The Lady Vols basketball team is seeded fifth in the NCAA Tournament and will face South Florida in the opening round.

The Lady Vols: A Solid NCAA Tournament Seed and Their Road to Glory

The University of Tennessee Lady Volunteers have secured a 5th seed in the 2025 NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament, an impressive achievement that speaks to their consistent excellence throughout the regular season. As a program with a long history of success and a tradition of winning, the Lady Vols are no strangers to the high expectations that come with being a top contender. This year, they’ll face South Florida in the opening round, and while the Lady Vols are heavily favored, their path to the Final Four will require focus, determination, and overcoming some tough challenges from both their opponents and the high stakes that the tournament brings.

As the tournament approaches, excitement is building around the potential for the Lady Vols to make a deep run. But what does this 5th seed really mean for Tennessee, and how do they match up against their first opponent, South Florida? Let’s break down the Lady Vols’ season, the challenges ahead, and their path through the NCAA Tournament as they set their sights on a championship.

A Historic Program: Tennessee’s Legacy

The Tennessee Lady Volunteers are one of the most storied programs in NCAA Women’s Basketball history. Under the legendary coaching of Pat Summitt, who served as head coach from 1985 to 2012, the Lady Vols became the gold standard in women’s college basketball. Summitt’s legacy is still very much alive in Knoxville, as she set the foundation for Tennessee’s unparalleled success.

With 8 NCAA Championships and countless conference titles to their name, Tennessee remains a powerhouse. The Lady Vols have seen some of the game’s best players walk through their doors, including legends like Chamique Holdsclaw, Tamika Catchings, Tiffany Jackson, and Shannon Bobbitt, to name just a few. Their strong traditions of excellence have always created a winning culture, one that has persisted even after Summitt’s retirement. In recent years, coach Kellie Harper has helped maintain the program’s competitiveness, continuing to recruit top talent and develop players into future stars.

While the Lady Vols have faced challenges in recent years with the rise of programs like UConn, South Carolina, and Stanford, they have consistently remained a national contender. This year, they return to the NCAA Tournament with aspirations of recapturing their place among the elite teams in women’s basketball.

The Road to a 5th Seed

The journey to the NCAA Tournament can be arduous, and a 5th seed reflects the Lady Vols’ strong performance during the regular season. This season, they played in the Southeastern Conference (SEC), one of the toughest conferences in college basketball. With a grueling schedule that included games against elite programs like South Carolina, LSU, and Mississippi State, Tennessee faced stiff competition every night. Despite this, the Lady Vols performed well and demonstrated resilience, which earned them a favorable seed.

Tennessee’s record this season speaks to their consistency. Their success in the SEC Tournament, where they reached the later rounds, helped solidify their position as a top-five seed. A 5th seed is considered one of the top teams in the field, giving the Lady Vols a relatively favorable path to the later rounds of the tournament. Their inclusion in the top half of the bracket places them in a position to play competitive teams while avoiding the highest seeds in the tournament until deeper rounds.

The Lady Vols’ roster this season has shown versatility, with a combination of experienced upperclassmen and talented underclassmen. Their balance on both ends of the floor—offensively and defensively—has made them a tough team to beat. As they head into the tournament, Tennessee is well-prepared to take on any challenges that come their way.

The Opening Round: Facing South Florida

In the first round, the Lady Vols will face off against the South Florida Bulls. South Florida is a talented program in its own right, having made several NCAA Tournament appearances in recent years. Though they may not have the same historical legacy as Tennessee, the Bulls have been a competitive team in The American Athletic Conference (AAC) and are more than capable of pulling off an upset.

South Florida enters the tournament as a 12th seed, and while they are not considered favorites to advance deep into the tournament, they have the potential to be a dangerous team for Tennessee. They have had some strong performances this season, and their defense is one of their most significant strengths. The Bulls are known for being aggressive on the defensive end, often forcing turnovers and getting out in transition. They also have a few offensive weapons that can score in bunches, and Tennessee will need to be prepared for their physical style of play.

South Florida’s Key Players

South Florida is led by Elena Tsineke, a standout guard who has been the centerpiece of the team’s offense. Tsineke has the ability to score in a variety of ways, both from the perimeter and in the paint. She is also a capable passer and can create opportunities for her teammates, making her the focal point of South Florida’s offense.

In addition to Tsineke, Bethy Mununga, the team’s forward, provides a strong presence in the paint. Mununga is an outstanding rebounder and can score in the post, making her a difficult matchup for any team. Her physicality and ability to dominate inside will be a key factor in South Florida’s efforts to compete with the Lady Vols in the opening round.

South Florida’s Defensive Scheme

Defensively, South Florida is known for its tenacious press and its ability to disrupt opposing offenses. They often employ full-court pressure, forcing teams into turnovers and errant passes. Tennessee will need to be patient and make smart decisions with the ball, as South Florida’s defense thrives on creating chaos. The Lady Vols’ ability to handle pressure and execute their offense under duress will be tested in this opening-round matchup.

South Florida’s defense can be suffocating, but it has vulnerabilities. The Bulls sometimes struggle to defend athletic and dynamic scorers, particularly those who can stretch the floor with perimeter shooting. This is where Tennessee’s depth and balanced offensive attack can come into play. If the Lady Vols can control the tempo of the game and knock down shots from the outside, they should be able to break through South Florida’s defensive schemes and dictate the pace of the game.

Tennessee’s Strategy in the Opening Round

For Tennessee, the key to advancing past South Florida will be sticking to their strengths: defense, ball movement, and the ability to score in multiple ways. The Lady Vols have a balanced offensive attack, with several players capable of scoring in double digits on any given night. Tennessee’s ability to spread the floor and find the open player will be crucial in breaking down South Florida’s defense.

On the defensive side of the ball, Tennessee will need to slow down Elena Tsineke and make sure that they limit her opportunities to create offense for herself and her teammates. Guarding her will require a combination of solid individual defense and team defense, particularly in transition, where South Florida excels. Tennessee’s length and athleticism should give them an advantage, especially in the paint, where they have the size and strength to defend the basket against Bethy Mununga and other South Florida forwards.

Key Players to Watch for Tennessee

Jordan Horston, a versatile guard/forward for Tennessee, is one of the team’s most dynamic players. Horston has the ability to score, facilitate, and defend at a high level, making her a matchup nightmare for opposing teams. Her playmaking ability will be vital for Tennessee in the opening round, as she will need to create opportunities for her teammates while also looking for her own shot when necessary.

Another player to watch is Tamari Key, Tennessee’s dominant shot blocker and defensive anchor. Key’s presence in the paint allows Tennessee to disrupt opponents’ offensive flow and alter shots at the rim. Her ability to protect the basket will be especially important against South Florida’s post players, as she can neutralize their inside game and force them to settle for lower-percentage shots.

Additionally, Sara Puckett and Jasmine Powell have been crucial for Tennessee in terms of their scoring and leadership. Both players have shown the ability to step up in key moments, and their performances will be critical as the Lady Vols move forward in the tournament.

What’s Next After the Opening Round?

If Tennessee can handle South Florida in the opening round, their path to the Sweet 16 and beyond will be shaped by how well they execute in the tournament. The Lady Vols will likely face stronger competition as the tournament progresses, with potential matchups against higher-seeded teams like Notre Dame, Louisville, or even Stanford in the later rounds.

The road to a national championship is never easy, and the Lady Vols will need to remain focused on each game, one step at a time. But with their balance, coaching, and wealth of talent, they have the tools to make a deep run and challenge for a title.