Tennessee Softball Coach Karen Weekly Looks Ahead to Young 2026 Season

Weekly discusses the Lady Vols' talented but inexperienced roster as they prepare for the upcoming season.

Feb. 2, 2026 at 6:15am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Tennessee softball coach Karen Weekly joined the Beyond the Orange podcast to preview the upcoming 2026 season for the Lady Vols. Weekly is excited about the team's youth and talent, particularly in the pitching circle, but acknowledges they will need more patience and guidance from the coaching staff as many players lack experience at the highest level.

Why it matters

Tennessee softball is a perennial powerhouse in the SEC, and how Karen Weekly navigates this young roster will be crucial to the team's success this season. The Lady Vols are looking to build on recent strong campaigns and make a deep postseason run.

The details

Weekly highlighted the team's depth and talent in the pitching circle, led by returning ace Kaelyn Pickens. However, the rest of the lineup is very young and inexperienced, with no seniors outside of the pitching staff. The coaches will have to provide extra guidance and patience as these young players get their first taste of high-level SEC competition.

  • The 2026 Tennessee softball season starts next week.

The players

Karen Weekly

The head coach of the Tennessee Lady Vols softball team, guiding the program to consistent success in the SEC.

Kaelyn Pickens

Tennessee's returning ace pitcher and the team's most experienced player heading into the 2026 season.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“I'm real excited to see how this youth plays. We are really experienced and talented in the circle but that's really the only place we have experience. We have a huge honors returning there in Kaelyn Pickens and really good depth as well. Everywhere else we are really young.”

— Karen Weekly, Head Coach, Tennessee Softball

“I think you hope ignorance is bliss and they stay young and dumb all season. That they don't figure out we are on TV or here we are in the SEC. You do have to be patient but you do have to lead the way for them a lot more because they can't look to the left and right and see someone who has been there and done that at the highest level.”

— Karen Weekly, Head Coach, Tennessee Softball

What’s next

The Lady Vols will open their 2026 season next week as they look to build on their recent success and make a deep postseason run with this young but talented roster.

The takeaway

Tennessee softball is facing a unique challenge this season with an inexperienced roster outside of the pitching staff. Coach Karen Weekly will need to provide extra guidance and patience as these young players get their first taste of high-level SEC competition, but the potential is there for the Lady Vols to continue their winning ways.