College Basketball

Haley, Hanna Cavinder take a shot at the NCAA ahead of graduation

Haley and Hanna Cavinder aren’t done taking jabs at the NCAA.

The former basketball stars at the University of Miami — who were involved in the NCAA’s first NIL infractions ruling, but were not sanctioned in February — appeared to poke fun at the situation again in a TikTok video posted on Wednesday.

Haley can be seen spoofing a phone call, before handing the phone to Hanna.

“Us calling the NCAA to see if we are allowed to graduate,” the sisters wrote over the clip, which showed them wearing their white graduation dresses and student-athlete sashes.

The siblings smiled and posed at the end, while holding their graduation caps.

In a separate TikTok video, they were all smiles in their caps and wrote, “graduating with your best friend >” in the caption.

The University of Miami’s spring commencement ceremony is set for Friday on the school’s campus.

The Cavinder twins — who opted not to use their fifth year of eligibility in order to focus on opportunities outside basketball, including NIL and long-term brand deals — made headlines in February in the NCAA’s first NIL crackdown.

Haley and Hanna Cavinder call out the NCAA while celebrating graduating from the University of Miami in May 2023. TikTok/Cavinder twins

At the time, Sports Illustrated published the findings of a nearly year-long investigation into the University of Miami’s women’s basketball program and its recruiting — which found that Haley and Hanna, along with their parents, had dinner with John Ruiz, a prominent Hurricanes booster, at his Miami home on April 13, 2022. 

The NCAA determined that it was a violation of its rules as Haley and Hanna were in the transfer portal at the time.

They transferred from Fresno State to Miami on April 21, 2022 — just over a week after Ruiz posted a photo on Twitter that showed the Cavinder family standing in front of his home.

The NCAA said in its report that the photo led to the investigation, and that the meeting was arranged by Hurricanes head coach Katie Meier, who was later suspended for three games.

Haley and Hanna Cavinder graduating from the University of Miami in May 2023. TikTok/Cavinder twins

This isn’t the first time that Haley and Hanna — two of the top NIL earners, making an estimated seven figures — have thrown shade at the NCAA.

One day after the investigation became public, the pair called out the NCAA in a social media video that appeared to be filmed in the Hurricanes’ locker room.

Haley posted a video on Twitter that showed the twins reacting to a headline about the investigation results.

Hanna and Haley Cavinder in Miami in May 2023. Instagram/Cavinder twins

“Dear ncaa, scared that female athletes have value? let’s hoop tho.. #GoCanes @CavinderHanna,” Haley wrote.

“BFFR NCAA..,” was written over the video, which is a popular slang term for “be f–king for real.” 

During an appearance on “TODAY” last month, Haley and Hanna announced they are focusing on an NIL agreement with WWE and “a lot of long-term deals.”

Haley and Hanna Cavinder at the 2023 NCAA women’s basketball tournament. Instagram/Cavinder Twins

On Friday, the siblings teased their potential tag team names in a video after graduating from the University of Miami.

“Mood when you graduate from the U and everyone’s asking what your tag team name is,” they wrote over the video, adding a bulging eyes emoji.

Haley and Hanna became popular fixtures on TikTok with their dancing videos during the COVID-19 pandemic.

They have continued to work on developing their brand through various deals with Victoria’s Secret, Champs Sports and other fitness, fashion, health and lifestyle companies.

The Cavinder twins garnered attention during March Madness, when the senior guards helped Miami reach its first Elite Eight in program history.

The Hurricanes’ run ended there as they were eliminated by the eventual-champion LSU.