'She never cracked': Why 1 of the most popular Longhorns was a 5-9 guard who rarely played

Texas Longhorns guard Sarah Graves (6) celebrates with the bench in the second half as the Texas Longhorns play the Missouri State Bears in the first round of the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament at the Moody Center in Austin, March 20, 2026. Texas won the game 87-45. (Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman) PHOENIX — The Texas women's basketball crowd was emphatic — chanting "Put Sarah in!

" — calling for the Longhorns' senior guard who averages less than one point a game, who's never been a starter, who's put in when the game's outcome is foregone and who is, above all else, a star. "What she brings to our team, you can't put a value on," Texas coach Vic Schaefer said. Sarah Graves has never been your average bench player — and she knows that.

While some may dream of being a part of the starting lineup, she is just focused on bettering herself. “I've spent four years on the bench, perfecting one skill: energy,” Graves stated on a LinkedIn post. RELATED : Longhorns face roster overhaul after Final Four run Texas Longhorns guard Sarah Graves (6) shoots for three points in the second half as the Texas Longhorns play the Missouri State Bears in the first round of the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament at the Moody Center in Austin, March 20, 2026.

Texas won the game 87-45. (Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman) Deciding to walk on at Texas Texas Longhorns guard Sarah Graves (6) shoots a 3-pointer during the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament Elite 8 game against Michigan at Dickies Arena on Monday, March 30, 2026 in Fort Worth. (Aaron E.