Women’s basketball: Stephanie Okechukwu becomes tallest NCAA player
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Punch
Nigerian Texas Tech player Stephanie Okechukwu made her women’s college basketball debut at 7 feet 1 inch, a competition record. On 5 November 2026, she scored six points, grabbed 10 rebounds and made three blocks against Charlotte, according to Texas Tech University.
Nigerian Stephanie Okechukwu, a 21-year-old Texas Tech University centre standing 2.16 metres tall, became on Thursday the tallest player to appear in an NCAA women’s basketball game. She set the record during Texas Tech’s 64-37 victory over Charlotte in the opening game of the 2026-2027 season, according to Punch.
Okechukwu scored six points, grabbed 10 rebounds and made three blocks in 21 minutes. She also became the first seven-foot player to appear in an NCAA women’s basketball game, surpassing the previous record holders, who measured 2.11 metres.
Texas Tech announced her recruitment on 2 January 2026, after following her for about two years. However, the player did not compete in the 2025-2026 season while awaiting NCAA eligibility clearance, before making her college debut in November.
According to the profile published by Texas Tech, Okechukwu studied at Fukuchiyama Seibi in Kyoto, Japan, and is pursuing a business degree. She speaks English, Igbo and Japanese and hopes to pursue a professional career while eventually creating a basketball camp for young girls in her hometown in Nigeria.
