Months after transferring to Tennessee, Naomi White still finds herself appreciating the opportunity to wear the Lady Vols uniform.
The former Northern Arizona standout arrived in Knoxville with an impressive scoring résumé and aspirations of competing for one of women’s college basketball’s most storied programs. Now, four games into Tennessee’s season, White says the experience has exceeded the basketball court.
“I think I do that every day,” White said when asked whether she has taken a moment to appreciate playing for Tennessee.
“I’ve told my coaches before, like they keep asking me, like you know what you signed up for, and I’m just like, yeah, like I say every day, like I’m at Tennessee, like wow, like I’m really at Tennessee.”
White joined Live Ball on Friday to discuss her transition to Tennessee, the Lady Vols’ 4-0 start and the areas of her game that have developed under coach Kim Caldwell.
“The first few months have been great, honestly,” White said. “I’ve grown a lot in my game. I’ve grown like so many aspects of my game, but I’ve also grown as a person.”
White said she has become more comfortable communicating with teammates and embracing leadership responsibilities since arriving in Knoxville.
“I think I’ve gotten out of my shell more and started talking to my teammates a lot more,” she said.
Finding a new dimension to her game
White arrived at Tennessee after establishing herself as one of the nation’s leading freshman scorers at Northern Arizona. However, playing alongside an abundance of offensive talent has challenged her to expand her contributions beyond putting points on the board.
For White, the most significant improvement has come defensively.
“My defense. I think my defense has definitely grown tremendously,” White said. “I get told that every day, and that’s just what I keep striving to be great at, because my defense hasn’t always been great.”
White credited Caldwell and assistant coach Eas, with consistently challenging her defensive fundamentals in practice.
The emphasis has included improving her positioning, keeping her hands active, making better reads and avoiding unnecessary reaches.
White believes developing into a more complete player is essential to helping Tennessee achieve its goals.
Chemistry developing quickly for new-look Lady Vols
Despite incorporating numerous new faces, Tennessee has opened the season with four consecutive victories.
White said the team’s chemistry has developed faster than she anticipated, particularly considering the different backgrounds and experiences represented on the roster.
“It’s extremely unique,” White said. “I think we’re all different people, and obviously, we come from different backgrounds.”
She attributed that connection to shared goals and the relationships players have built away from basketball.
“We hang out like every weekend,” White said. “Like even after practice, sometimes people go get food just to hang out, you know, eat all that stuff to talk about everything, talk about life, not even just basketball.”
Those relationships have translated to the court, where Tennessee’s depth has allowed different players to contribute offensively and defensively.
White praises Caldwell’s honesty and Smikle’s confidence
White’s appreciation for Caldwell began during the recruiting process, when the coach outlined her expectations and vision for the transfer guard.
Now that White is playing for Caldwell, that direct approach remains one of the qualities she values most.
“She’s very honest and truthful about what she wants to happen, what needs to happen,” White said. “I think that I really respect that.”
White also described Caldwell as a coach who balances demanding practices with a genuine connection to her players.
“Coach Kim loves to have fun with us,” White said. “She says that she loves us every day, but she’s always going to push us, even though she loves us.”
White also praised teammate Kaylene Smikle, who scored 30 points in Tennessee’s victory over Middle Tennessee State on Thursday.
“She knows who she is as a player and what she can do,” White said.
Beyond Smikle’s scoring ability, White highlighted her willingness to facilitate the offense and her aggressive approach defensively.
“Her defense is amazing,” White said. “She’s very aggressive on the ball, and like she makes it hard for people to score on her.”
A message to Lady Vols fans
As Tennessee continues its season, White hopes fans recognize the energy and defensive intensity that have become central to Caldwell’s program.
She said the Lady Vols take pride in creating an entertaining atmosphere at Food City Center while maintaining the standards established in practice.
“I hope they appreciate our energy coming into each game,” White said.
“But I hope that they love our defense because that’s what we always are like harp on the most.”
For White, the early weeks of the season have reinforced why she chose Tennessee. The opportunity she once envisioned is now part of her everyday experience, and she is determined to make the most of it.
“I just think it makes me want to be great and be greater and do everything that I can to help the program and help my teammates succeed in their goals,” White said.
