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How Angel Reese found happiness and the ‘perfect fit’ at LSU

In her first season at LSU, Angel Reese is sixth in the nation in scoring and second in rebounds per game. (Beau Brune/LSU Athletics)

When Angel Reese first arrived at LSU last spring — after shocking the women’s basketball world when she transferred out of Maryland after just two seasons — she was ready to resume her college career wearing number 10. It’s the same jersey number her mother, Angel, used to wear when she played. The same number her younger brother, Julian, wears as a sophomore for the Terps. And the same number that now hangs in the rafters of her high school alma mater, St. Francis Academy in Baltimore.

“Number 10 is just our number, really,” Julian says. “Like, when you see number 10, you see the Reese family.”

There was just one problem. Number 10 was already taken by LSU graduate senior Ryann Payne. So, Reese had to settle for the number one instead.

In a way, it seemed fitting — a new number for a new start at a new school.

Transferring wasn’t something Reese had planned on when she first embarked on her college career in 2020 as a five-star recruit and the No. 2 player in the nation. But basketball sometimes takes players places they hadn’t intended on going. And to fully understand Reese’s basketball journey thus far, you have to go back to where it all began.

“My whole family played basketball. My aunts played basketball, my brother plays basketball, my grandparents played basketball. So, it kind of was like, ‘You’re gonna do this,’” says Reese, who tried everything from ballet to cheerleading while growing up. She also ran track and was a standout in volleyball.

But basketball was always the sport. And Reese’s mother, who raised her as a single parent, was the catalyst.

“I used to go to my mom’s games when I was younger. She used to play in a little league, and I used to always go watch her games on Sundays. That was something that was always inspiring to me,” Reese says. “She’s always been independent and she molded that into me. I am who I am because of her.”

When Reese first started playing, she was a point guard. A growth spurt in high school forced her into the frontcourt instead, but her point-guard abilities — ball handles, court vision, defensive agility and passing ability — went along with her. Those skills, combined with her 6-3 height and ability to rebound, set her apart.

Reese averaged a double-double throughout her high school career. And when the time came for her to pick a college program, Maryland seemed like the right choice.

“It was staying close to home, and also my development. Shay Robinson was there at that point [as an assistant coach], and I wanted to play with a post player, so we had Shakira Austin,” Reese says. “Brenda drove me there as well. She had recruited me since I was in the eighth grade and she had a great bond with my family, so it seemed to be a perfect fit for me, going into it.”

The expectations that followed Reese to Maryland were sky high. In her debut for the Terps, Reese notched 20 points and snagged nine rebounds. But the rest of her freshman year didn’t pan out the way she had hoped.

Austin had transferred to Ole Miss before the start of the 2020-21 season, COVID-19 was still impacting NCAA game scheduling, and Reese suffered a foot fracture just four games into the season. The injury and subsequent surgery kept her off the court until late February.

“Yeah, that was an emotional rollercoaster because I’ve never been hurt and I’ve never had to have surgery before,” Reese says. “It was tough. Like honestly, I’m not gonna lie — it was so tough on me because I had a lot of expectations.”

Reese eventually hit a mental wall, feeling like she was disappointing her team when she couldn’t be out there. But she stayed as engaged as possible, attending practices and standing firm on the sideline during games, hopping on one leg and cheering the team on. In turn, her teammates and coaches supported her throughout the recovery process.

By the time she returned to the court, Reese was ready to help Maryland win in any way that she could. She played limited minutes for the rest of the season, averaging eight points and 5.6 rebounds per game. The Terps made it to the Sweet 16 of the 2021 NCAA Tournament, losing a close game to Texas, 64-61.

When the 2021-22 season rolled around, Reese was determined to make her mark. She wanted more for Maryland and for herself. She wanted more than the Sweet 16. As a sophomore, Reese played in all 32 games while averaging 17.7 points and 10.6 rebounds. Though she often got into foul trouble, which left an already short Terrapins bench strapped, she finished second in the nation with 5.3 offensive rebounds per game and was named to the 2022 All-Big Ten Team.

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Reese led Maryland in points, rebounds and blocks per game as a sophomore. (G Fiume/Getty Images)

Despite another bumpy season for the Terps — full of injuries to key players and COVID-19 infections — they made it back to the Sweet 16, this time against Stanford. Reese put up 25 points and grabbed nine boards, but it wasn’t enough. Maryland came up short once again, 72-66.

“I think we did what we could do,” Reese says of the season. “Some games we only had six players. I think only three players last year played every single game or were at every single practice. I mean, it was a rollercoaster and I think we did as best as we could do. We didn’t finish where we wanted to finish, but I think overall, it was great.”

After the game, Reese tweeted, “We’ll be back, I’ll be back, TRUST ME.”

But once the rigors of the college basketball season ended, she began to think otherwise. Her up-and-down sophomore year, combined with the injury setback during her freshman year, had been taxing. And Reese says she needed a fresh start.

Ten days later, she entered the transfer portal. In one week, Maryland lost its top two scorers, Reese and Ashley Owusu, and three other players to the portal, coinciding with a growing trend in college basketball that Frese said she was prepared for.

“Our new reality is the transfer portal,” Maryland coach Brenda Frese said back in 2020. “Kids come and go, and they do what’s best for their unique situations. As a program, you have to do what’s best.”

When asked for comment from Frese, a Maryland spokesperson said this week, “We certainly wish Angel and her family all the best in her career.”

For Reese, doing what was best for her meant looking for a different opportunity that would help her grow as a player, with her sights set on the WNBA.

“I wanted more for myself,” she says. “I knew that I wanted to develop into that stretch-four player, so being able to do that and play under a coach that could help me get to that level — because I know I’m not gonna play the five at the next level. I know I’m not gonna be sitting down in the post. I mean, there are way bigger players than me in the WNBA, so I know that I would have to play that stretch-four position.”

As one of the top players in the transfer portal, Reese was soon courted by a handful of elite programs. Her family and AAU coaches advised her to go where she felt most comfortable. Reese scheduled visits with South Carolina and Tennessee, thinking her decision would come down to being either a Gamecock or a Vol.

LSU wasn’t even on her radar, until Kateri Poole intervened.

Poole and Reese had been friends for a long time. They met on the Blue Star 30 circuit and stayed close throughout high school. After playing two seasons at Ohio State, Poole decided to transfer as well. She had been zeroing in on LSU since the Buckeyes played them in the Sweet 16 of the 2022 NCAA Tournament. As soon as Reese hit the transfer portal, Poole suggested they take a visit to Baton Rouge together.

“We got there. The food was awesome. We’re both from the East Coast, so it was new to us,” Poole says. “We both got the whole experience. The Southern hospitality was really good. I think that was the main thing for us, and I think she fell in love with how real Kim was.”

Later on in the visit, during a team dinner at Mulkey’s house, Poole and Reese walked into the sprawling backyard and agreed — they were going to LSU. And on May 6, it became official.

“When I came here, I just fell in love with everything — the environment, the people, everything that Coach Mulkey did in one year,” Reese says. “My development, where she had me as a plan for the next two to three years — all of that was set up for me so I was just like, yeah, this is the perfect place for me.”

Reese was also impressed with how much LSU supports its women’s sports teams. She was amazed at the size of the crowd during the Tigers’ preseason games, and in early January she acknowledged a billboard featuring her and her teammates alongside players from the men’s team. “Recruits,” Reese wrote on Twitter, “when you choose a school, choose somewhere where they treat both the mens and womens teams EQUAL.”

From day one, the energy she felt from LSU athletics and Mulkey herself felt different.

“She’s gonna keep it real with me. She’s never told me a lie. She’s always kept it real with me,” Reese says of Mulkey. “That’s something that I love. She’s really, really competitive. Like, super competitive.”

In turn, Mulkey says she knew from the first intra-squad scrimmage just how good Reese could be, because nobody on the team could stop her. And what she saw during practice over the spring and summer has since translated into the regular season.

“She’s playing extended minutes. She’s never played this many minutes before because she would always get in foul trouble. So, I think she’s more disciplined,” Mulkey said during a press conference in early January. “She sees every defense imaginable and yet she’s still one of our assist leaders. She’s gonna look for the open player. It’s impressive.

“I don’t care who you play, she’s capable of doing that every game.”

Since November, Reese has accumulated 18 consecutive double-doubles while averaging 23.9 points and 15.4 rebounds. She leads the nation with 6.1 offensive rebounds per game and 104 total rebounds on the offensive glass — more than 13 Division I schools have as a team.

The Tigers are currently 18-0 and ranked No. 3 in the AP Top 25, but they have played just one ranked opponent so far this season. A softer schedule can often inflate statistics and make teams look more efficient on both ends of the floor. Still, it’s hard to overlook Reese’s numbers and overall impact. Her stats are up across the board, and she’s firmly in the conversation for Player of the Year.

“I haven’t seen a significant role change. I think she still has the same skill set. It’s just that she’s got a change of scenery,” says ESPN women’s basketball analyst Debbie Antonelli. “She’s the top offensive rebounder in the country. To me, that says a lot about perseverance and being relentless and aggressive and knowing her role.”

“I’m just happy,” Reese says. “This is the happiest I’ve ever been playing. I feel like I’m back to my game. I came out of high school as the No. 1 wing, so being able to go straight to the post, that was a hard shift for me. And then being able to come back to playing here at LSU, being a versatile post player, being able to do things outside of just being a post player — I’m really happy.”

Later this month, LSU will go up against SEC foes Tennessee and No. 1 South Carolina. Both matchups will be litmus tests for the Tigers. Despite what their schedule indicates so far, Reese is confident in what her team has built this season, with all of the new pieces coming together. And she has her eyes set on bigger goals.

“I mean, that would be great if I won Player of the Year, but I want to win a national championship. I want to get past the Sweet 16,” Reese says.

“People remember the Player of the Year. But when you have that ring, like, I want to be able to do something legendary here at LSU.”

Reese recently shared a photo of herself standing next to LSU alum and WNBA legend Seimone Augustus. It was taken in 2011, when Reese was 9 years old. On Jan. 15, Augustus received a statue in her honor outside of Pete Maravich Assembly Center with Reese in attendance.

That’s the kind of legacy Reese hopes to leave behind. She wants to be as memorable of a player as Augustus, and as dominant as Sylvia Fowles, who currently holds the LSU record for most consecutive double-doubles with 19, which Reese can tie with another double-double Thursday night against Arkansas. And she wants to continue her career at the next level in the WNBA, just like they did.

Julian has no doubt his sister will get there.

“I feel like she’s playing great. I see her working hard this offseason, and I feel like all that hard work is paying off,” he says. “She’s just showing her true self and coming out of her shell. There’s more to come for her.”

Perhaps it’s serendipitous, but Reese is back to wearing number 10 again. Four games into the season, Payne finished up her graduate studies and decided to move on from basketball. When the number became available, Reese wasted little time asking the coaching staff if she could have it.

“I was like, ‘Hey you guys, can I get number 10?’” she laughs. “And they were like, ‘We’ll let you know, we’ll see.’ They kept playing around. They were like, ‘I don’t know, Angel. If you switch to number 10, you still gonna do what you gotta do?’

“And I was like, ‘Yeah, I think I will.’”

Lyndsey D’Arcangelo is a contributing writer at Just Women’s Sports, covering the WNBA and college basketball. She also contributes to The Athletic and is the co-author of “Hail Mary: The Rise and Fall of the National Women’s Football League.” Follow Lyndsey on Twitter @darcangel21.

FIFA Awards 2031 Women’s World Cup to U.S., Taps U.K. for 2035 Tournament

President of FIFA Gianni Infantino awards the Women's World Cup during the 49th UEFA ordinary Congress held at the "Sava Centar" congress center in Belgrade on April 3, 2025.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino announced the future Women World Cup hosts this week. (PREDRAG MILOSAVLJEVIC/AFP via Getty Images)

FIFA president Gianni Infantino confirmed two future Women’s World Cup hosts at the UEFA Congress in Belgrade earlier today.

The 2031 event belongs to the United States, while the United Kingdom will host in 2035.

Infantino cited the UK “Home Nations” (England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland) as providing the only “valid bid” for 2035. The US submitted the sole bid for 2031 after ceding a prior campaign to host the 2027 tournament to Brazil.

“As part of the bidding process, we received one bid for '31 and one bid, valid bid, I should add for '35,” said the FIFA president.

“The path is there for the Women's World Cup to be taking place in '31 and '35 in some great countries and some great nations to boost even more the women's football movement.”

Mia Hamm #9 of the US kicks against the defense of Germany during the semifinals of the FIFA Women's World Cup match on October 5, 2003.
The US last hosted the Women's World Cup in 2003. (Ben Radford/Getty Images)

US set to host third global FIFA tournament

2031 will mark a record third US-hosted Women's World Cup after successful runs in 1999 and 2003.

The national federation confirmed its intent to submit a 2031 Women's World Cup bid early last month. The decision came soon after FIFA said the 2031 tournament must be played either in North America or Africa.

“We are excited about the opportunity to co-host the 2031 FIFA Women's World Cup and, in collaboration with our Concacaf partners, are committed to delivering a tournament that leaves a lasting legacy,” U.S. Soccer posted. “One that elevates women's soccer across the world and inspires future generations of players and fans.”

Following a successful 2023 expanded tournament in Australia and New Zealand, 32 countries will again feature in the 2027 Women's World Cup. The competition is set to grow to 48 teams by the time the US hosts in 2031.

Women's World Cup hosts England celebrate with the UEFA Women’s EURO 2022 Trophy after their side's victory during the UEFA Women's Euro 2022 final match  between England and Germany at Wembley Stadium.
First-time Women's World Cup hosts England won the 2022 Euros at home. (Lynne Cameron - The FA/The FA via Getty Images)

UK to host first Women's World Cup in 2035

Unlike the US, the UK has never before welcomed the global women’s tournament. England did host the 2022 Women’s Euros, eventually winning the tournament on home soil.

2023 Women's World Cup winners Spain explored a late Women's World Cup bid in conjunction with Portugal and Morocco — their partners in hosting the 2030 men's event. However, FIFA quickly ruled out the possibility in favor of the UK's joint bid.

“Football is and always will be at the core of our country's identity,” UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said last month.

“Whether we watch on TV, play at the weekends like I do, or simply enjoy soaking up the atmosphere in the pub, it brings communities together like little else. That pride was on full display when England hosted UEFA Women's Euro 2022. It not only showed the best of our nation to the world but inspired a generation of girls into the game, all whilst boosting the economy.”

Watkins, Betts Honored as Big Ten Sweeps 2025 Naismith Awards

UCLA's Lauren Betts, sister of McDonald's All-American Game MVP Sienna Betts, and USC's JuJu Watkins look up during an NCAA basketball game.
Both UCLA center Lauren Betts and USC guard JuJu Watkins won 2025 Naismith Player of the Year awards. (Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

USC sophomore JuJu Watkins took home the 2025 Naismith Player of the Year award on Wednesday. The guard subsequently rose above a wealth of talent after a parity-heavy season that saw success spread across multiple conferences.

“We at Jersey Mike’s extend our congratulations to JuJu Watkins for her phenomenal accomplishment,” said Jeff Hemschoot, vice president of marketing at Naismith awards partner Jersey Mike’s. “Her extraordinary talent and significant influence on the court are unparalleled, and we are thrilled to honor her exceptional achievements with this prestigious recognition.”

Beating out NCAA superstars like Paige Bueckers and Hannah Hidalgo, Watkins averaged 23.9 points a game this season. She led the top-seeded Trojans through the NCAA tournament before tearing her ACL in the second round.

Watkins also won Big Ten Player of the Year, becoming USC's first conference POY since Cherie Nelson in 1988.

“This is just the beginning and I can’t wait for what’s ahead,” Watkins said after receiving the prestigious Naismith award. “Thank you so much again and fight on.”

Naismith Coach of the Year award winner Coach Cori Close of the Big Ten UCLA Bruins gestures after cutting down the net after a game.
UCLA coach Cori Close picked up the 2025 Naismith Coach of the Year award. (Tyler McFarland/NCAA Photos via Getty Images)

Big Ten racks up 2025 Naismith awards

The Big Ten swept the annual end-of-year awards for the first time in history. In addition to USC, No. 1 overall seed UCLA's also saw their impact reflected beyond the scoreboard.

Bruins junior Lauren Betts won 2025 Defensive Player of the Year. The junior center also picked up Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and first-team all-conference selection this season.

Cori Close earned Coach of the Year honors after guiding UCLA to a Big Ten tournament title and a top-seeded NCAA tournament berth.

“JuJu’s exceptional prowess, Cori’s unwavering guidance, and Lauren’s relentless defensive prowess mean each is worthy of this year’s Naismith awards,” said Eric Oberman, president of the Atlanta Tipoff Club. “Their outstanding achievements have rightfully earned them the most esteemed accolades in college basketball. We take great pride in acknowledging their unshakeable commitment and remarkable abilities.”

“May our work in the win and loss column always pale in comparison to the work we do to help teach, mentor and equip for life beyond the hardwood,” Close said in a statement.

USWNT Kicks Off Against Brazil Amid Mounting Injuries

USWNT defender Tierna Davidson of the United States team is battling for possession with Gabi Portilho of the Brazil team during the Women's Gold Medal match between Brazil and the United States of America during the Olympic Games Paris 2024.
USWNT star Tierna Davidson will undergo surgery for a torn ACL. (Daniela Porcelli/ISI Photos/Getty Images)

The USWNT will play the first of two April friendlies against Brazil on Saturday, as the repeat of 2024’s Olympic gold medal match launches both sides down the 2027 World Cup path — though this time, the US will take the field without several trusted Olympians.

Already missing mainstays Naomi Girma, Rose Lavelle, Mallory Swanson, Lynn Biyendolo, and Sophia

The USWNT will play the first of two April friendlies against Brazil on Saturday, as a repeat of 2024’s Olympic gold medal match launches both sides down the 2027 World Cup path.

This time, though, the US will take the field without several of the Olympians that helped them win gold last summer.

Gotham FC and USWNT defender Tierna Davidson prepares for a kick during a 2024 NWSL match.
Defender Tierna Davidson withdrew from this month's national team camp due to injury. (Karen Hickey/ISI Photos/Getty Images)

USWNT vets hit with injuries

The USWNT is contending with more than a few key roster absences. They're already without defender Naomi Girma, midfielder Rose Lavelle, and forwards Mallory Swanson, Lynn Biyendolo, and Sophia Wilson.

Compounding these challenges, Gotham FC announced yesterday that defensive mainstay Tierna Davidson suffered a season-ending ACL tear during a recent match against the Houston Dash. ​

“She is so, so good, she will be back,” US captain Lindsey Heaps said of Davidson. “We have not lost her. She will be great.”

In response to Davidson's injury, USWNT head coach Emma Hayes has called up 19-year-old defender Gisele Thompson from Angel City FC. Thompson, who earned two caps during the SheBelieves Cup, will join the national team for the upcoming friendlies against Brazil. ​

Trinity Rodman dribbles the ball during the USWNT's 2024 Olympic gold-medal winning match in Paris.
Rodman will return to the USWNT roster for the first time since the 2024 Paris Olympics. (Andrea Vilchez/ISI/Getty Images)

USWNT layers remain optimistic ahead of Olympics rematch

As the US continues to develop its young player pool, the team’s remaining vets will be tested against a top international opponent. But new faces might also get a chance to show out on the international stage.

Despite the roster gaps, there is one important frontline figure retaking the pitch. Striker Trinity Rodman will rejoin the USWNT on Saturday for the first time since the 2024 Olympics, with the Washington Spirit star still recovering from a lingering back injury.

“Going into the game, you know it’s going to be a difficult one,” Heaps continued. “We [need to] capitalize on our chances, because we might not get that many.”

“We don’t have the same players that we did in the Olympics. But I’m really, really excited to see you know what these new players can do,” she added.

Where to watch the USWNT vs. Brazil friendly on Saturday

The USWNT kicks off against Brazil on Saturday at 5 PM ET, with live coverage on TNT.

Final Four Spotlight: Texas Eyes One Last Dance with South Carolina

Final Four team Texas Longhorns celebrate during the second half against the TCU Horned Frogs in the Elite Eight round of the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament.
After winning the Elite Eight, Texas now faces rival South Carolina in the NCAA Final Four. (Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)

When Texas takes on South Carolina this Friday, they’ll be playing for more than a shot at the NCAA tournament championship title. 

That's because this year's Final Four is a rematch, marking the fourth meeting between the Longhorns and the reigning national champion Gamecocks this season. Now, Texas is looking for a little revenge against their top-ranked SEC rivals.

Longhorns head coach Vic Schaefer knows South Carolina well. It’s a competitive relationship that dates back to his time coaching Mississippi State, where he led the Bulldogs to the 2017 title game. And the story is strikingly similar.

“I think in '17, we played them three times also, before we played them in the Final Four,” Schaefer said after Monday’s Elite Eight win over TCU. “I think that was our fourth time when we played them in the national championship game.”

Bianca Cuevas-Moore #1 of Texas basketball rival South Carolina Gamecocks is defended by Morgan William #2 of the Mississippi State Lady Bulldogs during the first half of the championship game of the 2017 NCAA Women's Final Four.
Texas coach Vic Schaefer's Mississippi State fell to South Carolina in the 2017 NCAA championship game. (Ron Jenkins/Getty Images)

Staley got the best of Schaefer back then, with South Carolina defeating the Longhorns 67-55 on the way to their first-ever national championship. On Friday, Texas will attempt to flip the script against the 2024 champs, in hopes of securing the team’s first NCAA title in over 30 years.

“That's the thing about Dawn's teams, is that you know you're going to get the same from them that you try to impart on others, too,” Schaefer continued. “They're going to be tough.”

While this Texas squad has showcased their own toughness all season long, South Carolina has once again proven to be a formidable foe. The Gamecocks downed the Longhorns 67-50 in their first clash back in January. Subsequently, the loss served as a valuable lesson, lighting a fire under Texas that they’ve carried with them ever since.

“If you’re going to be a top team you have to beat a top team,” star sophomore Madison Booker told Just Women’s Sports ahead of the 2025 SEC tournament. “Reality hits you right there.”

“After that [game], we kind of figured we weren’t preparing right,” she continued. “We weren’t preparing like we want to win championships. We weren’t preparing like we want to beat top teams, or be a top team. So we had to change.”

That late January defeat launched Texas into a 16-game winning streak. They went on to finish out the regular season without dropping a single additional game.

Head Coach Vic Schaefer of the Texas Longhorns reacts after win against Tennessee Volunteers during the Sweet Sixteen round of the 2025 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament before the Final Four.
Head coach Vic Shaefer has led Texas to four Elite Eight appearances in his five years at the program. (Greg Fiume/NCAA Photos via Getty Images)

Moving to the SEC puts Texas in a whole new league

Joining the SEC in 2024 after 28 years in the Big 12, the Longhorns have adapted smoothly. They’ve shown that they know what it takes to become a true title contender, building on two straight appearances in the Elite Eight to punch their ticket to the program’s first Final Four in two decades.

The conference move didn’t hurt, said Schaefer. The coach credited what he calls “a different league" for challenging his players to grow this season. 

“I say it all the time, we jumped out of the frying pan and into the grease,” he said of the leap to the SEC. “It’s a different style, it’s certainly more physical. It’s a league that challenges you every night. You win on the road in this league, it’s like a win and a half.”

“This whole conference [season], I feel like people have been throwing some different stuff at me,” Booker emphasized on JWS podcast Sports are Fun! with Kelley O’Hara. “Box-and-one, face guarding, double- or triple-team. I think I’ve seen it all.”

Despite the competition, the Longhorns played to a 17-0 home record this year. Additionally, they gave up just one non-conference game to Notre Dame last December. Booker saw another excellent season, leading Texas in scoring on her way to winning SEC Player of the Year. And senior Rori Harmon’s return from injury gave Texas yet another boost, with the trusted point guard guiding Texas’s offense through difficult defensive sets with steady composure.

In early February, Texas settled the regular-season score with South Carolina, defeating the Gamecocks 66-62. And the win was bigger than the rivalry. It shot the Longhorns to the top of the AP Poll rankings. That boost saw Texas enter the SEC tournament as the country's No. 1 team.

And after ousting Ole Miss and LSU in the conference tournament’s first two rounds, there was only one team left to beat. 

Final Four player Madison Booker #35 of the Texas Longhorns dribbles against Tessa Johnson #5 of the South Carolina Gamecocks in the second quarter during the championship of the SEC women's basketball tournament.
South Carolina held Texas's Madison Booker to 10 points in the SEC tournament final. (Eakin Howard/Getty Images)

Texas basketball's bumpy road to the NCAA tournament

Texas reveled in wins as they came, whether it was going undefeated at home, winning a regular-season conference title, or progressing through the SEC tournament. But after each game, the same common refrain would emanate from the huddle: “What did Kobe say? JOB’S NOT FINISHED.”

“I think everyone understands what’s at stake here,” said Harmon ahead of Texas’s SEC conference final against South Carolina. “There’s definitely a chip on our shoulder. We need to get stuff done.”

Playing on their biggest stage yet, however, the Longhorns once again couldn’t hold off South Carolina. Eventually, they fell to the Gamecocks 64-45 in March's SEC championship. Rings aside, South Carolina had become Texas’s Achilles heel, with the SEC’s gold standard responsible for two-thirds of their losses going into March Madness.

Despite their late stumble, Texas still entered the NCAA tournament as a No. 1 seed. The Longhorns then became more interested in defining their season from that point on, rather than wallowing in opportunities lost.

“You’re talking about a six-game winning streak. To win a national championship, you gotta win six in a row,” Schaefer said, sizing up the road ahead.

Final Four player Madison Booker #35 the Texas Longhorns celebrates after defeating the TCU Horned Frogs in the Elite Eight round of the 2025 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament.
Texas is shooting to play in their first women's NCAA title game since 1986. (Greg Fiume/NCAA Photos via Getty Images)

Taking March Madness by storm

So far, Texas has held up their side of the bargain. They’ve battled through four NCAA tournament rounds, downing March Madness debutant William & Mary, No. 8 seed Illinois, and tricky Tennessee side. Finally, they toppled a determined TCU team to set up a fourth date with their SEC rival. 

And they know full well that they’ll have to tackle this next game as if it was their last.

“It probably means a little bit more [this year], there’s seniors on the team, including me,” Harmon noted. “But this is the team that can do it.”

After turning a solid regular season into a breakout year, everyone in the Texas locker room is firmly on the same page. Intensity and poise got them to the Final Four. Now they’ll have to trust that process to get over the same hurdle that has haunted them throughout the season.

“There is so much on the line, but you've gotta just go play,” Schaefer said on Saturday. “That game is very difficult, and you gotta have kids that can just kinda block out all the distractions, and everything around 'em, and just go play the game.”

The message in the huddle remains the same, because despite all their accomplishments, the job is far from finished. And no one’s lost sight of the bigger picture.

“We're here for a reason,” Harmon said earlier this week. “We worked hard for a reason. Everything happens for a reason. And we put our faith into that.”

Watch more: 'Can Texas Make a Tourney Run?' on Just Women's Sports

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