It's a fair question. Add to it - why do elite recruits STILL choose Tennessee?
- 2022 - #11 Pissot (she subsequently transferred)
- 2023 - no one
- 2024 - #37 Boyd
- 2025 - #9 Pauldo, #17 Prawl, #20 Civil, #45 Hurst, #57 other Prawl (Caldwell's first recruiting class and she loaded up)
- 2025 - #2 Edwards, #62 Minus
My point is, Caldwell is a former DII coach with no track record in an elite women's program, yet she cleaned up recruiting the first 2 seasons. She also got some elite portal transfers to round out the roster.
We'd have to ask the recruits why, but at the top of the list of why is probably the storied past. 2nd best program in history. Good/great facilities. Rabid fan base. And maybe the hope of returning Tennessee to glory.
To answer your question, we have no idea what she's saying in the conversations with players now. I'm sure she is in full "salesperson" mode. Stay, tweak some things about our substitution gimmick, I promise to actually teach some offense, etc. LOL. No idea. I wouldn't want any part of that train wreck, but some players apparently do...