(AP) — Three-time WNBA champion and two-time Olympic gold medalist Candace Parker announced Sunday she's retiring after 16 seasons. “The competitor in me always wants 1 more, but it’s time,” Parker wrote in a social media post. "My HEART & body knew, but I needed to give my mind time to accept it.” Parker, 38, had told The Associated Press in November she wanted to play another season if she could get healthy from a foot injury that kept her off the court last season. But she cautioned that she didn't want to “cheat the game,” or herself, and expressed the same in ..read more

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — Three VFLs were selected during the 2024 NFL draft. Here's which teams Tennessee's star athletes will be playing for. Jaylen Wright Running Back Jaylen Wright was the first VFL to hear his name called during the draft. Selected by the Miami Dolphins during the fourth round, Wright was the 120th pick overall. According to the NFL, the Dolphins traded up to select Wright in the fourth round of the draft. In exchange, the Dolphins gave the Philadelphia Eagles its third-round pick during next year's draft. Tennessee running back Jaylen Wright (20) reacts to scoring a tou ..read more

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) -- Tennessee Volunteers running back Jaylen Wright is headed to Miami after being drafted by the Dolphins in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL Draft. The Dolphins are getting some more speed. In fact, Wright had the second-fastest 40-yard dash out of all the running backs who ran at the combine this year. He was also one of just a few juniors invited to the 2024 Reese's Senior Bowl ..read more

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — The University of Tennessee is getting a new women's basketball coach after it was announced that head coach Kellie Harper will not be returning next season. Vice Chancellor/Director of Athletics Danny White announced on Monday Harper had been fired as head coach after five years at the helm ..read more

DETROIT (WATE) — Tennessee's season ended one game away from their first-ever Final Four trip on Sunday as Zach Edey's 40-point performance powered Purdue to a 72-66 win. Tennessee pulled ahead 32-21 after going on a 9-0 run including back-to-back three-pointers from Dalton Knecht, but Purdue answered with a 13-0 spurt that was snapped by a Knecht dunk. The Boilermakers would take a 36-34 lead into the break ..read more

DETROIT (WATE) — Josiah-Jordan James and Jahmai Mashack set the defensive tone to help lead the Vols past Creighton 82-75 and to the Elite 8 for just the second time in program history. Mashack was inserted into the starting lineup with senior Santiago Vescovi unavailable due to the flu. It was the first change to the Tennessee starting lineup in 28 games. Both teams traded shots in the first half. Tennessee held on to a lead for the majority of the half until Creighton hit back-to-back threes late in the period to go up 33-29. The Bluejays held on to the advantage going into the break 35-34 ..read more

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (WATE) — Neither team was finding much space on offense. The Vols had a field goal percentage of 34%. Tennessee held Texas to 36%, but the Vols found a way to hang on 62-58. The tone was set early. In the first half, Tennessee shot 29% from the field while Texas finished with 31%. The Vols only made one 3-pointer in the first period. Tobe Awaka set the tone by scoring eight and grabbing four boards. Tennessee led 28-19 at the break ..read more

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (WATE) — Zakai Zeigler's mother, Charmane, has been with her son through thick and thin. "I went through an asthma attack and she called out of work," explained Zakai. "She was there every day. She wasn't gonna go to work. She wasn't leaving until I was good. She's my rock. She's my everything ..read more

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (WATE) — Jonas Aidoo and Dalton Knecht combined for 38 points to help lead Tennessee past Saint Peter's 83-49 and into the NCAA Tournament Round of 32. Aidoo controlled the paint early and often. The junior finished 5-of-6 from the field for 15 points. Knecht was his usual self on offense, shooting 8-of-15 for 23 points. He also chipped in eight rebounds. Tennessee star Dalton Knecht named SEC Player of the Year Zakai Zeigler facilitated the offense and tallied a double-double. He poured in 11 points and dished out 10 assists. Josiah-Jordan James missed his only two field ..read more

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) -- The Lady Vols remain the only program to never miss an NCAA Tournament. Tennessee begins its postseason run against Green Bay in Raleigh, North Carolina as the No. 6 seed. The Lady Vols are in the Portland regional ..read more