Ole Miss' Coach Yo Responds to Accusations of Tampering in Landing Lady Vols Transfer Talaysia Cooper
Key Points:
- Former Lady Vols star Talaysia Cooper announced her transfer to Ole Miss to finish her college basketball career, sparking renewed attention on past tensions between Tennessee and Ole Miss coaches.
- The tension stemmed from a handshake incident after Tennessee's loss to Ole Miss, where Lady Vols coach Kim Caldwell did not engage with Ole Miss coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin beyond the handshake, leading to speculation about tampering accusations.
- McPhee-McCuin publicly dismissed the tampering rumors on social media, urging fans to stop spreading the narrative.
- Cooper was Tennessee's top scorer and assister in the 2025-26 season and had a standout performance against Ole Miss, scoring 30 points in their matchup.
- Ole Miss coach McPhee-McCuin expressed confidence that Cooper will excel with a fresh start and aims to prepare for a professional career as Cooper enters her final college season.