Elite 2026 recruit Oliviyah Edwards commits to Tennessee

Elite 2026 recruit Oliviyah Edwards has committed to Tennessee, she announced on Saturday. Edwards chose the Lady Vols over South Carolina, USC, LSU, Florida and Washington. 

“I love Tennessee,” Edwards told Rivals. “They’ve been the hardest workers yet, every game I’ve ever played, everything. They’ve seen it, they’ve watched it. I’m not going to lie, they’re doing their big ones. I really like the effort. That’s one thing about me. I like effort. And, like I said, they have that family vibe, that family aspect.”

Edwards noted that her relationships with the coaching staff have been exceptionally strong.

“I don’t want to go somewhere and feel like I’m being lied to, you know?,” Edwards said. “I feel like they tell me the truth anytime. If I had a bad game Gabe [Lazo] calls me and says ‘what are you doing?’ I like that type of stuff, though, because it’s like, okay, I could get better. It’s not like you’re lying to me until I get there and then I’m benched, you know?”

The 6-3 post player is ranked as the No. 5 recruit in the 2026 class and the Lady Vols are getting a versatile threat.

“I’d say I’m very versatile,” Edwards said of her game. “I think that as a big, I do have good handles. I could also post up the little, tiny ones. I feel like it’s hard to guard when I can shoot, I can get to the basket and I could create my own shot. That’s really hard to guard, especially with my height. I also know how to pass the ball too.”

Edwards previously talked to Rivals about several factors that would play a role in her decision.

“I would say that family aspect,” Edwards said. “I want to be able to have a home away from home. That’s really the main thing that I’m looking for. Who do I feel closest with? Who do I know that I can build and grow with? Everything else I feel like, for me, will fall into place. I know, anywhere I go, I’m gonna get better. Anywhere I go, they’re gonna have a good facility. They’re gonna have nice things. In that aspect. I’m not really materialistic. I’m just looking at, okay, how do the players get along? How do the coaches coach? What’s the style of play? I really want to fit in here, not just basketball wise. I want them to love me for who I am and everything I’ve got going on. I want to be able to call these girls my sisters – to be able to, even after I’m done, be over at the coach’s houses. These are people I want to have long, deep connections with.”