Oliviyah Edwards Seeks Release from Lady Vols Basketball Commitment: Report
Oliviyah Edwards seeks a release from her Lady Vols basketball commitment, according to a report dated April 4. The five-star forward has asked Tennessee to free her from the signed agreement.
Edwards is a McDonald’s All-American and stands 6-foot-3. ESPN ranks her No. 2 in the 2026 class.
Roster upheaval
Coach Kim Caldwell finished her second season with a 16-14 record. That mark represented the program’s lowest winning percentage in its history.
The team lost in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. After the loss, seven of eight players with remaining eligibility entered the transfer portal.
- Deniya Prawl
- Alyssa Latham
- Kaniya Boyd
- Lauren Hurst
- Mia Pauldo
- Mya Pauldo
- Talaysia Cooper
Freshman guard Jaida Civil is the lone returner listed. The NCAA transfer portal opened April 6 and runs through April 20.
Recruiting and background
Edwards was Tennessee’s first commitment in the 2026 cycle. The class also includes four-star wing Gabby Minus.
Minus remains signed to Tennessee and sits at No. 45 in the 247Sports Composite rankings. Edwards chose the Lady Vols over South Carolina, USC, LSU, Florida and Washington.
She committed on Sept. 13 before taking planned official visits to South Carolina and LSU. Edwards previously played with teammates Deniya Prawl and the Pauldo sisters at Overtime Select.
Her signing marked Tennessee’s highest-rated addition since Jordan Horston in 2019. The program’s 2025 class had finished ranked No. 2 nationally.
Coaching and staff moves
Edwards credited former assistant Gabe Lazo as a primary recruiter. Lazo resigned his Tennessee post, had a brief connection to LSU’s staff, and was announced as UCF’s head coach on April 4.
Coach Caldwell praised Edwards’ character and competitiveness in public comments last fall. The coaching staff viewed her as a player who wanted to improve and help her team win.
Brand ties and program impact
Edwards signed an Adidas NIL deal in May 2025. That agreement links her to former Tennessee star Candace Parker, who leads Adidas women’s basketball.
Tennessee is set to be an Adidas school by the time Edwards’ freshman year would begin. Her reported departure before arriving is a setback for the program’s recruiting image.
Filmogaz.com will follow further developments and report updates as they become available.
