Lady Vols basketball guard Talaysia Cooper, who has led the team in scoring the last two seasons, has entered the transfer portal, she announced April 2.
Cooper averaged 16 points, 4.7 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 2.7 steals and 2.8 turnovers in 26.3 minutes per game. The 6-foot redshirt junior shot 42.9% from the field and 34.3% on 6.1 3-point attempts per game, which was a 7% improvement from last season.
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Losing Cooper a year early is a blow for the Lady Vols, who are losing four seniors to graduation. She’s also the seventh player to be reportedly entering the transfer portal, joining Deniya Prawl, Alyssa Latham, Kaniya Boyd, Lauren Hurst and Mia and Mya Pauldo. Freshman guard Jaida Civil is the only possible returner left.
The transfer portal window which allows for immediate eligibility was moved to after the national championship game this year and will only last from April 6-20.
“Being a Lady Vol has meant more to me than I can fully put into words,” Cooper wrote in a statement. “I’ve grown a lot on and off the court, and I’ll always be grateful for the relationships and experiences I’ve gained here … This decision wasn’t easy at all, but I’m trusting what’s best for me moving forward. I will always have love and respect for Tennessee and everything this program stands for. Thank you for everything.”
