Sunday, Feb. 15, 2026, as the No. 4 ranked Texas Longhorns travel to Knoxville to take on the No. 22 Tennessee Lady Volunteers. Scheduled for a 3:00 PM ET tipoff at the Food City Center, this game represents a clash between two of the most storied programs in collegiate women’s basketball history, both entering the final weeks of a grueling regular season with significant postseason implications. This game will be crucial for both sides as Texas looks to bounce back from a recent setback in Nashville, while Tennessee looks to defend its home court and solidify its position among the conference elite.
Currently ranked No. 4 in both the AP and Coaches Polls, the Texas Longhorns represent the gold standard in defensive discipline and offensive efficiency heading into the 2025-2026 season. Under the leadership of head coach Vic Schaefer, now in his sixth season in Austin, the program has maintained its identity as a perennial national title contender. Entering mid-February with a 23-3 overall record and an 8-3 mark in the SEC, the Longhorns have successfully navigated their second season in the conference, proving that their physical style of play translates effectively against the SEC’s elite.
The Tennessee Lady Volunteers enter this high-profile matchup at No. 22 with a 16-6 overall record, with an 8-2 mark in SEC play. Under the leadership of first-year head coach Kim Caldwell, the program has undergone a major stylistic overhaul. Caldwell has implemented a ruthless high-pressure system known for full-court pressing and frequent substitutions, a “chaos” style designed to disrupt the rhythm of more traditional, half-court-oriented teams like Texas. This approach has yielded significant wins domestically, where the Lady Vols have posted a formidable 9-1 record.
How to Watch Texas Longhorns @ Tennessee Lady Volunteers Online – National & Local US TV Channels & Live Streams
National audiences will have full access to the events via a major broadcast on ABC, a placement that underlines the game’s status as one of the key events in the February sporting calendar. The broadcast team features Tiffany Greene on play-by-play duties alongside color analyst Carolyn Peck, offering a layer of expert commentary derived from decades of experience at the sport’s highest levels. This national window is part of a broader strategic initiative by ESPN and the SEC to showcase top-level women’s basketball in premium time slots, especially during the crucial lead-up to the conference tournament.
For digital viewers, the game can be accessed via a wide range of streaming platforms. All matches in the ESPN broadcast package will be made available via Check out ESPN and the ESPN appallowing fans to follow the action on smartphones, tablets and connected television devices such as Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Chromecast, Roku and various gaming consoles such as the Xbox series. In addition, there are cable replacement services such as Fubo And Sling TV provide comprehensive coverage.
Fubo offers the game through the standard Pro and Elite subscriptions, while Sling TV subscribers can access the ABC broadcast through the Orange + Blue package in select markets or through the Sports Extra add-on, which includes the SEC Network and other peripheral collegiate channels.
How to watch anywhere with VPN
If you’re abroad, you may need to use a virtual private network (VPN) to watch games via your usual streaming service. A VPN, like ExpressVPNyou can establish a secure online connection while streaming.
Likely starting lineups
For the Texas Longhorns, the starting lineup is expected to feature graduate student Rori Harmon at point guard, who brings an elite assist-to-turnover ratio and veteran poise to the backcourt. She will be joined by sophomore guard Jordan Lee, whose ability to create perimeter shots is essential to being able to reach the floor against the Tennessee press.
Junior forward Madison Booker, the team’s top scoring option, will operate on the wing and in the high post, while the frontcourt will be anchored by sophomore forward Justice Carlton and junior forward Breya Cunningham. This unit was the Longhorns’ most successful combination in 2026, starting the most SEC games and providing a mix of size, speed and rebounding.
The Tennessee Lady Volunteers will likely counter with a lineup built for speed and relentless defensive pressure. Redshirt junior guard Talaysia Cooper starts at the point and serves as the vanguard of the full press.
She will be paired with freshman guard Mia Pauldo, who has provided a scoring spark in conference play, and senior guard Nya Robertson, known for her ability to ignite the crowd with transition three-pointers. In the frontcourt, senior forwards Lazaria Spearman and Janiah Barker provide the rebounding and interior defense needed to combat the size of Carlton and Cunningham. Barker’s ability to step out and make mid-range shots could be a crucial factor in pulling the Texans post defenders away from the edge.
Likely starting lineups
The historic story between Texas and Tennessee is one of the most storied in sports, with the Lady Volunteers holding a 26-18 lead in the all-time series. Although the rivalry dates back decades, today’s dynamics point to a period of intense equality.
Over their last six meetings, the programs have split the results evenly at 3-3, reflecting the competitive balance between these two national powerhouses. However, the Longhorns have claimed the upper hand in the most recent meetings, winning the last two matchups in 2025. These wins include an 80-76 regular season victory in Austin on January 23, 2025 and a crucial 67-59 win in Birmingham on March 29, 2025, ending Tennessee’s season in the NCAA Sweet 16.
#watch #live #stream #Texas #Longhorns #Tennessee #Lady #Volunteers #NCAAW #SEC #basketball #game