Kim Caldwell’s Lady Vols had a memorable 2024-25 season. They finished 24-10 overall and 8-8 in the SEC before bowing to Texas in the Sweet 16. With Caldwell quietly building the team, Tennessee fans are already looking ahead. And this season, they also have former UCLA standout Janiah Barker in Knoxville.
Barker spent last season with the Bruins after two years at Texas A&M, where she was the highest-ranked recruit in program history. With her size, skill set, and versatility, Barker could be the X factor Caldwell needs to take the Lady Vols to a deep March run. And as draft chatter swirls around her name, Caldwell has something to say.
Does Kim Caldwell Believe Janiah Barker is WNBA-Ready?
With the season right around the corner, mock drafts and chatter around the top 10 picks have started. Not so long ago, when Caldwell sat down to interact with the press, she was asked about Janiah Barker and specifically what makes her the kind of player that should play on the WNBA hardcourts.
“I think her size and athleticism, combined with her skill set, is something like I have never seen before,” Caldwell told reporters. “She has the athleticism of almost Jada Civil, but at her size. And when she really decides to put her head down and go to the rim, it’s scary.”
That is no easy praise from a coach whose system thrives on speed and precision. Now, with Barker joining the Lady Vols, Tennessee suddenly has a forward who can match up physically with the SEC’s best while also bringing perimeter versatility.
ESPN’s current mock draft backs up Caldwell’s confidence. They have Barker at No. 10 to the Indiana Fever. “She will need to adjust to coach Kim Caldwell’s fast pace, but already spent two seasons in the SEC and is prepared for the league’s style of play,” writes ESPN. And they are not wrong.
Over three collegiate seasons, Barker has averaged 10.3 points and 6.4 rebounds per game, shooting 46.9 percent from the field. Her ability to score inside and stretch the floor with 40 career three-pointers makes her a matchup nightmare for opposing defenses.
While Barker’s journey hasn’t been linear, it has still managed to be consistently good. At Texas A&M, she averaged 12.4 points and 6.9 rebounds per game, earning Preseason All-SEC First Team honors as just a sophomore.
That season, Barker also had multiple 20+ point games and recorded eight double-doubles. Even during her lone season at UCLA, she tied for sixth on the team in scoring at 7.4 points per game and was second in rebounding at 6.0 per game.
That combination of confidence, size, and agility is exactly what could make Barker not just a standout for Tennessee but a legitimate WNBA prospect. Barker can stretch the floor, crash the boards, and dominate in transition.
And while draft buzz is only part of the story, Caldwell’s candid assessment makes it clear that Barker is a game-changer.