Tennessee women's basketball star Talaysia Cooper transfers to Ole Miss

Talaysia Cooper was one of eight Tennessee women’s basketball players to enter the transfer portal this offseason.

She’s the first to find a new home.

And she's staying in the SEC.

Ole Miss announced Wednesday that Cooper, who led the Lady Vols in scoring this past season, will spend her final year of eligibility playing for Yolett McPhee-McCuin’s Rebels.

She’s the first transfer portal addition for Ole Miss so far this offseason. McPhee-McCuin has garnered a strong reputation for being able to lure high-impact transfers to Oxford, Mississippi — landing players like Cotie McMahon, Kennedy Todd-Williams, KK Deans, Marquesha Davis and others in previous transfer windows — to fuel the Rebels’ NCAA Tournament runs.

"Talaysia is a key piece to this reload here at Ole Miss," McPhee-McCuin said in a statement. "I've known her since she was in 9th grade and I've always been a fan of her game. There's no doubt in my mind, Coop will thrive with a fresh start and reach her peak to compete at the highest level and prepare for her future as a pro."

Cooper, who was ranked as the 18th-best recruit in the 2022 class by ESPN and a McDonald's All-American, began her career at South Carolina before transferring to Tennessee. She played two seasons for Kim Caldwell’s Lady Vols, leading them in scoring each season. Cooper has twice been named an All-SEC selection and averaged 16.3 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 2.9 steals per game at Tennessee.

A 6-foot junior guard from Turbeville, South Carolina, Cooper shot 42% from the floor, 34% from 3-point land and 71% from the free throw line for Tennessee this past season.

The Alabama bench celebrate after a big three-point shot by Alabama Crimson Tide guard Karly Weathers (22) in the fourth quarter against Louisville during the 2026 NCAA Women's March Madness Second Round basketball at the KFC Yum Center In Louisville, Ky. Weathers finished with 13 points. March 23, 2026.

Laura Ziegler of the Louisville Cardinals kisses the court after her team's 69-68 victory over the Alabama Crimson Tide in the second round of the 2026 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament at KFC YUM! Center on March 23, 2026 in Louisville, Ky.

Ohio State mascot Brutus Buckeye and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish leprechaun mascot cheer prior to the NCAA women's basketball tournament second round game at the Jerome Schottenstein Center in Columbus on March 23, 2026.

Louisville fans cheer during a first-round game between the Louisville Cardinals and Vermont Catamounts in the 2026 NCAA WomenâÕs Basketball Tournament at the KFC Yum Center, March 21, 2026, in Louisville, Ky.

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish huddle up prior to the start of the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament Second Round game against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Jerome Schottenstein Center on March 23, 2026 in Columbus, Ohio. Notre Dame defeated Ohio Sate 83-73.

A Louisville fan held a sign in the final seconds as the Cards defeated Alabama 69-68 to move on to the Sweet 16 during the 2026 NCAA Women's March Madness Second Round basketball at the KFC Yum Center In Louisville, Ky. March 23, 2026.

Alabama mascot Big Al works the crowd during a first-round game between the Rhode Island Rams and Alabama Crimson Tide in the 2026 NCAA WomenÕs Basketball Tournament at the KFC Yum Center, March 21, 2026, in Louisville, Ky.

The Ohio State Buckeyes sit for the starting lineup prior to the NCAA women's basketball tournament second round game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at the Jerome Schottenstein Center in Columbus on March 23, 2026.

Ohio State Buckeyes fans react to a foul call during the NCAA women's basketball tournament second round game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at the Jerome Schottenstein Center in Columbus on March 23, 2026.

A member of the Louisville Cardinals band performs during the third quarter against the Alabama Crimson Tide in the second round of the 2026 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament at KFC YUM! Center on March 23, 2026 in Louisville, Ky.

A player spins a basketball branded with the NCAA logo before a game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Louisville Cardinals in the second round of the 2026 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament at KFC YUM! Center on March 23, 2026 in Louisville, Ky.

The Iowa State Cyclones mascot on the court during a break against the Syracuse Orange in the first half at Harry A. Gampel Pavilion in Storrs, Ct. on Mar 21, 2026.

Guard Kylie Feuerbach #4 of the Iowa Hawkeyes interacts with fans after a match-up against the FDU Knights on March 21, 2026 at Carver-Hawkeye Arena during the first round of the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament in Iowa City, Iowa.

1 / 13

See women's March Madness 2026, from mascots and fans to celebrities

The Alabama bench celebrate after a big three-point shot by Alabama Crimson Tide guard Karly Weathers (22) in the fourth quarter against Louisville during the 2026 NCAA Women's March Madness Second Round basketball at the KFC Yum Center In Louisville, Ky. Weathers finished with 13 points. March 23, 2026.

1 / 13

See women's March Madness 2026, from mascots and fans to celebrities

The Alabama bench celebrate after a big three-point shot by Alabama Crimson Tide guard Karly Weathers (22) in the fourth quarter against Louisville during the 2026 NCAA Women's March Madness Second Round basketball at the KFC Yum Center In Louisville, Ky. Weathers finished with 13 points. March 23, 2026.

2 / 13

See women's March Madness 2026, from mascots and fans to celebrities

Laura Ziegler of the Louisville Cardinals kisses the court after her team's 69-68 victory over the Alabama Crimson Tide in the second round of the 2026 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament at KFC YUM! Center on March 23, 2026 in Louisville, Ky.

3 / 13

See women's March Madness 2026, from mascots and fans to celebrities

Ohio State mascot Brutus Buckeye and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish leprechaun mascot cheer prior to the NCAA women's basketball tournament second round game at the Jerome Schottenstein Center in Columbus on March 23, 2026.

4 / 13

See women's March Madness 2026, from mascots and fans to celebrities

Louisville fans cheer during a first-round game between the Louisville Cardinals and Vermont Catamounts in the 2026 NCAA WomenâÕs Basketball Tournament at the KFC Yum Center, March 21, 2026, in Louisville, Ky.

5 / 13

See women's March Madness 2026, from mascots and fans to celebrities

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish huddle up prior to the start of the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament Second Round game against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Jerome Schottenstein Center on March 23, 2026 in Columbus, Ohio. Notre Dame defeated Ohio Sate 83-73.

6 / 13

See women's March Madness 2026, from mascots and fans to celebrities

A Louisville fan held a sign in the final seconds as the Cards defeated Alabama 69-68 to move on to the Sweet 16 during the 2026 NCAA Women's March Madness Second Round basketball at the KFC Yum Center In Louisville, Ky. March 23, 2026.

7 / 13

See women's March Madness 2026, from mascots and fans to celebrities

Alabama mascot Big Al works the crowd during a first-round game between the Rhode Island Rams and Alabama Crimson Tide in the 2026 NCAA WomenÕs Basketball Tournament at the KFC Yum Center, March 21, 2026, in Louisville, Ky.

8 / 13

See women's March Madness 2026, from mascots and fans to celebrities

The Ohio State Buckeyes sit for the starting lineup prior to the NCAA women's basketball tournament second round game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at the Jerome Schottenstein Center in Columbus on March 23, 2026.

9 / 13

See women's March Madness 2026, from mascots and fans to celebrities

Ohio State Buckeyes fans react to a foul call during the NCAA women's basketball tournament second round game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at the Jerome Schottenstein Center in Columbus on March 23, 2026.

10 / 13

See women's March Madness 2026, from mascots and fans to celebrities

A member of the Louisville Cardinals band performs during the third quarter against the Alabama Crimson Tide in the second round of the 2026 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament at KFC YUM! Center on March 23, 2026 in Louisville, Ky.

11 / 13

See women's March Madness 2026, from mascots and fans to celebrities

A player spins a basketball branded with the NCAA logo before a game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Louisville Cardinals in the second round of the 2026 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament at KFC YUM! Center on March 23, 2026 in Louisville, Ky.

12 / 13

See women's March Madness 2026, from mascots and fans to celebrities

The Iowa State Cyclones mascot on the court during a break against the Syracuse Orange in the first half at Harry A. Gampel Pavilion in Storrs, Ct. on Mar 21, 2026.

13 / 13

See women's March Madness 2026, from mascots and fans to celebrities

Guard Kylie Feuerbach #4 of the Iowa Hawkeyes interacts with fans after a match-up against the FDU Knights on March 21, 2026 at Carver-Hawkeye Arena during the first round of the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament in Iowa City, Iowa.

Like the Lady Vols’ season, though, Cooper had a turbulent ending to her time in Tennessee. She was benched for the second half of their SEC Tournament loss to Alabama and walked to the bus with a team staffer while the rest of the Lady Vols were still in the locker room. Cooper bounced back to pile up 24 points, six rebounds, three steals and two assists in an NCAA Tournament clash against NC State, but she couldn’t stop the Lady Vols from losing their eighth consecutive game.

Cooper was one of eight Tennessee players to enter the transfer portal this offseason, joining Deniya Prawl, Alyssa Latham, Kaniya Boyd, Jaida Civil, Lauren Hurst and freshman twins Mia and Mya Pauldo.

Under the direction of McPhee-McCuin, Ole Miss has succeeded in this new era of college basketball. This season marked the Rebels’ fifth consecutive trip to the NCAA Tournament and they’ve appeared in the national rankings in four of the past five seasons, rising as high as No. 12 in top 25 polls. Ole Miss has been to the Sweet 16 twice in the past five years.

McPhee-McCuin must replace her top three scorers after McMahon, Christeen Iwuala and Latasha Lattimore exhausted their eligibility after a second-round NCAA Tournament loss to Minnesota.

Landing Cooper is one step in the right direction of Ole Miss reloading for next season.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Tennessee women's basketball's Talaysia Cooper transfers to Ole Miss