Lady Vols' Creativity Can't Overcome Loss of Star Player in Defeat to Oklahoma

Tennessee's fourth loss in eight days came without senior Janiah Barker, who was held out for failing to meet program expectations.

Published on Feb. 23, 2026

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The No. 21 Tennessee Lady Vols lost 100-93 to No. 9 Oklahoma on February 22nd, their fourth defeat in eight days. The absence of senior forward Janiah Barker, who did not travel with the team due to a disciplinary issue, was a major factor as the Lady Vols struggled to contain Oklahoma's Raegan Beers. Despite solid performances from Talaysia Cooper, Nya Robertson, and freshman Jaida Civil, Tennessee's inability to defend without fouling proved costly against the Sooners.

Why it matters

The Lady Vols' recent struggles, including losses to ranked opponents Texas and Texas A&M, have raised questions about the direction of the program under second-year head coach Kim Caldwell. Barker's absence highlighted the team's reliance on its star players, and the loss to Oklahoma further damaged Tennessee's hopes of returning to the NCAA Tournament after missing out last season.

The details

Without Barker, who scored a career-high 29 points in the previous game, the Lady Vols had difficulty containing Oklahoma's Raegan Beers, who finished with 18 points and 18 rebounds. Tennessee's defense struggled to avoid fouling, leading to 36 made free throws for the Sooners. The Lady Vols showed creativity in their offensive approach, with Talaysia Cooper, Nya Robertson, and Jaida Civil all contributing strong individual performances, but it was not enough to overcome the loss of their senior leader.

  • On February 19th, Janiah Barker scored a career-high 29 points in Tennessee's loss to Texas A&M.
  • On February 22nd, Barker did not travel with the team to Norman, Oklahoma for the game against the Sooners.

The players

Janiah Barker

A senior forward for the Tennessee Lady Vols who was held out of the game against Oklahoma for failing to meet program expectations.

Kim Caldwell

The second-year head coach of the Tennessee Lady Vols, who confirmed Barker's absence and stated the team would address the issue upon their return to Knoxville.

Raegan Beers

An All-SEC post player for the Oklahoma Sooners, who had 18 points and 18 rebounds against the Lady Vols.

Talaysia Cooper

A Tennessee player who had 22 points, 4 assists, and 3 rebounds in the loss to Oklahoma.

Nya Robertson

A Tennessee player who scored 18 points, including 4 made 3-pointers, in Barker's absence.

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What they’re saying

“We'll fix it when we get back. She'll be fine.”

— Kim Caldwell, Head Coach, Tennessee Lady Vols (ESPN)

“She can do that almost every single night. She needs to continue to do that.”

— Kim Caldwell, Head Coach, Tennessee Lady Vols (Tennessee Radio Network)

What’s next

The Lady Vols will face a tough test on February 26th when they travel to Baton Rouge to take on the 7th-ranked LSU Tigers. The status of Janiah Barker for that game will be a key factor in determining Tennessee's chances of ending their four-game losing streak.

The takeaway

The Lady Vols' recent struggles, including the loss to Oklahoma without star player Janiah Barker, have raised questions about the direction of the program under second-year head coach Kim Caldwell. Tennessee's inability to overcome the absence of its top players has been a recurring issue, and the team will need to find a way to win without relying so heavily on individual performances if they hope to return to the NCAA Tournament.