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Posted

Starting it off because we got a schedule!

UCLA, Duke or South Carolina, North Carolina, Baylor, South Dakota State is a pretty decent non-conf with us still having to play Ole Miss, LSU twice, South Carolina, OU, Kentucky, Vanderbilt and Tennessee in conference play

It just sucks for our fans that the only good non-conf team they will see in Moody is UNC, since the other good teams are neutral or road. 

 

 

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Posted

A (literally) big recruit was here last weekend. The WBB team had a front row view of Moody getting WILD for volleyball 

 

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Posted

Texas is putting together a good class so far:

HG #58 Holguin
HG #77 Spaight

Fighting hard for:

Olivia Vukosa (HG #4, 6'4 post) from Christ the King H.S. in NY (Serbia originally)
Jacy Abii (HG #10, 6'2 wing) from Legion Prep Academy (TX)

Spaight has drawn some comparisons to Rori/Preston defensively
Vukosa is your big
Abii has drawn comparisons to Booker

Hoop Gurlz has Holguin and Spaight as 4 stars and Vukosa and Abii as 5 stars

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Posted
On 9/23/2025 at 3:08 PM, Js1 said:

Jacy Abii (HG #10, 6'2 wing) from Legion Prep Academy (TX)

 

Decision date is October 4

Tennessee, UCLA, Texas, LSU and ND are her finalists

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Posted

Oldacre injury and other quotes in the article.  Excerpt:

 

Quote

“Kyla has not worked out, hasn’t done a whole lot of anything since she went down in Toronto,” Schaefer said. “She did do a little bit [on Tuesday]…in conditioning, she just did a little bit, which is a lot more than she’s done.”

Oldacre played less than nine minutes against Puerto Rico in the GLOBL Jam before going down with an injury, but in that time scored 17 points and 11 rebounds. One of the more powerful centers in the SEC, her return may be necessary for the Longhorns to make a deep run in March this season.

“[Tuesday] was her first time that really, that I’ve seen her,” Schaefer said. “She sees the doctor today, and hopefully we’ll get a good report and get her cleared up. She’s certainly doing way better now, so I expect her to be fine here in the next week or so.”

https://www.kxan.com/sports/texas-womens-hoops-notebook-a-dynamic-duo-oldacres-injury-new-faces/

 

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Posted

Abii was here over the weekend.  Looks like we got her last visit before her announcement this week?

 

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Posted

Another name to watch - 6'3 Brihanna Crittendon from CO (PF).  Lovato is following her mom and dad on social media, which is usually a good sign for an OV upcoming or recently happened.  

#8 in the 247 Composite and #9 in the Hoop Gurlz Next 100

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Posted

Texas got their visit from 2026 Aussie Sitaya Fagan during the week

USC last weekend

SoCar this weekend 

Posted
2 hours ago, Js1 said:

Having two locations, with the furthest east being Fort Worth is certainly a choice.  Basically any team that is a top six seed in that projection except for UCLA and USC (who is listed as a five seed) is going to want to be in Fort Worth.

Posted
33 minutes ago, Mr. Drummond said:

Charlotte and Ft Worth (or something similar) certainly seems to make way more sense for everyone outside of about 8 schools out of the entire field of 68.   

The NCAA is obsessed with a west coast regional site for TV tips

2022 (when it was 4 sites) - Spokane
2023 - Seattle
2024 - Portland
2025 - Spokane
2026 - Sacramento
2027 - Vegas
2028 - Portland

Posted

The West Coast regional benefitted Stanford and UCLA the most, and now UCLA and USC

I'd prefer an East Coast regional - Charlotte, Albany, Bridgeport, Greensboro, Atlanta, whatever - and then a central/mountain regional - FW, Houston, New Orleans, Kansas City, Denver, Phoenix, Vegas, Minneapolis

Posted

Girls' high school basketball recruiting: 2026 class commits, more - ESPN

Here's the Texas excerpt:

Texas Longhorns: The summer's most improved player, Aaliah Spaight (No. 20), is a combo guard in the mold of Rori Harmon. Texas also secured a commitment from four-star Amalia Holguin (No. 57), Spaight's club teammate on Team Why Not in the Nike EYBL. Texas is also a possible landing spot for No. 3 Olivia Vukosa, Australian star Sitaya Fagan, No. 8 Brihanna Crittendon and No. 9 Jacy Abii.

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Posted

Abii’s commitment is 5:30 today 

Also, hoping Oldacre can play a little bit 

AUSTIN, Texas — Texas women's basketball has announced their annual Orange-White Scrimmage will take place on Oct. 19 at 4pm CT at Moody Center. 

Posted
1 hour ago, TommysTinyTowels said:

Notre Dame

 

Not on my bingo card for a kid that grew up in north Texas. Will be interesting if she stays there four years.

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Posted (edited)
2 hours ago, MuellerHorn said:

Kitts (USCe) officially ruled out for the season with a torn ACL. 

So they are now down Kitts and Watkins (sitting out this season).  Two forwards out of the rotation.   Kitts was the SEC Tournament MVP and an HM All-American. 

6'6 transfer Okot (from MSST) will likely start at center, with sophomore 6'3 Edwards at forward.  She struggled in the NCAAT, but was still First Team All-SEC, and had a double-double against Texas in the Final Four

Dauda and Tac are their other frontcourt bench players, who were disappointing last season. And a freshman 6'1 wing who played forward in Brazil/international ball.  

Edited by Js1
Posted
16 minutes ago, Js1 said:

So they are now down Kitts and Watkins (sitting out this season).  Two forwards out of the rotation.   Kitts was the SEC Tournament MVP and an HM All-American. 

6'6 transfer Okot (from MSST) will likely start at center, with sophomore 6'3 Edwards at forward.  She struggled in the NCAAT, but was still First Team All-SEC, and had a double-double against Texas in the Final Four

Dauda and Tac are their other frontcourt bench players, who were disappointing last season. And a freshman 6'1 wing who played forward in Brazil/international ball.  

I never want anyone to get hurt, especially an injury that can alter their ability and career, but I'll take any advantage Texas may get to push farther than we've been recently. Texas has its own mini reset in the front court with Jones departing, but hopefully Oldacre stays healthy, Sidberry and Cunningham contribute meaningfully, Carlton keeps improving, and Hose provides good depth. As we discussed ad nauseam last season, improved consistency and increased three-point shooting numbers (percentage and attempts) would really help open up the interior, as well.

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Posted

Anywho - back to Texas:

https://texaslonghorns.com/news/2025/10/13/womens-basketball-womens-basketballs-madison-booker-named-sec-preseason-player-of-the-year-by-media

Texas picked No. 2 in SEC media poll, Booker and Harmon earn preseason All-SEC honors from media.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Two-time First Team All-American and 2025 SEC Player of the Year Madison Booker has been selected the SEC Preseason Player of the Year by the media the conference announced on Monday. 

In the preseason SEC media poll Texas is picked to finish second behind South Carolina. In addition to player of the year honors Booker earned a spot on the preseason All-SEC First Team and Rori Harmon was selected to the preseason All-SEC Second Team. 

 

 

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Posted

She hasn't won it yet, but a few players who won their conference POY 3 years in a row includes:

Breanna Stewart (2014, 2015, 2016) UConn
Courtney Paris (2007, 2008, 2009) OU
Brittney Griner (2011, 2012, 2013) Baylor
A'ja Wilson (2016, 2017, 2018) South Carolina
Sabrina Ionescu (2018, 2019, 2020) Oregon
Shelly Pennefather (1986, 1987, 1988) Villanova
Kerry Bascom (1989, 1990, 1991) UConn
Alana Beard (2002, 2003, 2004) Duke
Alyssa Thomas (2012, 2013, 2014) Maryland
Elizabeth Kitley (2022, 2023, 2024) Virginia Tech
Jessica Davenport (2005, 2006, 2007) Ohio State
Caitlin Clark (2022, 2023, 2024) Iowa

I found one player who won 4 in a row
Jantel Lavender (2008, 2009, 2010, 2011) Ohio State

 

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Posted

Here is the ESPN+ article of the newly-released AP Poll (spoilered for length)

Texas starts the season at #4.

Spoiler

AP women's college basketball preseason Top 25 poll breakdown

play
 
Charlie Creme
 
Oct 14, 2025, 12:07 PM ET

The 2025-26 preseason women's college basketball AP Top 25 poll results are out!

The reigning champion UConn Huskies top the list, with runner-up South Carolina Gamecocks and the rest of last season's Final Four -- the UCLA Bruins and Texas Longhorns -- rounding out the top four.

Find the full results of the rankings -- complete with projected starting lineups and the biggest early-season games to watch for each team -- below. The season begins Nov. 3.

All times Eastern.

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1. UConn Huskies

2024-25 record: 37-3 (won 2025 national championship)

Season opener: Nov. 4 vs. Louisville (in Germany), 5:30 p.m., ESPN

Biggest early-season game: Nov. 21 vs. Michigan, 8 p.m., FOX

Projected starting lineup:
Sarah Strong (16.4 PPG)
Azzi Fudd (13.6 PPG)
Ashlynn Shade (7.7 PPG)
Serah Williams (19.2 PPG at Wisconsin)
Kayleigh Heckel (6.1 PPG at USC)

The UConn Huskies return Azzi Fudd and Sarah Strong from last season's championship roster. Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

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2. South Carolina Gamecocks

2024-25 record: 35-4 (lost to 2-seed UConn in national championship game)

Season opener: Nov. 3 vs. Grand Canyon, 7 p.m., SEC Network+

Biggest early-season game: Nov. 26 vs. Duke (in Las Vegas), 4:30p.m., truTV

Projected starting lineup:
Raven Johnson (4.9 PPG)
Tessa Johnson (8.4 PPG)
Joyce Edwards (12.7 PPG)
Ta'Niya Latson (25.2 PPG at Florida State)
Madina Okot (11.3 PPG at Mississippi State)


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3. UCLA Bruins

2024-25 record: 34-3 (lost to 2-seed UConn in Final Four)

Season opener: Nov. 3 vs. San Diego State, 10 p.m.

Biggest early-season game: Nov. 26 vs. Texas (in Las Vegas), 2 p.m., truTV

Projected starting lineup:
Lauren Betts (20.2 PPG)
Kiki Rice (12.8 PPG)
Gianna Kneepkens (19.3 PPG at Utah)
Gabriela Jaquez (9.6 PPG)
Charlisse Leger-Walker (13.2 PPG at Washington State in 2023-24)


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4. Texas Longhorns

2024-25 record: 35-4 (lost to 1-seed South Carolina in Final Four)

Season opener: Nov. 3 vs. Incarnate Word, 8 p.m., SEC Network+

Biggest early-season game: Nov. 26 vs. UCLA (in Las Vegas), 2 p.m., truTV

Projected starting lineup:
Madison Booker (16.3 PPG)
Rori Harmon (9.3 PPG)
Kyla Oldacre (8.8 PPG)
Jordan Lee (5.8 PPG)
Aaliyah Crump (No. 5 in ESPN 100)


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5. LSU Tigers

2024-25 record: 31-6 (lost to 1-seed UCLA in Elite Eight)

Season opener: Nov. 4 vs. Houston Christian, 8 p.m., SEC Network+

Biggest early-season game: Dec. 4 at Duke, 9 p.m., ESPN

Projected starting lineup:
Flau'Jae Johnson (18.6 PPG)
Mikaylah Williams (17.3 PPG)
MiLaysia Fulwiley (11.7 PPG at South Carolina)
Grace Knox (No. 6 in ESPN 100)
Amiya Joyner (15.0 PPG at East Carolina)


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6. Oklahoma Sooners

2024-25 record: 27-8 (lost to 2-seed UConn in Sweet 16)

Season opener: Nov. 3 vs. Belmont, 5:30 p.m., SEC Network+

Biggest early-season game: Nov. 10 vs. UCLA (in Sacramento, California), TBA

All of ESPN. All in one place.

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Projected starting lineup:
Raegan Beers (17.3 PPG)
Payton Verhulst (14.9 PPG)
Sahara Williams (10.6 PPG)
Aaliyah Chavez (No. 3 in ESPN 100)
Zya Vann (9.9 PPG)


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7. Duke Blue Devils

2024-25 record: 29-8 (lost to 1-seed South Carolina in Elite Eight)

Season opener: Nov. 3 vs. Baylor (in Paris), 12 p.m., ESPN

Biggest early-season game: Nov. 26 vs. South Carolina (in Las Vegas), 4:30p.m., truTV

Projected starting lineup:
Toby Fournier (13.2 PPG)
Ashlon Jackson (12.4 PPG)
Taina Mair (6.7 PPG)
Delaney Thomas (7.1 PPG)
Emilee Skinner (No. 4 in ESPN 100)


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8. Tennessee Lady Volunteers

2024-25 record: 24-10 (lost to 1-seed Texas in Sweet 16)

Season opener: Nov. 4 vs. NC State (in Greensboro, North Carolina), 4 p.m., ESPN2

Biggest early-season game: Nov. 30 at UCLA, 4:30 p.m., FS1

Projected starting lineup:
Talaysia Cooper (16.6 PPG)
Zee Spearman (11.7 PPG)
Ruby Whitehorn (11.6 PPG)
Mia Pauldo (No. 9 in ESPN 100)
Nya Robertson (18.5 PPG at SMU)


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9. NC State Wolfpack

2024-25 record: 28-7 (lost to 3-seed LSU in Sweet 16)

Season opener: Nov. 4 vs. Tennessee (in Greensboro, North Carolina), 4 p.m., ESPN2

Biggest early-season game: Dec. 3 at Oklahoma, 7 p.m., ESPN2

Projected starting lineup:
Zoe Brooks (14.2 PPG)
Zamareya Jones (7.1 PPG)
Khamil Pierre (20.4 PPG with Vanderbilt)
Tilda Trygger (6.6 PPG)
Destiny Lunan (No. 65 in ESPN 100)


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10. Maryland Terrapins

2024-25 record: 25-8 (lost to 1-seed South Carolina in Sweet 16)

Season opener: Nov. 3 vs. Loyola Maryland, B1G+

Biggest early-season game: Nov. 16 vs. Princeton, 1 p.m., B1G+

Projected starting lineup:
Kaylene Smikle (17.9 PPG)
Yarden Garzon (1.4 PPG at Indiana)
Bri McDaniel (10. 6 PPG in 17 games)
Saylor Poffenbarger (9.1 PPG)
Oluchi Okananwa (10.1 PPG at Duke)


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11. North Carolina Tar Heels

2024-25 record: 21-12 (lost to 2-seed UConn in Sweet 16)

Season opener: Nov. 3 vs. NC Central, 11 a.m. ACCN

Biggest early-season game: Nov. 13 vs. UCLA (in Las Vegas), 9 p.m., ESPN2

Projected starting lineup:
Reniya Kelly (9.6 PPG)
Indya Nivar (8.3 PPG)
Blanca Thomas (2.4 PPG)
Nyla Brooks (No. 13 in ESPN 100)
Nyla Harris (8.6 PPG at Louisville)


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12. Ole Miss Rebels

2024-25 record: 22-11 (lost to 1-seed UCLA in Sweet 16)

Season opener: Nov. 3 vs. Norfolk State, 12 p.m., SEC Network

Biggest early-season game: Dec. 4 vs. Notre Dame, 9 p.m., ESPN2

Projected starting lineup:
Cotie McMahon (16.4 PPG at Ohio State)
Sira Thienou (10.5 PPG)
Kaitlin Peterson (21.4 PPG at UCF)
Denim DeShields (5.7 PPG at Mississippi State)
Latasha Lattimore (14.3 PPG at Virginia)


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13. Michigan Wolverines

2024-25 record: 23-11 (lost to 3-seed Notre Dame in second round)

Season opener: Nov. 4 vs. Canisius, 7 p.m., B1G+

Biggest early-season game: Nov. 15 vs. Notre Dame, 4 p.m., NBC

Editor's Picks

Projected starting lineup:
Olivia Olson (16.3 PPG)
Syla Swords (16.0 PPG)
Mila Holloway (9.8 PPG)
Ashley Sofilkanich (19.7 PPG at Bucknell)
Brooke Quarles Daniels (4.4 PPG)


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14. Iowa State Cyclones

2024-25 record: 23-12 (lost to 6-seed Michigan in first round)

Season opener: Nov. 3 vs. St. Thomas-Minnesota, 12 p.m.

Biggest early-season game: Dec. 10 vs. Iowa, 7 p.m.

Projected starting lineup:
Addy Brown (15.2 PPG)
Audi Crooks (23.4 PPG)
Jada Williams (12.7 PPG at Arizona)
Arianna Jackson (5.3 PPG)
Kenzie Hare (8.3 PPG in 10 games)


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15. Notre Dame Fighting Irish

2024-25 record: 28-6 (lost to 2-seed TCU in Sweet 16)

Season opener: Nov. 5 vs. Fairleigh Dickinson, 7 p.m., ACCN

Biggest early-season game: Nov. 21 vs. USC, 6 p.m. ESPN

Projected starting lineup:
Hannah Hidalgo (23.8 PPG)
Malaya Cowles (8.8 PPG at Wake Forest)
Cassandre Prosper (5.8 PPG)
KK Bransford (6.8 PPG in 2023-24)
Iyana Moore (12.4 PPG at Vanderbilt)


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16. Baylor Bears

2024-25 record: 28-8 (lost to 5-seed Ole Miss in second round)

Season opener: Nov. 3 vs. Duke (in Paris), 12 p.m., ESPN

Biggest early-season game: Nov. 20 vs. Iowa (in Orlando, Florida), 9 p.m., ESPN

Projected starting lineup:
Darianna Littlepage-Buggs (13.8 PPG)
Bella Fontleroy (9.0 PPG)
Taliah Scott (20.3 PPG in three games at Auburn)
Yuting Deng (11.8 PPG at Auburn)
Kiera Pemberton (16.4 PPG at North Dakota)


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17. TCU Horned Frogs

2024-25 record: 34-4 (lost to 1-seed Texas in Elite Eight)

Season opener: Nov. 6 vs. North Carolina A&T, 7:30 p.m.

Biggest early-season game: Nov. 16 at NC State, 1 p.m., ESPN

Projected starting lineup:
Olivia Miles (15.4 PPG)
Marta Suarez (12.9 PPG at Cal)
Taylor Bigby (5.9 PPG)
Clara Silva (4.0 PPG at Kentucky)
Donovyn Hunter (5.9 PPG)


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18. USC Trojans

2024-25 record: 31-4 (lost to 2-seed UConn in Elite Eight)

Season opener: Nov. 4 vs. New Mexico State, 10 p.m., B1G+

Biggest early-season game: Nov. 9 vs. NC State (in Charlotte, North Carolina), 3 p.m., ESPN

Projected starting lineup:
Jazzy Davidson (No. 1 in ESPN 100)
Kara Dunn (15.5 PPG at Georgia Tech)
Kennedy Smith (9.5 PPG)
Londynn Jones (8.5 at UCLA)
Malia Samuels (2.3 PPG)


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19. Vanderbilt Commodores

2024-25 record: 22-11 (lost to 10-seed Oregon in first round)

Season opener: Nov. 3 vs. California (in Paris), 2:30 p.m., ESPNU

Biggest early-season game: Dec. 3 vs. Virginia, 5 p.m., SEC Network

Projected starting lineup:
Mikayla Blakes (23.3 PPG)
Madison Greene (6.8 PPG)
Ndjakalenga Mwenentanda (5.6 PPG at Texas)
Aalyah Del Rosario (2.0 PPG at LSU)
Sacha Washington (12.1 PPG in 2023-24)


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20. Louisville Cardinals

2024-25 record: 22-11 (lost to 2-seed TCU in second round)

Season opener: Nov. 4 vs. UConn (in Germany), 5:30 p.m. ESPN

Biggest early-season game: Nov. 22 vs. Kentucky, 2 p.m., CW

Projected starting lineup:
Laura Ziegler (17.5 PPG at Saint Joseph's)
Tajianna Roberts (12.8 PPG)
Skylar Jones (10.7 PPG at Arizona)
Grace Mbugua (No. 78 in ESPN 100)
Imari Berry (4.9 PPG)


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21. Iowa Hawkeyes

2024-25 record: 23-11 (lost to 3-seed Oklahoma in second round)

Season opener: Nov. 3 vs. Southern, 7:30 p.m., B1G+

Biggest early-season game: Nov. 20 vs. Baylor (in Orlando, Florida), 9 p.m.

Projected starting lineup:
Hannah Stuelke (12.7 PPG)
Ava Heiden (5.0 PPG)
Kylie Feuerbach (6.7 PPG)
Chazadi Wright (7.2 PPG at Georgia Tech)
Taylor McCabe 6.7 PPG)


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22. Oklahoma State Cowgirls

2024-25 record: 25-7 (lost to 10-seed South Dakota State in first round)

Season opener: Nov. 3 vs. vs. New Orleans, TBA

Biggest early-season game: Nov. 29 vs. Miami (in Grand Cayman), TBA

Projected starting lineup:
Stailee Heard (16.8 PPG)
Micah Gray (13.7 PPG)
Amari Whiting (10.3 PPG at BYU)
Favour Ogechukwu Onoh (10.7 PPG at University of Philippines in 2023-24)
Achol Akot (6.6 PPG at UCF)


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23. Michigan State Spartans

2024-25 record: 22-10 (lost to 2-seed NC State in second round)

Season opener: Nov. 4 vs. Mercyhurst, 7:30 p.m., B1G+

Biggest early-season game: Nov. 28 vs. Temple (in the Bahamas), 6:30 p.m.

Projected starting lineup:
Grace VanSlooten (15.5 PPG)
Theryn Hallock (13.3 PPG)
Jalyn Brown (18.0 PPG at Arizona State)
Rashunda Jones (9.8 PPG at Purdue)
Marah Dykstra (12.4 PPG at Montana State)


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T-24. Kentucky Wildcats

2024-25 record: 23-8 (lost to 5-seed Kansas State the second round)

Season opener: Nov. 3 vs. Morehead State, 6:30 p.m., SEC Network+

Biggest early-season game: Nov. 22 at Louisville, 2 p.m., CW

Projected starting lineup:
Tonie Morgan (13.7 PPG at Georgia Tech)
Teonni Key (11.4 PPG)
Clara Strack (9.7 PPG)
Amelia Hassett (8.6 PPG)
Asia Boone (10.3 PPG at Liberty)


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T-24. Richmond Spiders

2024-25 record: 28-7 (lost to 1-seed UCLA in second round)

Season opener: Nov. 4 vs. Mount St. Mary's, 6 p.m.

Biggest early-season game: Nov. 7 at Texas, 7 p.m., SEC Network+

Projected starting lineup:
Maggie Doogan (17.0 PPG)
Tierra Simon (8.8 PPG at St. Louis)
Rachel Ullstrom (15.3 PPG)
Ally Sweeney (7.9 PPG)
Skylah Travis (5.6 PPG at Louisiana)

 

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Posted
10 minutes ago, MuellerHorn said:

Texas starts the season at #4.

 

UConn fans are most concerned about their PG play without Paige and South Carolina fans are  concerned about their front court depth with 2 starters missing the season

Just from what I have seen so far.

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Posted

Just from the AP Poll, Texas plays:

#2 South Carolina (road game)
#3 UCLA (neutral site in Vegas)
#5 LSU (home and road)
#6 Oklahoma (home)
#2 South Carolina OR #7 Duke (neutral site in Vegas)
#8 Tennessee (road)
#11 North Carolina (home)
#12 Ole Miss (home)
#16 Baylor (neutral, in FW)
#19 Vanderbilt (road)
#24 Kentucky (home)
#25 Richmond (home)

Guaranteed 12 games against the preseason top 25 and South Dakota State (road) is receiving votes.

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Posted

Cool story on Sarah Graves from The Daily Texan. Spoilered below for your convenience (link also provided):

Sarah Graves’ student-athlete excellence features in inaugural BOSI advisory board

https://thedailytexan.com/2025/10/13/sarah-graves-student-athlete-excellence-features-in-inaugural-bosi-advisory-board/

Spoiler

Sarah Graves’ student-athlete excellence features in inaugural BOSI advisory board

Tyler Firtel, Senior Sports Reporter

October 13, 2025

Charlie Partheymuller

Junior Sarah Graves flexes in celebration from the bench against LSU on March 8, 2025.

When Sarah Graves arrived on the Forty Acres in 2022 as a finance freshman, she thought she’d be leaving her basketball days in the past.

But her assumption of a fading love for the sport quickly proved erroneous.

“I went a month without basketball before realizing that I would go crazy without the competition and team environment,” Graves said.

Reaching out to Texas women’s basketball assistant coach Sydney Carter and associate head coach Elena Lovato, the former first-team All-District guard at Keller High School went through a “grueling” trial period focused on defense, conditioning and cardio. Ultimately, Graves earned a walk-on spot on head coach Vic Schaefer’s roster, having barely settled in as a college student before transitioning into a student-athlete lifestyle. 

The schedule is demanding and requires sacrifice — Graves said her teammates call her “the iPad kid” when she works on late-night flights. Still, after joining the team as a freshman, she did not waver in her commitment to the balancing act of athletics and academics.

Fast forward to the summer of her sophomore year, and that devotion to both became intertwined. 

Graves was training in the women’s basketball facility and using the Noah shooting machine, which tracks the arc and depth of each shot attempt, when she met UT professor and long-time basketball analyst Kirk Goldsberry. Goldsberry is also the executive director of the then-recently established Business of Sports Institute in the Red McCombs School of Business.

“He saw me being a nerd about the analytics,” Graves said about their first interaction.

Schaefer brought Graves to Goldsberry’s attention, lauding her as an exceptionally bright student-athlete and someone to collaborate with in his new institute. From that introduction, a partnership has grown that Goldsberry described as a “natural, everybody-wins situation.”

“Sarah is a unicorn,” Goldsberry said. “She is able to give us a vital perspective of a student, a student-athlete, a McCombs undergraduate who wants to have a career in sports business, and that’s really important. … Sarah really represents that key part of our vision, which is to serve the undergraduates and the student-athletes with opportunity.”

Over time, Graves got more involved with the institute by volunteering her time anywhere her perspective and expertise could be useful.

“Honestly, it’s kind of the same journey that I had as a walk-on, just trying to put yourself in places to be around successful people and offer time just to learn from the best of the best,” Graves said.

As the Business of Sports Institute has grown, so have the opportunities for Graves, culminating in a recent addition to the institute that has signified its progression since its founding in 2021. Last month, the institute announced its inaugural 29-member advisory board, made up of leading figures within the sports business industry, including Graves.

“When we decided we wanted to have a student-athlete on the board, the choice was obvious,” Goldsberry said.

This makes sense considering Grave’s existing presence in the institute and her academic excellence as a finance major. 

And Graves has embraced and taken advantage of her role. She highlighted Goldsberry, along with two involved members of the institution’s board, Texas basketball great Kevin Durant and his business partner, Rich Kleiman, among those who have exposed her to the expansive network and industries within sports business.

“Every day, you come and hear a new story about how someone is changing the game and shaking everything up, so it’s just really exciting,” Graves said.

Now entering her senior season, Graves’ student-athlete journey has reached its finale. This past summer was the beginning of the end, as she balanced summer practices with a private equity internship obtained through the BOSI board. However, Graves’ experiences with the institute have confirmed her passion lies in sports, and that is the route she intends to explore.

“She has a very bright future, and she’s been an instrumental part of our inaugural board, representing everything that’s right about the University of Texas,” Goldsberry said.

 

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