Lady Vols guard Ruby Whitehorn reinstated to team after serving lengthy suspension

Lady Vols basketball senior guard Ruby Whitehorn has been reinstated to the team, Tennessee coach Kim Caldwell said Sept. 23.

Caldwell said Whitehorn returned to team activities in early September, and it was a process they took seriously.

Whitehorn, 21, returns from an indefinite suspension from team activities after she was arrested on Aug. 8. Whitehorn pleaded guilty during her preliminary hearing on Sept. 5 to two misdemeanors under a commonly offered agreement that will erase the convictions from her record if she meets the requirements of the deal.

Whitehorn faced two felony charges of aggravated burglary and domestic assault. Those charges were downgraded to misdemeanors – vandalism and aggravated criminal trespass – as part of the judicial diversion.

If Whitehorn completes the requirements of her probationary period of 11 months and 29 days, her record will be expunged. The terms of her probation include anger management and "no trouble or assaultive behavior" against the woman involved in the incident.

Whitehorn is due to report back in court on Thursday, Nov. 13.

"Ruby Whitehorn is an excellent student athlete and we were pleased with a lot of hard work and investigation by all the parties that we were able to resolve this case," Whitehorn's attorney Gregory Isaacs said Sept. 5. "Whitehorn looks forward to focusing her attentions at the University of Tennessee."

Whitehorn transferred to Tennessee prior to the 2024-25 season after playing her first two seasons at Clemson. The 6-foot guard was set to be a key player for the Lady Vols again after averaging 11.6 points, 4.0 rebounds and 1.7 assists on their run to the Sweet 16 last season.

Lady Vols coach Kim Caldwell addressed Whitehorn's situation once at a media availability on Aug. 28. When it comes to issues off the court, Caldwell said their policy is case-by-case, and "this one is obviously a really tough one."

"It's a frustrating situation," Caldwell told reporters on Aug. 28. "We love Ruby, but she is suspended indefinitely, and because it's an ongoing legal matter, that's really all we're allowed to discuss right now."

This story will be updated.

Cora Hall is the University of Tennessee women’s athletics reporter for Knox News. Email: cora.hall@knoxnews.com; X: @corahalll; Bluesky: @corahall.bsky.social‬. Support strong local journalism and unlock premium perks:knoxnews.com/subscribe

This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Ruby Whitehorn reinstated to Tennessee women's basketball after lengthy suspension