The college basketball 2025-26 season is upon us, and many eyes will be on the WNBA 2026 top five prospects, who already made their mark with solid performances in the previous three seasons. Many talented senior players are in line for a place in the pro league – except one – Ruby Whitehorn.
Tennessee dismissed the 6-foot player after a second serious offense that violated the program’s rules and general conduct. The player reacted to her dismissal after hearing the court’s decision.
Ruby Whitehorn Reacts To Dismissal From Tennessee Lady Volunteers
The guard was one of the top players for the Tennessee side, but her misconduct and off-court behavior impacted her career. The Detroit-born star committed two serious offenses in just two months. In August, the police charged her with two misdemeanors of aggravated trespassing and aggravated burglary, and, recently, the campus police officer found her in possession of marijuana.
While the Tennessee Lady Vols HC confirms her dismissal, the player shared a post on Instagram and wrote, “As most of you know, this has not been my best year. I’m not usually one to open up about my personal life or challenges, and that is part of the reason I am in this position today. For the past couple of months, I have walked by fear and not faith. Fear of asking for help, for guidance, fear of failure.”
— Ruby's mom (@LisaDBryant1) November 2, 2025
She later acknowledged that she could not uphold the program’s legacy. After that, the guard apologized and thanked her teammates and coaches for their support in her post. She concluded her plea, submitting herself to God, and asked for time to heal herself.
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While the player showed willingness to act on her misconduct and correct herself, it could be a lengthy process, eventually keeping her out of the upcoming WNBA draft. But there are multiple steps that she needs to complete before coming clean.
What’s Next For Ruby Whitehorn?
The player will be under a probation period of 11 months and 29 days. During this period, the young star must fulfill all the requirements imposed by the law, like anger management and no trouble or assaultive behavior. After that, her record scan will be cleared through judicial diversion.
As per the player’s attorney, Gregory Isaacs, Whitehorn was “cooperative and transparent” in front of the law. “She intends to enter a plea of not guilty at her arraignment,” Isaacs said. “We anticipate a positive result in this misdemeanor case.”
The tragic turn of events could take hard work and strong willpower to overcome the toughest situations. As for the WNBA draft prospects, players like Olivia Miles and Flau’jae Johnson will elevate their performance in their final season, eyeing a top 2026 WNBA draft spot.