Tennessee guard Kaiya Winn (5) attempts to score while being guarded by Winthrop guard Corey Lard (22) during an NCAA college basketball game in Knoxville, Tennessee. Tennessee women’s basketball reserve Kaiya Wynn announced Tuesday that she has withdrawn from the program, citing how she was treated in a senior game last week as a “breaking point.”
Wynn, who is completing his fifth season with the Volunteers, has appeared in nine games this season after missing the entire 2024-25 season with an Achilles injury. She did not play in Sunday’s 87-77 home finale loss to No. 5 Vanderbilt, but claimed she was asked to substitute in the final seconds and declined.
“This decision was not made lightly or immediately,” Wynn wrote on social media. “I’ve given my all for Tennessee over the past five years and have never regretted it. Obviously my last two seasons with the team have not been ideal for a variety of reasons, but the one night I was most looking forward to was senior night.
“As someone who has never started a career game, I wanted to start in my last appearance at Thompson-Boling. Obviously, that didn’t happen, and being asked to check the game with 15 seconds left during a loss was not how I wanted to spend my final moments on my field five years later. That wasn’t the only reason, but it was a breaking point for me. I have the utmost love and respect for my teammates and this program and wish everyone the best.”
Wynn appeared in 102 games for Tennessee, averaging 2.6 points and 1.8 rebounds per game. She averaged career-highs of 4.4 points, 2.6 rebounds and 13.4 minutes per game in 2023-24.
The guard originally signed Kelly Harper, who was fired after the 2023-24 season and replaced by Kim Caldwell. Neither the school nor the coach commented on Wynn’s departure.
Tennessee (16-12, 8-8 Southeastern Conference) is the No. 6 seed in this week’s SEC Tournament in Greenville, SC. The Volunteers have lost their last six games and nine of their last 11 since opening the season with a 14-3 (6-0) record.
–Field level media
