{"id":233923,"date":"2026-04-03T19:55:12","date_gmt":"2026-04-03T19:55:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/233923\/"},"modified":"2026-04-03T19:55:12","modified_gmt":"2026-04-03T19:55:12","slug":"texas-1986-champions-send-emotional-message-to-final-four-team","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/233923\/","title":{"rendered":"Texas 1986 champions send emotional message to Final Four team"},"content":{"rendered":"

PHOENIX \u2014\u00a0While Texas women’s basketball<\/a> chases a national championship this weekend, a few notable fans will be rooting on the Longhorns from afar.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Members of UT’s 1986 national championship team have written messages of support for a 2026 Texas team that is set to play UCLA<\/a> at the Mortgage Matchup Center in a national semifinal game on Friday evening. The messages were delivered to the Longhorns by former Texas coach Jody Conradt.<\/a><\/p>\n

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More: Is this Texas team the best that Vic Schaefer has ever coached? We’ll find out in Phoenix.<\/a><\/p>\n

This year marks the 40th anniversary of UT’s only\u00a0national championship. Texas went 34-0 during the 1985-86 season, which was capped by a 97-81 win over USC in the NCAA title game<\/a>. Back in February, that 1986 championship team was recognized at halftime on Texas’ home game against Mississippi State.<\/p>\n

Here are the messages that the 1986 Longhorns sent to the 2026 Longhorns. Almost every player from that 1986 title team and two of its assistant coaches sent along words of encouragement (former Texas guard Paulette Moegle was killed in a car accident in 1997):<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

The 1986 Texas Longhorns women’s basketball team poses for a photo on the court at halftime in the game against Mississippi State at the Moody Center on Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026 in Austin.<\/p>\n

Aaron E. Martinez\/Austin American-Statesman<\/p>\n

F\/C Clarissa Davis (#24)<\/p>\n

Sending my best wishes to the women’s basketball team and staff. I’m cheering you on as you chase that NCAA national championship!<\/p>\n

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C Michele\u00a0Eglinger (#45)<\/p>\n

You are living moments right now that you will carry with you for the rest of your lives. Embrace them. Enjoy them. Let them fuel you. You are a special team \u2013 we all see it, and more importantly, you feel it.<\/p>\n

This moment chose you.\u00a0We know exactly where you are, because we stood there ourselves in 1986. Trust what brought you here.\u00a0Trust each other. Let the excitement sharpen your edge, and let the bond you share become your\u00a0strength.<\/p>\n

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Lock in on your goal. Commit to it together. Play for one another. And when it\u2019s time\u2014go do what you\u00a0do best.<\/p>\n

We believe in you. We stand with you. And we cannot wait to watch your dreams become reality.<\/p>\n

\"Texas'<\/p>\n

Texas’ 1986 women’s basketball team was honored by the lighting of the UT Tower for winning the national championship. Kamie Ethridge is on the bottom row, second from left, right between fellow Longhorns notables Yulonda Wimbish and Fran Harris.<\/p>\n

Contributed by Texas Athletics Department<\/p>\n

G Kamie Ethridge (#33)<\/p>\n

Congrats to the Lady Longhorns !! Congrats to Coach Schaefer and staff!! The way you played in the\u00a0elite 8 game, you look like you are peaking at the perfect time. I hope that you feel like the WEIGHT OFTHE WORLD is off your shoulders. You are at the Final Four and prepared to play your BEST!! Don\u2019t be satisfied! The Best is yet to come!!! Go win that NATTY!!! Hook \u2019em.<\/p>\n

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G Kriss Ethridge (#23)<\/p>\n

I wanted to take a moment to reach out and express my massive congratulations on making it to the Final Four. What an incredible accomplishment!<\/p>\n

Watching your journey this season has been nothing short of spectacular. The grit, determination, and\u00a0teamwork you’ve displayed on the court have been truly inspiring, and you’ve earned every bit of this\u00a0success.<\/p>\n

Being a part of the program, and having gone through the experience of a deep tournament run myself, I\u00a0know the commitment it takes to get here. The intensity, the pressure, and the sheer joy of each win \u2013 it all culminates in this incredible moment. You are now among the elite, and you should take immense\u00a0pride in what you have achieved together.<\/p>\n

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The work isn’t done, of course, but for now, soak it in. Enjoy this victory, recharge, and get ready for the\u00a0fight ahead. I have complete faith in every single one of you, your coaches, and your system. You have\u00a0the talent, the heart, and the camaraderie to go all the way.<\/p>\n

Go out there, play your game, and leave absolutely everything on the court. Make history. We are all\u00a0rooting for you back here. Bring home the championship! Hook Em<\/p>\n

\"File<\/p>\n

File photo of Fran Harris, University of Texas women’s basketball player, circa 1986. CREDIT: University of Texas Athletics, 1986. Received 04\/19\/10 for 0503Harris.<\/p>\n

Austin American-Statesman<\/p>\n

F Fran Harris (#20)<\/p>\n

Some amazing things have happened on Easter! So, I\u2019ll just leave\u00a0ya\u2019ll with this: Get Up and Rise Up\u00a0with your Horns Up! Hook Em<\/p>\n

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F\/C Gay\u00a0Hemphill (#22)<\/p>\n

To the 2026 Lady Texas Longhorns: Well done! I believe this year\u2019s championship belongs to you and\u00a0UT and all of you! Good luck, I will be watching and cheering! Hook Em<\/p>\n

F C.J. Jones (#32)<\/p>\n

You said you guys are not ready to go home OK! We said the same thing back in our day! So let’s do the\u00a0Damn Thing. Good luck AND Hook Em!<\/p>\n

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\"Andrea<\/p>\n

Andrea Lloyd cuts the net as one of the members of the University of Texas Women’s Basketball National Championship team. Photo by Susan Allen Sigmon<\/p>\n

Austin American-Statesman<\/p>\n

F Andrea Lloyd (#25)<\/p>\n

No \u201cgood luck\u201d wishes from me. You\u2019ve put in the work, earned every moment, and built this opportunity brick by brick. Now go take what\u2019s yours. Bring home a Natty for Texas\u00a0WBB.<\/p>\n

C Cara Priddy (#44)<\/p>\n

Congratulations to my Texas Lady Longhorns on making it to the\u00a0NCAA Final Four! So proud to call\u00a0myself a Longhorn. Now let\u2019s finish the job, win your first game and then bring home the title!! Hook\u00a0\u2018Em<\/p>\n

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G Audrey Smith (#11) and C Annettee Smith-Knight (#15)<\/p>\n

Congrats on making it to the final four! Have fun playing the next two games and bring home the\u00a0TROPHY! Hook Em<\/p>\n

\"Texas'<\/p>\n

Texas’ head coach Jody Conradt, left, is hugged by former players, Annette Smith, Beverly Williams and Clarissa Davis all members of the Longhorns’ 34-0 team that played in 1985 and 1986 after Conradt won her 800th career victory on Wednesday, Jan. 23, 2003, at the Erwin Center in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo\/Austin American-Statesman, Rodolfo Gonzalez)<\/p>\n

Austin American-Statesman<\/p>\n

G Beverly Williams (#10)<\/p>\n

So proud of you! Keep it rolling. Words from a former point guard (and Austin native). Continue to communicate on defense for 40 minutes\u2026control those offensive boards\u2026 limit turnovers on offense\u2026 stay aggressive and play for each other. Have fun! Hook Em.<\/p>\n

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G\/F Yulonda Wimbish (#34)<\/p>\n

Congratulations on advancing to the final four! You are playing amazing basketball and have been a\u00a0joy to watch. Go get that championship!!!! Hook Em<\/p>\n

Assistant coach Lynn Davis Pool<\/p>\n

Defense, defense, defense and more defense wins a National Championship. Oh and a little offense also\u00a0helps. GO HORNS!!! It is time.<\/p>\n

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Assistant coach Jill\u00a0Rankin Schneider<\/p>\n

There\u2019s nothing I would enjoy more than to celebrate together in 2036, our 50th and your 10th! Good\u00a0luck and Hook Em<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"PHOENIX \u2014\u00a0While Texas women’s basketball chases a national championship this weekend, a few notable fans will be rooting…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":233924,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[74833,27,29,537,5276,28],"class_list":["post-233923","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-texas","tag-ncaa-women-s-basketball-tournament","tag-texas","tag-texas-headlines","tag-texas-longhorns","tag-texas-longhorns-women-s-basketball","tag-texas-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/233923","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=233923"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/233923\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/233924"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=233923"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=233923"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=233923"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}