The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Women's Basketball's Sidberry finds a home at Texas
02.06.2026 | Women's Basketball
By Siah Jeffries | Texas Communications
AUSTIN, Texas – Sporting the orange and white colors of her new school, Teya Sidberry walks on UT's campus in the early mornings before practice, passing other athletes on the way to their sports, and soaks in the culture of her new school, the city and her favorite coffee spots.
Sidberry is a senior transfer from Boston College, but started her collegiate athletic career at the University of Utah, where she was notably named Gatorade Player of the Year in 2022. Her hometown in Salt Lake City, Utah, is where she still holds the all-time career points record in Utah high school basketball.
Backed by supportive family members and a standout athletic resume, Sidberry is joining the Longhorns with the confidence that her skills match the No. 4 team's speed.
"I bring grittiness and rebounds, and kind of that, aggressiveness in that way," said Sidberry. "I kind of like to push the pace too, like Texas does."
When first announcing Sidberry's transfer to Texas in April, Head Coach Vic Schaefer spoke highly of her, saying, "Her spirit and smile are infectious and Longhorn Nation will love her. She wants to win and will be a great teammate. She will have an immediate impact on our program."
She proved her coach right. Making her debut as a Longhorn at their first exhibition game against Lubbock Christian University, Sidberry aided the team in their win with 10 points and nine rebounds.
But Sidberry is more than just a basketball player with impressive stats. Hoping to go to medical school, she is on the pre-med track and loves volunteerism. At the age of 19, she decided to go on an elephant conservation trip to Thailand through GIVE, a volunteer abroad program. There, she worked with mahouts (professional elephant keepers) to bathe and tend the animals, and support the local communities that work to protect the elephants and their environment.
"I've always loved volunteering, kind of in the community, and I wanted to do a solo trip abroad," said Sidberry. "I learned so much, it was incredible."
She's traveled from Thailand to Texas, and she says that she's finally found her home at Longhorn Nation.
"Here at Texas, you don't ever get homesick because you feel at home," said Sidberry. "When you feel at home, you know you're where you're supposed to be."
