ESPN's early bracket projection for the Lady Vols before the season

Sports Illustrated examined where the Lady Vols stand in ESPN's preseason bracketology, the early projection of the NCAA Tournament field made before the regular season unfolds. The piece placed Tennessee's outlook in that national context as the new campaign approached.

Preseason bracketology is a snapshot of expectations, not a promise. It reflects how a team is viewed at the outset, before results, injuries and conference play reshape the picture over the course of the season.

For the Lady Vols, the projection is a starting reference point. Kim Caldwell's team will ultimately be judged on what it earns on the court, and its tournament standing will rise or fall with the results that follow.