KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee Athletics has announced its 2022 home football game designations in Neyland Stadium as the second season of the Josh Heupel era kicks off this fall.
The Volunteers open the campaign against Ball State in a special Thursday primetime contest on Sept. 1 at 7 p.m. ET in Neyland Stadium. The game will be televised by SEC Network.
Homecoming is set for Oct. 22 when Tennessee welcomes UT Martin, the alma mater of the late legendary Pat Summitt. Tennessee has long led the way in women’s collegiate athletic opportunities, and it will celebrate the 50-year anniversary of Title IX when the Vols host the Skyhawks.
The annual Salute to Service game, which honors our nation’s service members, veterans and their families, is slated for Nov. 12 when Missouri visits Neyland Stadium. The home finale against the Tigers will also serve as Senior Day.
New season tickets for the 2022 campaign can be purchased at AllVols.com or by contacting the UT Athletic Ticket Office at (865) 946-7000.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Six former Lady Vols have played regular-season games in the WNBA this season, with four of those Tennessee alums remaining active with their teams around the league.
Candace Parker (2004-08) and Mercedes Russell (2013-18) have their defending WNBA champion Chicago Sky (10-5) and Seattle Storm (10-6), respectively, in third and fourth place in the league standings. Isabelle Harrison (2011-15) has helped her Dallas Wings (8-8) currently stand in sixth place, while Diamond DeShields (2014-17) and the Phoenix Mercury reside in ninth. (6-10).
Rae Burrell (2018-22) is out with an injury, but her Los Angeles Sparks (5-9) hold down the No. 10 position. Rennia Davis (2017-21) was with the 12th-place Minnesota Lynx (3-13) early in the season but is no longer on the roster. Alexus Dye (2021-22) was in training camp with the second-place Connecticut Sun (12-5) but was released prior to the regular season.
Parker’s team also has clinched a spot as the Eastern Conference team in the annual Commissioner’s Cup competition against Western Conference franchise Las Vegas. In its second year, the Commissioner’s Cup is an in-season competition featuring 60 regular-season games: the first home game and first road contest each team plays against its conference rivals.
The teams with the best winning percentage in each conference face off in the championship, which this year will be held on July 26 (streamed by Prime Video) at the home arena of the squad with the highest win clip in Cup play. There is a prize pool of $500,000 in the championship game for the players and at least $165,000 in charitable donations throughout this year’s series.
The WNBA All-Star Break will take place July 8-11. The 2022 AT&T WNBA All-Star Game 2022 will be played in Chicago at Wintrust Arena on Sunday, July 10, at 1 p.m. ET on ABC. The game will be the centerpiece of a weekend full of WNBA action.
6-1 / G-F / Los Angeles Sparks / 1st Season Burrell appeared in three games, starting one, before undergoing knee surgery in late May…At the time, it was stated she would be re-evaluated in six to eight weeks…Was averaging 14.7 minutes per contest and tallying 1.7 points and 1.0 rebounds per game…Had five points, two boards and a steal in 15 minutes of action on May 6 vs. Las Vegas.
Next Game: June 21 vs. Washington (10:30 p.m. ET — Spectrum SportsNet, Monumental Sports Network)
Diamond DeShields
6-1 / G / Phoenix Mercury / 5th Season
DeShields ranks fourth on the team and No. 16 in the league in scoring at 15.0 points per contest over 28.7 minutes per contest, while adding 3.5 rebounds and 2.3 assists per outing…She is shooting 42.0 percent from the field and 73.8 percent from the charity stripe…DeShields has started 13 of 15 contests for the Mercury and has scored in double figures in all 15 games.
Next Game: June 21 vs. Minnesota (10 p.m. ET — NBA TV, Bally Sports Arizona Extra, Bally Sports North Extra, NBA TV Canada)
Candace Parker
6-4 / F-C / Chicago Sky / 15th Season Starting 13 of the 13 games she’s played in 2022, Parker is third on the team in scoring at 12.4 points per contest…Averaging 28.6 minutes per outing, the two-time WNBA MVP and five-time all-star also is putting up 7.9 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 1.1 blocks per game for the defending league champs…Her rebounding, assist and blocks averages rank No. 8, 10 and 12 in the WNBA, respectively…Along the way, she has carded three double-doubles, including a 16-point, 13-rebound, 10-assist triple-double at Washington on May 22…She is only the third WNBA player to have multiple triple-doubles in her career and the oldest player to record one, doing so at 36 years and 33 days old.
Next Game: June 21 at Las Vegas (10 p.m. ET — CBS Sports Network, MyLVTV, CW 26)
Isabelle Harrison
6-3 / F / Dallas Wings / 6th Season Carding 11 starts in 16 games, Harrison is fifth on the team in scoring at 10.3 points per contest and ranks third in rebounding (5.7) while also chipping in 1.6 assists and a team-leading 1.1 steals per outing…Harrison is shooting 43.2 percent from the field and 85.7 percent from the charity stripe, and she has carded a pair of double-doubles.
Next Game: June 21 at Atlanta (7 p.m. ET — NBA TV, Bally Sports Southeast, Bally Sports Southwest Extra, NBA TV Canada)
Mercedes Russell
6-6 / C / Seattle Storm / 5th Season After missing most of the early portion of the schedule with a non-basketball injury, Russell returned to action on June 3 and has appeared in five games off the bench…She is seeing 10.8 minutes per contest and putting up 2.0 points and 1.8 rebounds while shooting 50 percent from the field and 67 percent from the free-throw line.
Next Game: June 23 vs. Washington (10 p.m. ET — CBS Sports Network, FOX 13+ / Amazon Prime – Seattle, Monumental Sports Network)
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Six former Lady Vols have played regular-season games in the WNBA this season, with four of those Tennessee alums remaining active with their teams around the league.
Candace Parker (2004-08) and Mercedes Russell (2013-18) have their defending WNBA champion Chicago Sky (10-5) and Seattle Storm (10-6), respectively, in third and fourth place in the league standings. Isabelle Harrison (2011-15) has helped her Dallas Wings (8-8) currently stand in sixth place, while Diamond DeShields (2014-17) and the Phoenix Mercury reside in ninth. (6-10).
Rae Burrell (2018-22) is out with an injury, but her Los Angeles Sparks (5-9) hold down the No. 10 position. Rennia Davis (2017-21) was with the 12th-place Minnesota Lynx (3-13) early in the season but is no longer on the roster. Alexus Dye (2021-22) was in training camp with the second-place Connecticut Sun (12-5) but was released prior to the regular season.
Parker’s team also has clinched a spot as the Eastern Conference team in the annual Commissioner’s Cup competition against Western Conference franchise Las Vegas. In its second year, the Commissioner’s Cup is an in-season competition featuring 60 regular-season games: the first home game and first road contest each team plays against its conference rivals.
The teams with the best winning percentage in each conference face off in the championship, which this year will be held on July 26 (streamed by Prime Video) at the home arena of the squad with the highest win clip in Cup play. There is a prize pool of $500,000 in the championship game for the players and at least $165,000 in charitable donations throughout this year’s series.
The WNBA All-Star Break will take place July 8-11. The 2022 AT&T WNBA All-Star Game 2022 will be played in Chicago at Wintrust Arena on Sunday, July 10, at 1 p.m. ET on ABC. The game will be the centerpiece of a weekend full of WNBA action.
6-1 / G-F / Los Angeles Sparks / 1st Season Burrell appeared in three games, starting one, before undergoing knee surgery in late May…At the time, it was stated she would be re-evaluated in six to eight weeks…Was averaging 14.7 minutes per contest and tallying 1.7 points and 1.0 rebounds per game…Had five points, two boards and a steal in 15 minutes of action on May 6 vs. Las Vegas.
Next Game: June 21 vs. Washington (10:30 p.m. ET — Spectrum SportsNet, Monumental Sports Network)
Diamond DeShields
6-1 / G / Phoenix Mercury / 5th Season
DeShields ranks fourth on the team and No. 16 in the league in scoring at 15.0 points per contest over 28.7 minutes per contest, while adding 3.5 rebounds and 2.3 assists per outing…She is shooting 42.0 percent from the field and 73.8 percent from the charity stripe…DeShields has started 13 of 15 contests for the Mercury and has scored in double figures in all 15 games.
Next Game: June 21 vs. Minnesota (10 p.m. ET — NBA TV, Bally Sports Arizona Extra, Bally Sports North Extra, NBA TV Canada)
Candace Parker
6-4 / F-C / Chicago Sky / 15th Season Starting 13 of the 13 games she’s played in 2022, Parker is third on the team in scoring at 12.4 points per contest…Averaging 28.6 minutes per outing, the two-time WNBA MVP and five-time all-star also is putting up 7.9 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 1.1 blocks per game for the defending league champs…Her rebounding, assist and blocks averages rank No. 8, 10 and 12 in the WNBA, respectively…Along the way, she has carded three double-doubles, including a 16-point, 13-rebound, 10-assist triple-double at Washington on May 22…She is only the third WNBA player to have multiple triple-doubles in her career and the oldest player to record one, doing so at 36 years and 33 days old.
Next Game: June 21 at Las Vegas (10 p.m. ET — CBS Sports Network, MyLVTV, CW 26)
Isabelle Harrison
6-3 / F / Dallas Wings / 6th Season Carding 11 starts in 16 games, Harrison is fifth on the team in scoring at 10.3 points per contest and ranks third in rebounding (5.7) while also chipping in 1.6 assists and a team-leading 1.1 steals per outing…Harrison is shooting 43.2 percent from the field and 85.7 percent from the charity stripe, and she has carded a pair of double-doubles.
Next Game: June 21 at Atlanta (7 p.m. ET — NBA TV, Bally Sports Southeast, Bally Sports Southwest Extra, NBA TV Canada)
Mercedes Russell
6-6 / C / Seattle Storm / 5th Season After missing most of the early portion of the schedule with a non-basketball injury, Russell returned to action on June 3 and has appeared in five games off the bench…She is seeing 10.8 minutes per contest and putting up 2.0 points and 1.8 rebounds while shooting 50 percent from the field and 67 percent from the free-throw line.
Next Game: June 23 vs. Washington (10 p.m. ET — CBS Sports Network, FOX 13+ / Amazon Prime – Seattle, Monumental Sports Network)
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The postseason All-America honors continue to pile up for members of the Tennessee baseball team after their record-breaking season in 2022.
Four Vols were named to the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA)/Rawlings NCAA Division I All-America teams, which were announced on Friday morning.
Sophomore pitcher Chase Dollander earned his fourth first-team All-America nod, becoming the first UT player to earn consensus first-team All-America honors since VFL and World Series champion pitcher Luke Hochevar in 2005.
Dollander has now earned first-team All-America acclaim from four outlets and was also named the SEC Pitcher of the Year, just the second player in program history to win that award (Hochevar, 2005). The Evans, Georgia, native posted a perfect 10-0 record and led the country with a 0.80 WHIP. He also was second in the SEC with 108 strikeouts and led the conference with a 2.39 ERA while holding opposing hitters to a .175 batting average.
Position players Trey Lipscomb (third base) and Drew Gilbert (outfield) were both second-team selections after ranking first and fourth in the SEC in runs batted in this season. Lipscomb’s 84 RBIs rank third in single-season program history while Gilbert’s 70 rank eighth. The duo also combined to hit 33 of Tennessee’s record-setting 158 home runs.
This marks the fourth All-America team that both players have been selected to this year. Lipscomb was one of three finalists for the Dick Howser Trophy and a semifinalist for the Golden Spikes Award while Gilbert was a first-team All-SEC selection and the SEC Tournament MVP this season.
Rounding out the group of ABCA All-America honorees is freshman pitcher Chase Burns, who garnered third-team honors to become the most decorated freshman at Tennessee since former AL Cy Young Award winner R.A. Dickey. This marks Burns’ third All-America team selection this year. Dickey is the only Vol to be chosen for more All-America teams as a freshman, earning recognition from four outlets in 1994.
Burns has also earned Freshman All-America honors from three different publications and was named the Freshman National Pitcher of the Year by the NCBWA and Collegiate Baseball.
After turning down the chance to play professional baseball out of high school, Burns had a phenomenal debut season for the Big Orange, finishing with an 8-2 record and 2.91 ERA to go along with 103 strikeouts while serving as the Vols’ Friday night starter for the majority of the season. The Gallatin, Tennessee, native’s eight wins are tied for the fifth most by a UT freshman and his 103 punchouts rank third in program history.
Tennessee has had eight players earn non-freshman All-America honors this season, doubling the previous program record of four set in 2021 and 1994. If you include freshmen All-Americans, the Vols have had nine players earn All-America recognition, which also smashed the previous school record of five in 2021.
To see the complete ABCA All-America teams, click HERE. A full listing of Tennessee’s postseason All-Americans and national award winners can be seen below.
Tennessee Postseason All-Americans / National Awards Winners
Tony Vitello Perfect Game National Coach of the Year
RHP Drew Beam NCBWA – Second Team NCBWA – Freshman (First Team) Collegiate Baseball – Freshman Team Perfect Game – Freshman Team
DH/1B Blake Burke Collegiate Baseball – Freshman Team Perfect Game – Freshman Team
RHP Chase Burns NCBWA Freshman National Pitcher of the Year Collegiate Baseball National Co-Freshman Player of the Year NCBWA – First Team ABCA – Third Team Collegiate Baseball – Third Team Collegiate Baseball – Freshman Team NCBWA – Freshman (First Team) Perfect Game – Freshman Team
RHP Chase Dollander ABCA – First Team NCBWA – First Team Collegiate Baseball – First Team Perfect Game – First Team
OF Drew Gilbert NCBWA – First Team ABCA – Second Team Collegiate Baseball – Second Team Perfect Game – Second Team
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The postseason All-America honors continue to pile up for members of the Tennessee baseball team after their record-breaking season in 2022.
Four Vols were named to the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA)/Rawlings NCAA Division I All-America teams, which were announced on Friday morning.
Sophomore pitcher Chase Dollander earned his fourth first-team All-America nod, becoming the first UT player to earn consensus first-team All-America honors since VFL and World Series champion pitcher Luke Hochevar in 2005.
Dollander has now earned first-team All-America acclaim from four outlets and was also named the SEC Pitcher of the Year, just the second player in program history to win that award (Hochevar, 2005). The Evans, Georgia, native posted a perfect 10-0 record and led the country with a 0.80 WHIP. He also was second in the SEC with 108 strikeouts and led the conference with a 2.39 ERA while holding opposing hitters to a .175 batting average.
Position players Trey Lipscomb (third base) and Drew Gilbert (outfield) were both second-team selections after ranking first and fourth in the SEC in runs batted in this season. Lipscomb’s 84 RBIs rank third in single-season program history while Gilbert’s 70 rank eighth. The duo also combined to hit 33 of Tennessee’s record-setting 158 home runs.
This marks the fourth All-America team that both players have been selected to this year. Lipscomb was one of three finalists for the Dick Howser Trophy and a semifinalist for the Golden Spikes Award while Gilbert was a first-team All-SEC selection and the SEC Tournament MVP this season.
Rounding out the group of ABCA All-America honorees is freshman pitcher Chase Burns, who garnered third-team honors to become the most decorated freshman at Tennessee since former AL Cy Young Award winner R.A. Dickey. This marks Burns’ third All-America team selection this year. Dickey is the only Vol to be chosen for more All-America teams as a freshman, earning recognition from four outlets in 1994.
Burns has also earned Freshman All-America honors from three different publications and was named the Freshman National Pitcher of the Year by the NCBWA and Collegiate Baseball.
After turning down the chance to play professional baseball out of high school, Burns had a phenomenal debut season for the Big Orange, finishing with an 8-2 record and 2.91 ERA to go along with 103 strikeouts while serving as the Vols’ Friday night starter for the majority of the season. The Gallatin, Tennessee, native’s eight wins are tied for the fifth most by a UT freshman and his 103 punchouts rank third in program history.
Tennessee has had eight players earn non-freshman All-America honors this season, doubling the previous program record of four set in 2021 and 1994. If you include freshmen All-Americans, the Vols have had nine players earn All-America recognition, which also smashed the previous school record of five in 2021.
To see the complete ABCA All-America teams, click HERE. A full listing of Tennessee’s postseason All-Americans and national award winners can be seen below.
Tennessee Postseason All-Americans / National Awards Winners
Tony Vitello Perfect Game National Coach of the Year
RHP Drew Beam NCBWA – Second Team NCBWA – Freshman (First Team) Collegiate Baseball – Freshman Team Perfect Game – Freshman Team
DH/1B Blake Burke Collegiate Baseball – Freshman Team Perfect Game – Freshman Team
RHP Chase Burns NCBWA Freshman National Pitcher of the Year Collegiate Baseball National Co-Freshman Player of the Year NCBWA – First Team ABCA – Third Team Collegiate Baseball – Third Team Collegiate Baseball – Freshman Team NCBWA – Freshman (First Team) Perfect Game – Freshman Team
RHP Chase Dollander ABCA – First Team NCBWA – First Team Collegiate Baseball – First Team Perfect Game – First Team
OF Drew Gilbert NCBWA – First Team ABCA – Second Team Collegiate Baseball – Second Team Perfect Game – Second Team
Tennessee basketball senior Olivier Nkamhoua dipped into international competition this week, competing in two men’s challenger games for Basketball Finland and notching two productive outings.
A native of Helsinki, Nkamhoua competed for Susijengin in a pair of friendly games against Estonia.
During Finland’s win over Estonia on Thursday, Nkamhoua had 12 points on 5-for-9 shooting in 22 minutes with two rebounds.
In Friday’s game, Nkamhoua finished with 11 points on 4-for-7 shooting and three rebounds in 17 minutes.
This marks the second straight summer in which Nkamhoua has competed with Basketball Finland. In 2021, he played three preparatory national matches with his native country ahead of the Summer Olympics in Japan.
Nkamhoua’s experience with Basketball Finland the past two summers leaves him well positioned for the opportunity to compete with Finland’s men’s national team in its quest to qualify for the 2024 Olympics.
Prior to having his season cut short due to a season-ending injury, Nkamhoua was enjoying his most productive season yet as a Vol in 2021-22. Nkamhoua started all 22 games in which he was healthy—averaging 8.6 points and 5.6 rebounds on 49.7 percent shooting from the field in 21.5 minutes per game. He also showed extended shooting range, shooting 44.8 percent from 3-point range after making just one of five 3-point attempts in his first two seasons with the Vols combined.
Zac Brown Band‘s album The Comeback is getting a deluxe version…
After arriving last Fall, Zac Brown recently announced that later this year their 15-track project would be getting some special guest vocalists added.
The first song where fans can hear the new collaborations is “Out In The Middle” as Blake Shelton joins the Zamily.
Brown shares, “Blake Shelton is a country music powerhouse and sharing ‘Out in the Middle’ with him, a song that represents our southern roots and country pride, is absolutely unreal.“
Listen to Zac Brown Band with Blake Shelton on “Out In The Middle” here…
Maren Morris appeared on The Kelly Clarkson Show and had red wine.
As Maren came out to sit on the couch with other guests Howie Mandel, and Iman Vellani (Ms. Marvel), Kelly brought up an old twitter comment from Maren about how she didn’t like red wine. Being the good hostess, Kelly then offered Maren a red she thought the country singer would like.
From there the conversation went to Maren’s latest album Humble Quest, tattoos, touring, and kids.
Watch the segment here…
During her Kellyoke segment Clarkson sang “RSVP” from Maren Morris’ album Girl.
There’s no better way to celebrate the first official day of summer than being on a boat!
On June 21st, Old Dominion took the opportunity to commemorate the start of the season with sharing the fan mix version of their “I Was On A Boat That Day” music video.
And if you weren’t able to spend the first day of summer on a boat – it’s OK, there’s no hard feelings…
