Kim Caldwell, the head coach for Tennessee women’s basketball, made a remarkable return to the sidelines in the team’s top-20 SEC game against South Carolina—just a week after giving birth to her first child. Her return was far from ordinary and didn’t go unnoticed, even by her opponent, South Carolina’s head coach, Dawn Staley.

As Tennessee took the court and played to their full potential under Caldwell’s guidance, Staley couldn’t help but share her admiration. “Women have the strength of 10 men, no doubt about it,” she said in response.

Caldwell and her husband, Justin, welcomed their first child, Conor Scott Caldwell, last Monday. But with the Lady Vols on a two-game losing streak and up against a team like South Carolina, the coach felt it crucial to return. But it would not yield the best of results.

The Gamecocks continued their winning streak with a 70-63 victory as freshman Joyce Edwards led the night with an 18-point performance. Head coach Dawn Staley had only good words for the forward. “Joyce plays the right way … that’s why you see her flourish,” she says. The freshman finished it up with 8 for 13 from the field while contributing five rebounds. Not just that. It was her fourth consecutive game leading the team in scoring.

However, while the seemed poised to win, Staley wasn’t taking the Lady Vols lightly.

Despite Caldwell feeling “Helpless,” Dawn Staley calls Vol’s system a game changer for SEC.

Before the matchup kicked off, Kim Caldwell was at the center of the buzz. She felt “helpless” as she watched her team fall to Texas in a close 80-76 loss last week. The Lady Vols had four narrow losses by a combined eight points, proving they can hang with the best.

Their next test? Dawn Staley’s South Carolina Gamecocks. Fresh off their 69th straight home win and unbeaten in SEC play, Staley already knew that the Lady Vols’ uptempo style was something unique.

“I’ve seen the style. Not by any team in our league,” Staley expressed. “They’re very consistent and persistent with that and they make you adjust. Which I think is good. It’s good for our league. It’s good for just different styles of play. And it’s good for if you have a team like that in the NCAA Tournament, it’s good to have played that style.”

She didn’t underestimate the game, emphasizing the importance of ball security and defending in transition. “They space you out. It’s just really different,” she added, noting that the Lady Vols’ approach adds a fresh dynamic to the SEC. And Caldwell is adding yet another strength to the team’s unwavering determination. But, everything turned upside down.

Despite Staley herself admitting that her team was fatigued after a win against LSU, Tennessee still faced a defeat. Now, the team will be resting for a week before their next game. What do you think? Will they be able to make a comeback?