Tennessee women’s basketball coach Kim Caldwell returns to sidelines after giving birth to first child last week
4 min readTennessee women’s basketball head coach Kim Caldwell made a remarkable return to the sidelines just one week after giving birth to her first child, a son named Conor Scott. Caldwell, who had been dealing with the flu, received a standing ovation as she entered the court at Food City Center in Knoxville, Tennessee, on Monday night. The Lady Vols were facing South Carolina, the defending NCAA national champion and current No. 2 team in the country, in a crucial conference matchup. The ovation from the crowd highlighted Caldwell’s dedication to her team and her swift comeback after giving birth to a six-pound, 10-ounce baby boy just the week before.
Caldwell and her husband, Justin, chose the name Conor after her father, Scott. Despite her recent delivery, Caldwell didn’t miss much time with the team. She was absent from Tennessee’s 80-76 loss to No. 7 Texas on Thursday but returned to practice the following day. Monday’s game against South Carolina was tough for the Lady Vols, who lost 70-63, marking their third consecutive defeat. South Carolina’s win extended their unbeaten streak to 15 games. The Gamecocks led by as many as 22 points in the fourth quarter, but Caldwell remained focused on her role as coach.
The coach admitted she was surprised by the warm welcome from the crowd, explaining that she had tried to “sneak in” unnoticed. “I definitely wasn’t expecting it. I try to sneak in and so I sneak in the back. I always try to go unnoticed,” Caldwell said. “It made coming back worth it.” The support from fans was particularly moving given her short recovery time and the physical toll of post-delivery. In her post-game comments, Caldwell shared that the adrenaline of the game helped her push through, though she joked that she would know the true effects once she got home. “I’ll know probably tomorrow when I get home,” she said. “It’s hard for me to yell, so I can move around okay. … So just having the players repeat things, having my staff repeat things, having them be able to just go up and call some plays when I needed to sit, it’s big when you have people around you who you can trust.”
Tennessee senior guard Samara Spencer spoke about the positive impact Caldwell’s return had on the team. “I know how hard she worked to get baby Conor into the world, and so she’s a blessing that she’s able to be here with us for our games,” Spencer said. Senior forward Jillian Hollingshead echoed that sentiment, emphasizing the team’s commitment to playing for their coach. “She just had a baby. She’s coming back. She’s not feeling good and things like that. Of course, we have to give our all for her, as she said, she gives her all for us, so we have to have each other’s back.”
South Carolina’s head coach, Dawn Staley, also praised Caldwell’s dedication. “I think she is very passionate about her team, coaching here,” Staley said. “When you’re a coach that really wants to hang another banner, it comes with a sacrifice. She’s probably a better woman than me. I don’t know if I can be detached from my little one for that long, but she got great help and she wanted to be here with her team. Women have to make decisions like that, and when they do, I feel like other women should honor them and let them know we see you.”
The game itself saw South Carolina continue its dominance, achieving a milestone 55th consecutive regular-season conference victory. The Gamecocks are now the third team in the last 25 years to defeat five straight ranked opponents, joining the 2009-10 UConn Huskies and 2023-24 Notre Dame Fighting Irish in that distinction.
Tennessee’s loss dropped them to a 15-5 record, with a 3-5 mark in SEC play, while South Carolina improved to 20-1, remaining unbeaten in conference play at 8-0. The Lady Vols now turn their focus to their next game against Missouri on the road, while South Carolina will host Auburn next Sunday. Despite the tough loss, Caldwell’s quick return and dedication to her team continued to inspire her players and fans alike, reinforcing the strength and resilience she brings to the Tennessee program..
Source: CNN
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