Fifth-year guard Shay Holle collected her 126th win against Auburn last Thursday, etching her name into Texas records as the women’s basketball player with the most wins in the program’s NCAA era.
The Westlake High School graduate didn’t go far from home when she committed to Texas. Named the No. 26 guard in the country and scoring over 1,000 points in high school, Holle quickly worked her way onto the Moody Center court.
Holle made 23 appearances during her freshman season and worked her way into the starting lineup by her sophomore year. In her junior and senior years, Holle blossomed, starting in 40 games. In total, Holle has played 151 games as a Longhorn and has only tallied 34 losses.
Head coach Vic Schaefer, who started coaching at Texas the same year Holle started, has described her as the glue of the team.
“She’s just a winner,” Schaefer said in October. “All I’ve done is win with Shay Holle — she fixes what’s broke (and) she fills in where she needs to.”
He emphasized her versatility on the court and her willingness to do whatever it takes to help the team. According to Schaefer, she can play in two positions and maintains a positive attitude.
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen her have a bad day,” Schaefer said. “If she’s had one, she’s never let anybody else in the gym know it. You’re talking about one of the all-time great kids in my career.”
So far this season, Holle has 33 assists and 124 points. She consistently steals the ball, forcing turnovers in most games and works to make plays. But according to her teammates, Holle’s influence extends beyond the court.
Sophomore forward Madison Booker shared that Holle feels like the “mom” of the team. Over the summer, Holle would put together the outfits the team had to wear for practices, down to the matching socks, and send pictures of them in a group chat to remind everyone what they were supposed to wear.
When asked which teammate she could most likely see becoming president, senior forward Aaliyah Moore immediately suggested Holle.
“I feel like I’d be able to call her and be like, ‘Shay, I don’t like this,’ and she’d be like, ‘I got you, A-MO,’” Moore said.
Holle may not be at the top of every stat sheet, but her effect on the team is undoubtedly felt by her teammates and coaches. Her new status as Texas women’s basketball’s most winningest player in the NCAA era officially cements her impact on the program and adds another accolade to her collection.
