Texas women's basketball: Sarah Graves earns an extra year of eligibility from the NCAA

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Texas Longhorns guard Sarah Graves (6) holds up a heart after a score during the second round of the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament against Oregon at the Moody Center on Sunday, March 22, 2026 in Austin. (Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman)


This upcoming season, Sarah Graves will return to the Texas women's basketball program.

Graves announced on Tuesday that her collegiate career is not yet over and that she'll play during UT's 2026-27 campaign. Graves' status had been in limbo as Texas petitioned the NCAA for an extra year of eligibility, but a team spokesperson confirmed to the American-Statesman that the Longhorns' appeal had been approved.

very excited to spend more time with @UTexasMcCombs, @texaswbb and everyone else in the X comment sections! hook ‘em pic.twitter.com/PtGT0aDhH1

— Sarah Graves (@sarahkgraves) June 3, 2026

A 5-foot-9 guard, Graves joined the Longhorns as a walk-on ahead of the 2022-23 season. Graves appeared in just one game as a freshman, and that appearance was limited to the final 66 seconds of UT's regular-season finale. Texas coach Vic Schaefer argued earlier this year that he thought the NCAA should overlook that brief outing and grant Graves an additional year of eligibility.

"I've got to figure out how to talk to the NCAA and get (Sarah) a year back," Schaefer said. "Not because she's going to be here and be a starter, she's not going to be a starter. But because she brings so much to our community, to our university, to our program. She affects other people's lives, her teammates' lives, her coaches' lives. Why would you not allow that young lady to do something for another year in her life that if you don't, people are going to miss out on that opportunity. People are going to miss out on being around someone that can change their life."

More:Sarah Graves believes Sweet 16 free throws vs Kentucky symbolize Longhorns' 'team culture'

A Keller native who recently earned a finance degree from the McCombs School of Business, Graves was put on a scholarship ahead of her sophomore season. Despite playing just 121 minutes over the past three years, Graves has become a fan favorite due to her energetic presence on the Texas bench.

Graves has also developed into a respected leader in the UT locker room, and she will be the most-tenured member of the program this upcoming season. Graves will join Madison Booker, Breya Cunningham and Marquette transfer Jada Bediako as the seniors on a team that is adding five freshmen to its roster.

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