Texas women’s basketball head coach Vic Schaefer has trained hundreds of players during his 40-year coaching career.
However, when now-senior center Kyla Oldacre stopped by Austin as a transfer in 2024, she did something unfamiliar to him: she asked for a workout during the recruiting visit.
“She wanted to know what a day might look like in her life on the basketball court,” Schaefer said about Oldacre’s visit in Sunday’s postgame press conference.
Her request came after two years with the Miami Hurricanes. Not wanting to resort to a third school, Oldacre used the workout as a way to confirm she could fit into Schaefer’s playstyle and reach her goals.
Although she didn’t feel she showed her full ability that day, the outcome for both Oldacre and Schaefer was evidently positive.
“I’m just glad it all went well,” Oldacre said. “Ever since then, it’s just knowing what I’m capable of in the system that’s here to support me and just to continue to grow and develop off the court and on the court, physically and mentally. And as you see now, the product.”
In her first year sporting the burnt orange, Oldacre’s minutes bumped to 17.5 minutes per game, up from the 14.2 she averaged at Miami over two seasons. Now, during the 2025-26 campaign, that number has risen to 21.1, which ranks fourth on the team.
When Oldacre is on the floor, her two-way presence as a 6-foot-6, physical paint force is prominent. She leads Texas in total rebounds, blocks and free throws attempted — as well as field goal percentage, underscoring her efficiency.
Arguably most commendable about Oldacre is her unwavering willingness to embrace her role. Across 68 games that Oldacre has played for Schaefer, she has started just four.
As a junior, she joined a frontcourt already spearheaded by center Taylor Jones. Heading into this season, Schaefer added junior transfer Breya Cunningham after Jones graduated, which meant the two would have to battle for playing time.
Oldacre suffered an ankle injury during Texas’ international tournament last August, leading to a slow preseason as Cunningham took over the reins as starting center for the Longhorns. Still, Oldacre has not let coming off the bench limit her impact.
Schaefer rewarded Oldacre for that commitment and her performances, which include five double-double stat lines. Her starting nod on Sunday against Mississippi State marked the first change to Texas’ first five since Dec. 21, 2025.
“It was senior day, and I really wanted to do that for her. But again, I think she’s earned it, too. So it was good. I was glad that we could do that,” Schaefer said.
Her reaction — gratitude.
“I’m here to do my job, play basketball and do my part,” Oldacre said. “I came from (a) school where I wasn’t really played how I wanted to be played. So just being able to just play in general, I was grateful for it. And then he put me in that position, (and I) just continue to do my job and show him I’m thankful for it as I play.”
Whether Oldacre remains in the starting lineup or reverts to the bench may not ultimately matter. She and Cunningham have split minutes, regardless of who begins the game, with playing time often dictated by in-game factors like foul trouble, momentum or matchups.
What remains certain is that Oldacre will be crucial both on and off the court in Texas’ quest to earn its first national championship since 1986.
“I wish I had her all four years,” Schaefer said on Wednesday. “She’s getting more and more comfortable with her voice, and her voice is a lot like how she plays sometimes. We all know she can be a real presence physically, and so again, I think she has credibility with her teammates.”