Lady Vols basketball guard Kaiya Wynn has decided to step away from the program, she announced March 3.
Wynn informed the team and staff at practice before her announcement. Her departure comes two days after senior day when the fifth-year senior did not play in Tennessee's 87-77 loss to Vanderbilt on March 1.
Wynn was offered the chance to play at the end of the game and declined, a source told Knox News. Wynn confirmed in her announcement that she was asked to sub into the game with 15 seconds left.
Wynn said her decision to leave the team wasn't made "lightly or instantly."
"For the past five years I have given my all for Tennessee and have not regretted doing so once. Obviously, my last two seasons on the team have been less than ideal for many reasons, but the one night I was most looking forward to was senior night," Wynn wrote. "As someone who has never started a career game, I was hoping to start in my last appearance in Thompson-Boling. That obviously did not happen, and to be asked to check into the game with 15 seconds left while losing was not how I wanted to spend my final moments in my arena after five years.
"Although that was not the sole reason, it was the breaking point for me. I have the utmost love and respect for my teammates and this program and wish everyone nothing but the best. Thank you Lady Vol Nation for the past 5 years, you all made this kid from Tennessee so extremely happy."
Wynn posted on X after the game against Vanderbilt she wished she "could have played one last time in Thompson-Boling."
Wynn, an Ensworth School graduate from Nashville, arrived as a freshman in 2021 and appeared in 102 games over four seasons. She was sidelined for the entirety of last season after tearing her Achilles in preseason.
Wynn has only averaged 5.8 minutes in nine games this season coming off her Achilles surgery.
Her career-best season was as a junior in 2023-24 when she appeared in 33 games, averaging 4.4 points, 2.6 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 13.4 minutes per game. Over her career, Wynn averaged 2.6 points, 1.8 rebounds and 8.8 minutes.
Tennessee ended the regular season on a six-game losing streak, and it lost nine of its last 11 games.
The No. 6 seed Lady Vols will face the winner of No. 11 seed Alabama (21-9) and No. 14 Missouri (16-15) in the second round of the SEC Tournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, South Carolina, on March 5 (8:30 p.m. ET, SEC Network).
Cora Hall is the University of Tennessee women’s athletics reporter for Knox News. Email: cora.hall@knoxnews.com; X: @corahalll; Bluesky: @corahall.bsky.social. Support strong local journalism and unlock premium perks:knoxnews.com/subscribe
