McCombs Student-Athlete Sarah Graves Becomes Fan Favorite

Sarah Graves became an unexpected storyline in the Longhorns’ run in the 2026 NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship, with the senior guard emerging as a fan favorite during the Final Four push, the Just Women’s Sports website reported. Unfortunately, the Longhorns lost to UCLA, 51-44, in the semifinals.

Graves, BBA ’26, a former walk-on from Keller, Texas, has another year of eligibility and is returning this fall. She delivered one of the tournament’s most memorable moments late in the Longhorns’ 77-41 Elite Eight win over Michigan. With the game all but decided, she knocked down a long-range 2-pointer in the final seconds, adding an exclamation point as the Longhorns secured a second straight Final Four berth.

The reaction reflected Graves’ growing connection with the Texas fanbase. Throughout the game, the Fort Worth crowd chanted “Put in Sarah,” later erupting after she scored, the website reported.

“I’m almost at a loss for words,” she said. “I almost started crying on the court again because looking around me and just being in the present moment and hearing everybody chant your name is a surreal feeling that I’ll never forget.”

Despite her lack of playing time and the temptations of the transfer portal, Graves found a home at Texas. “There’s no reason to leave because Texas is the best of the best,” she told The Daily Texan. “In everything we do.”