It has been five years since guard Shay Holle committed to the Texas Longhorns after playing high school basketball just a few miles down the road. Now, the senior is set to play her final home game as a Longhorn and all of the emotions are at the forefront of her mind.
The Austin native, who played at Westlake High School, grew up about 15 minutes from the Moody Center where Texas plays its home games. Now, she has played five incredible years, including an NCAA Tournament berth at the end of every season.
In her final home game of her collegiate career, Holle and the Longhorns faced the Illinois Fighting Illini in the Round of 32, and the senior guard felt "bittersweet" about the matchup.
"Yeah, it's definitely going to be a weird feeling. Obviously, been here for a long time. It'll be really special, bittersweet for sure," Holle said. "But yeah, I mean, this team means so much to me, just this staff, being here for five years. I've really seen them grow and they've seen me grow, obviously. Yeah, I'll definitely be reflecting on a lot, but it'll be a weird feeling."
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— Longhorn Network (@LonghornNetwork) March 13, 2025
During her career, Holle became the winningest Longhorn in program history, with the "most all-time wins in Texas NCAA history." She also earned the mark as the "most games played in Texas NCAA history."
Holle's family has been hyper-present throughout her career with the Longhorns, including creating a video montage dedicated to her five-year tenure with Texas. Even though two of her older sisters Brooke and Bailey Holle played basketball for Texas State, right down the road, the twins will rock Longhorn gear for their youngest sister.
Holle joined the program during head coach Vic Schaefer's first year with the Horns. The always animated head coach grew emotional when discussing Holle's impact on the Texas women's basketball program.
"It's hard to put into words, the value that Shay Holle has brought to our program here at Texas during my five years," Schaefer said. "It's gonna be weird to walk out on the floor and Shay Holle ain't gonna be there... I just don't know that you can put a value on her because she's done so much for us here... She's just been as solid as any kid I've ever coached... I have a great appreciation for Shay Holle."
To be exact, the Longhorns have won 141 games with Holle on the roster. The veteran guard never missed a game, or a practice as Schaefer pointed out, and logged minutes in 166 matchups throughout her collegiate career.
After the game against William & Mary in the Round of 64, Holle had produced career totals of 893 points, 357 rebounds, 221 assists, and 135 steals. To put it simply, Shay Holle is a Longhorn Legend.
For Holle's final home game with Texas, the Longhorns and the Fighting Illini are scheduled to tip off at 1 p.m. CT on Monday, March 24. The game will be broadcast on ESPN.