Texas Women's Basketball Clinches Final Four Berth with Elite Eight Win

Longhorns players reflect on a memorable late-game play that sparked the victory over Michigan.

Apr. 2, 2026 at 12:57am

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The Texas Longhorns women's basketball team clinched a spot in the Final Four for the second year in a row with a dominant win over the Michigan Wolverines in the Elite Eight. One particularly memorable play late in the third quarter saw center Kyla Oldacre make a crafty finger roll shot while being fouled, despite head coach Vic Schaefer's noted dislike of that type of shot. The Longhorns players described the excitement and joy of the play, which freed up space for Oldacre to score.

Why it matters

The Longhorns' return to the Final Four cements their status as one of the top women's basketball programs in the country. This win over a tough Michigan team showcases the depth and talent of the Texas roster, and the memorable play highlights the team's ability to make clutch plays under pressure.

The details

With the shot clock winding down late in the third quarter, Oldacre found an open lane to the basket and opted for an unorthodox finger roll shot rather than attempting a three-pointer as her teammates had hoped. Despite head coach Vic Schaefer's dislike of finger rolls, Oldacre's shot went in and drew a foul, sparking excitement from the Longhorns players and fans. The play demonstrated Texas' composure and creativity in a high-stakes tournament game.

  • The play occurred late in the third quarter of the Elite Eight matchup between Texas and Michigan on March 30, 2026.
  • Texas clinched a spot in the Final Four with the win over Michigan.

The players

Kyla Oldacre

A center for the Texas Longhorns women's basketball team who made the memorable finger roll shot late in the Elite Eight game.

Rori Harmon

The senior point guard for the Texas Longhorns who passed the ball to Oldacre, setting up the play.

Jordan Lee

A sophomore guard for the Texas Longhorns who expressed joy at watching the play unfold.

Vic Schaefer

The head coach of the Texas Longhorns women's basketball team, known for his dislike of finger roll shots.

Bryanna Preston

A Texas player who Schaefer has reportedly made run for missing finger roll shots in the past.

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What they’re saying

“I'm trying to get my guards open and they are over here doing 'the Cha Cha Slide' trying to get open. They're saying that they're open but they're getting denied.”

— Kyla Oldacre, Texas Longhorns Center

“Kyle doesn't see that we're open. What more can we do...I thought she was going to pull a three.”

— Rori Harmon, Texas Longhorns Senior Point Guard

“You know what really got me was the pump fakes.”

— Jordan Lee, Texas Longhorns Sophomore Guard

“I didn't even think it was a finger roll. I was just playing basketball. I just saw the shot clock going down and the lane was open.”

— Kyla Oldacre, Texas Longhorns Center

“He makes us run if we finger roll and we miss it. [Bryanna Preston] loves finger rolls. He's graceful, but if she or anybody else was to miss it, he immediately yells baseline.”

— Kyla Oldacre, Texas Longhorns Center

What’s next

The Longhorns will face fellow top-seeded UCLA in the Final Four on Friday, April 4, 2026, with a chance to advance to the national championship game.

The takeaway

Texas' thrilling Elite Eight win over Michigan showcased the team's depth, composure, and creativity, as exemplified by Kyla Oldacre's memorable finger roll shot. The Longhorns' return to the Final Four cements their status as one of the premier women's basketball programs in the country.