Lady Vols Land England's Irene Oboavwoduo, 5-10 Guard

Oboavwoduo chooses Tennessee over Purdue and Cincinnati, adding to Lady Vols' 2026-2027 recruiting class.

Apr. 17, 2026 at 4:55pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting the movements and energy of a basketball player, with sharp, overlapping planes of vibrant colors like royal blue, crimson red, and golden yellow.The Lady Vols' roster overhaul continues with the addition of versatile guard Irene Oboavwoduo, whose international experience and dynamic style of play will be a key asset for the program.Knoxville Today

The University of Tennessee women's basketball program has added another key piece to its 2026-2027 roster, securing a commitment from Irene Oboavwoduo, a 5-10 guard from England who previously signed with Boston College. Oboavwoduo, who has extensive international experience playing for the Great Britain senior national team, chose the Lady Vols over Purdue and Cincinnati.

Why it matters

The addition of Oboavwoduo continues the momentum for the Lady Vols' program under head coach Kim Caldwell, who has been aggressively rebuilding the roster through the transfer portal after a disappointing second season. Oboavwoduo's size, skill, and international experience make her a valuable addition as Tennessee looks to return to the NCAA Tournament.

The details

Oboavwoduo announced her commitment to Tennessee on social media on Wednesday. The 5-10 guard was previously signed to play at Boston College, but has now opted to join the Lady Vols. Caldwell and her staff have been active in the transfer portal, landing five new players in the last nine days, including Georgia transfers Rylie Theuerkauf and Zhen Craft, as well as Stanford post player Harper Peterson and guards Avery Mills and Naomi White.

  • Oboavwoduo announced her commitment on Wednesday, April 17, 2026.
  • Oboavwoduo was recently named to the Great Britain Senior Women's National Team for the EuroBasket 2027 Qualifiers last November.

The players

Irene Oboavwoduo

A 5-10 guard from England who has extensive international experience playing for the Great Britain senior national team. She previously signed with Boston College before choosing to play for the University of Tennessee.

Kim Caldwell

The head coach of the University of Tennessee women's basketball team, who has been aggressively rebuilding the Lady Vols' roster through the transfer portal after a disappointing second season.

Danny White

The athletic director at the University of Tennessee, who praised Caldwell's leadership and decision-making in reshaping the Lady Vols' program.

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What they’re saying

“Irene is a long, versatile wing with a natural feel for the game. She plays with a maturity beyond her years, has a smooth mid-range game, and is a relentless rebounder.”

— Joanna Bernabi-McNamee, Former Boston College coach

“I admire how Kim coming off a disappointing year two after a really exciting year one evaluated changes that needed to be made in her program and made them pretty decisively and aggressively. I think we are in a great place now.”

— Danny White, Tennessee Athletic Director

What’s next

Caldwell and her staff are not done in the transfer portal, as they continue to look for a point guard and additional frontcourt depth for the 2026-2027 season.

The takeaway

The Lady Vols' aggressive approach to rebuilding their roster through the transfer portal, highlighted by the addition of international talent like Irene Oboavwoduo, signals a renewed commitment to returning the program to national prominence under Kim Caldwell's leadership.