Texas Tech's Stephanie Okechukwu Receives Eligibility Update for 2026-27

The tallest woman in history to play college basketball was officially cleared to play four seasons as a Lady Raider.

Stephanie Okechukwu signed with Texas Tech on Jan. 2 with no clear indication of when she could touch the court.

On Tuesday she got her answer with the NCAA giving her four years of eligibility.

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Lady Raider head coach Krista Gerlich discussed what Okechukwu would bring to the program and what the outlook for her eligibility status looked like at the time of her signing.

"Stephanie has finally arrived in Lubbock, and she was worth the time, effort and teamwork that went into getting her here," Gerlich said.

"She has a team-first mentality and  ready to contribute in any way possible. She is a great fit for our program and culture, and we are overjoyed that she has arrived in Lubbock. Our staff is continuing to work with the NCAA on her initial eligibility."

Her arrival in Lubbock came after a lengthy recruitment process. Erik DeRoo, Assistant Coach and General Manager of the Lady Raiders, noticed the growth of international recruiting in college basketball and decided to bring Tech into the international recruiting scene.

In his time at Texas Tech, DeRoo has recruited several international players, including Sara Sanogo and Gemma Nunez, both of whom were starters for a Lady Raiders team that went to the second round of the NCAA tournament.

Now DeRoo brings over 7-1 Okechukwu, who was expected to sign with West Virginia, not just to be a physical force down low for Texas Tech, but also to continue to build connections and her future in basketball.

"The relationships built over the last two years gave us an opportunity to recruit and eventually sign Stephanie. We all know that the headlines will be highlighted by her obvious height of 7-feet tall, but Stephanie is an incredible person in every aspect of her life," DeRoo said.

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"She has a fantastic story to tell, from her upbringing to her educational journey, basketball experiences, and even the process to get her to Texas Tech. Stephanie is full of joy and loves the game of basketball. We cannot wait for Lady Raider Nation and the Texas Tech community to meet her."

She will get the opportunity to show Texas Tech fans what she can do, as well as take the floor with her teammates on Thursday night when the Lady Raiders open the 26-27 campaign against the Charlotte 49ers at United Supermarkets Arena in Lubbock at 5:00 p.m. CT.