Hannah Stines could have possibly earned a fifth year of college eligibility based on a recent court ruling.
The Washington Huskies women's basketball team has been steadily rebuilding since head coach Tina Langley was hired ahead of the 2021-22 season.
The Huskies have noticeably improved year-over-year, which resulted in the team making the Round of 32 in the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2017. UW's run in the tournament ended with a three-point overtime loss against the TCU Horned Frogs, who ended up making the Elite Eight.
Langley fortified Washington's roster this offseason to the point where it's not outside the realm of possibility the team could continue to improve and be legitimate Big Ten contenders this upcoming season. However, the team's additions haven't come without losses, as well.
The 2022 recruiting class, the first during Langley's tenure as head coach, all ran out of eligibility this offseason. One of the Class of '22 players, guard Elle Ladine, has already opted to continue her basketball career overseas.
However, another guard has been attempting to continue her collegiate tenure.
Guard Hannah Stines, who was another Class of '22 recruit who ran out of eligibility at the conclusion of last season, joined several players in an attempt to sue the NCAA for a fifth year of eligibility.
The lawsuit relates to a rule change from the NCAA increasing its years of eligibility permitted from four to five years. Players recruited in the Class of 2023 or later were grandfathered into the new rules and have the option of following either the old or current guidelines from the NCAA. Players enrolling in the 2027-28 academic year are exclusively under the new NCAA rules.
Stines and other Class of '22 athletes weren't among the group permitted to play under the new rules, leading to a lawsuit.
On Friday, Stines and other athletes looking for a fifth year of eligibility earned a major win.
U.S. District of Colorado judge Charlotte Sweeney filed a class-wide preliminary injunction against the NCAA pertaining to players looking for a fifth year of eligibility who enrolled in the academic year of '22-23, per documents obtained by On3 Sports' Pete Nakos.
It's unclear based on Sweeney's exact wording in her decision whether the players seeking for a fifth year of eligibility succeeded in their attempts. However, soon after her decision, several men's basketball players announced their intentions to either enter the transfer portal or decisions to return to their respective programs for the upcoming season.
Sweeney's decision comes on the heels of various state-based court cases that have mostly been in favor of the players.
If Stines is able to compete for a fifth year of college, there's a question over whether she'll return to UW or enter the transfer portal.
Currently, the Huskies have spots on their roster, which would allow Stines to return if all sides are amicable.
In her final year of college ball, Stines averaged 6.8 points across 33 games (32 starts) on 37.2% shooting from the floor. She also averaged 4.3 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.2 steals per game.
