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At 15-0, the Texas Tech women’s basketball program was already a force to be reckoned with this season. But the Lady Raiders’ chance at an NCAA Tournament just got much, much bigger, both figuratively and literally.
Mitchell Northam of USA Today reports that Texas Tech is set to sign 7-foot Nigerian star Stephanie Okechukwu, who would be the tallest player in the history of NCAA Women’s Basketball.
Lady Raiders coach Krista Gerlich seemingly confirmed as much with a post on X on Thursday morning that showed her walking through the airport alongside Okechukwu. However, Okechukwu’s transfer and eligibility for the 2025-26 season still need to be approved by the NCAA.
Walking into the New Year feeling 7 feet tall! 😉#WreckEm pic.twitter.com/riGKIWmWAd
— Krista Gerlich (@CoachGerlich) January 1, 2026
Stephanie Okechukwu Would Be The Tallest Player In NCAA WBB History
Currently, Nicole Dominguez of Middle Tennessee State and Abbie Boutilier of Eastern Illinois are the two tallest players in women’s college basketball. Both stand at 6-foot-10-inches tall. Former Baylor star Brittney Griner stands at 6-foot-9.
But Okechukwu, at 7-feet tall, towers above them all.
Unsurprisingly, Okechukwu is able to dunk the ball effortlessly. But perhaps more interesting to Lady Raiders’ fans is what she can bring on the defensive end of the floor.
Texas Tech already ranks fifth in the nation in opposing field goal percentage at 31.7 percent and 10th in points per game allowed with 52.3.
Okechukwu, with her immense height and 7-foot-4 wingspan, adds another element of dynamic rim protection to an already strong defense.
The move comes at a time when the NCAA is under immense pressure to tighten up its rulebook. Several big-name coaches in the men’s game have spoken out about mid-season transfers from players who had previously played professionally.
Similarly, the Mississippi State women’s program recently signed French guard Melissa Guillet, and South Carolina brought in French center Alicia Tournebize.
For the time being, it seems that the only rule is that there are no rules. So you can expect more mid-season additions in years to come. Although not many will be as big, figuratively and literally, as Okechukwu.