Tennessee women’s basketball player Ruby Whitehorn has been dismissed from the team by coach Kim Caldwell after her second brush with the law in three months.
‘It is my responsibility to protect the high standards of this historic program,’ Caldwell said in a statement released by Tennessee on Sunday, Nov. 2. ‘In light of recent events, Ruby has been unable to reflect those standards, and I have made the difficult decision to dismiss her from our team. I love Ruby and will always be rooting for her, but my priority is to uphold the respected reputation of the Lady Vols.’
Whitehorn was charged with a misdemeanor for simple possession after a traffic stop at 4:31 a.m. on Oct. 30. The police said they confiscated 5.59 grams of marijuana. Whitehorn was stopped hours after scoring 18 points in Tennessee’s 148-48 exhibition win over Columbus State on Oct. 29.
Whitehorn was previously suspended from the Tennessee women’s basketball team after an arrest in early August on two felony charges of aggravated burglary and domestic assault. Whitehorn later pleaded guilty during a preliminary hearing on Sept. 5 to misdemeanors of vandalism and aggravated criminal trespass that will expunge the convictions from her record if she meets the requirements of the deal. She was reinstated by Caldwell the week of Sept. 8.
Whitehorn transferred to Tennessee from Clemson prior to the 2024-25 season and averaged 11.6 points, 4.0 rebounds and 1.7 assists on their run to the Sweet 16 last season.
No. 9 Tennessee opens the season against No. 8 NC State in a neutral-site game on Nov. 4 (4 p.m. ET, ESPN2) at First Horizon Coliseum in Greensboro, North Carolina.