crisp

A guard for the Mississippi State Bulldogs basketball team.

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The takeaway

This loss highlights the inconsistency of the Lady Vols team and their need to improve their mental toughness and ability to compete at a high level, especially at home. The Bulldogs, on the other hand, demonstrated their ability to make adjustments and capitalize on the Lady Vols' weaknesses.