The last two weeks of the women’s college basketball season have been pure insanity. I’m talking upsets, and there is plenty to unpack from the team and individual performances.

In the first two weeks of the 2021-22 season, there were three upsets; since then, there have been 20. What does that mean for rankings and for the teams on either side of the dreaded u-word? Let’s discuss.

No. 23 South Florida 71, No. 9 Oregon 62 (Nov. 22)

South Florida and Oregon have both been mainstays on the upset list over the last 14 days. Let’s start with South Florida, a team that nearly topped No. 2 UConn a day prior, eventually losing by seven points. The Bulls unleashed their defensive pressure on the Ducks, forcing Oregon into 25 turnovers. Elisa Pinzan led her team with a double-double of 26 points and 10 assists. She and teammate Sydni Harvey each made four 3-pointers and were efficient at the free-throw line. Harvey had 22 points, and Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeau scored 17 off the bench.

South Florida is not a bad loss for the Ducks by any means, but the way they lost is concerning. Coach Kelly Graves told the Register-Guard, “I don’t know if I’ve been in a game where my team had 25 turnovers.”

I gave the Ducks the benefit of the doubt after this one because South Florida is clearly better than its No. 23 ranking, and its defense has disrupted plenty of teams (hey there, UConn). But, sorry Oregon fans, the Ducks aren’t out of the upset woods yet.

No. 5 NC State 78, No. 2 Maryland 60 (Nov. 25)

I don’t really consider one top 10-team beating another much of an upset, but by definition, NC State’s win does count. And semantics aside, this loss exposed a Maryland flaw that always had potential to hurt the Terrapins: defense. They are without Katie Benzan and Diamond Miller, but Maryland is used to blowing past opponents with its high-powered offense. When that offense isn’t there, the Terrapins struggle.

Elissa Cunane had 20 points and 10 rebounds, and Jakia Brown-Turner also had a double-double with 12 points and 11 boards. Raina Perez added 11 points, and Diamond Johnson had 17 off the bench. The Wolfpack also out-rebounded Maryland 47-34 and held the team to 34.3 percent shooting. Was it an off-night for Maryland without two key pieces? Maybe. But it could also be a precursor to what’s to come for the Terps this postseason. Meanwhile, NC State looked like a Final Four-caliber squad.

No. 7 Stanford 69, No. 4 Indiana 66 (Nov. 25)

Again, No. 7 over No. 4 isn’t crazy, but this game was big for Stanford. The Cardinal were nearly upset themselves four days earlier when they squeaked by unranked Gonzaga 66-62 on the road, and they were upset by Texas on Nov. 14. Stanford needed a win, and Cameron Brink delivered a victory and a breakout performance with 22 points, 21 rebounds, five blocks and five assists. They also did it while not at 100 percent, most notably with Haley Jones fighting an injury.

BYU 61, No. 17 Florida State 54 (Nov. 25)

BYU has been on the verge of being in the top 25 since preseason, and the undefeated Cougars played themselves up to No. 21 in the AP poll with this upset. Shaylee Gonzales was excellent for the Cougars with 24 points and a 10-for-11 performance from the free-throw line. Neither of these teams were done with upsets after this one, so more on them later.

No. 18 South Florida 57, No. 7 Stanford 54 (Nov. 26)

Told you we weren’t done with South Florida. The Oregon win moved the Bulls up to No. 18, and topping Stanford got even more eyes on them. Again, I don’t think this is a bad loss for a Stanford team that is clearly figuring some things out. At this point, I thought South Florida was a top-10 team. But, chaos continued to ensue, and well, you’ll see. Back to Stanford for now.

Haley Jones is still clearly injured, as the Cardinal star didn’t record a point in this loss. Anna Wilson was battling something, as well — she played only four minutes — and, as a result, the Stanford offense struggled to get going. There were two bright spots, though. Brink again recorded a double-double of 23 points and 11 rebounds, and freshman Brooke Demetre came off the bench to deliver 14 points.

Kent State 75, No. 19 UCLA 69 (Nov. 26)

This was a bad loss for UCLA. The Bruins took care of the ball, turning it over only five times, but their offense was still less than desirable. UCLA shot 35.7 percent from the field, while Kent State shot 50 percent, including 53 percent from beyond the arc for nine made 3s.

Missouri State 76, No. 24 Virginia Tech 68 (Nov. 26)

I had Missouri State ranked 25th to start the season, so this upset makes a lot of sense to me. The Bears had a well-balanced attack, with four players in double figures. Jasmine Franklin led the way with 21 points and 12 rebounds, but the real difference-maker came at the free-throw line. Missouri State went to the line 30 times and made 27 of their shots (90 percent). Conference play isn’t helpful for the Bears, as the Missouri Valley doesn’t have any top teams, so this win may be their best resume-builder come tournament time. And free-throw efficiency will only help them as the season progresses.

No. 7 Stanford 86, No. 2 Maryland 67 (Nov. 27)

Maryland suffered the same problems against Stanford as it did in the loss to NC State. The Terrapins shot 30 percent from the field and had little offensive production outside of Ashley Owusu’s 29 points. Meanwhile, Stanford got offense from a lot of different — and somewhat unexpected — places, shooting 51.7 percent from the field and 40 percent from beyond the arc. Hannah Jump led the Cardinal with 21 points, while Fran Belibi, Lexie Hull and Haley Jones each had 15.

Stanford is playing a tough schedule this season — No. 11 Tennessee and No. 1 South Carolina still await this month — so even though there are some clear issues to work through, I think Stanford is in great shape. Wins over teams like Maryland and Indiana prove that.

Notre Dame 64, No. 16 Oregon State 62 (Nov. 27)

Oregon State was down 20 points heading into the fourth quarter before a monster comeback made this one close. If Kennedy Brown makes her one-and-one free throws at the end of regulation, this one heads to overtime; and if Oregon State wins, we chalk this game up to a close call. But, as things stand, this game was a good indicator of where both teams stand. The Beavers have one other loss, to No. 12 Michigan, and Notre Dame dropped games to a good Georgia team and a great UConn squad. The slim margin in this one leads me to believe that both Oregon State and Notre Dame are teams in the 20-25 range of the rankings.

Purdue 66, No. 17 Florida State 61 (Nov. 27)

Losing to BYU, no big deal. Losing to Purdue? A bit bigger of a deal. This is the loss that nearly booted Florida State out of the AP poll. Purdue isn’t bad, necessarily, but the Boilermakers are a squad that a No. 17 team should beat. Purdue quite literally didn’t score in the second quarter and still managed to make a comeback. Meanwhile, Florida State received no production from its starting five, with Kourtney’s Weber’s 11 points being the highlight. AP voters just bumped Florida State from the top-25 rankings, as did I. The Seminoles have ACC play coming up, though, and there is potential for them to get on the other side of an upset. If that happens, I may have to reconsider.

South Dakota State 76, No. 19 UCLA 66 (Nov. 27)

Remember when I said Kent State was a bad loss for UCLA? Well, being upset by the 3-4 Jackrabbits might be worse. Particularly because there were no massive bad spots for the Bruins, they just got outplayed. Izzy Anstey had some early foul trouble that kept her on the bench. Iimar’i Thomas came in and made up for it with 18 points, and yet, UCLA still couldn’t top the Jackrabbits. The odds were stacked against UCLA coming into the season, with Emily Bessoir’s ACL injury and the task of working in several players who were absent last year due to COVID-19. As it stand, the Bruins still seem to be figuring those things out.

BYU 58, No. 22 West Virginia 57 (Nov. 27)

BYU is a good team, and one worthy of a top-25 spot. Two upsets in two days secured that ranking for the Cougars, as they made their way to No. 16 in this week’s poll. There is a lot to like about this BYU squad, and one of the bright spots comes in two sophomores: Shaylee Gonzales and Lauren Gustin. Gonzales, a guard, is BYU’s leading scorer with 17.6 points per game, and Gustin is third with 11.2. These two make a great pair, and their youth means they will only get better with more experience this season. An upcoming battle with 6-1 Washington State — a team that has one of the best players in the country in Charlisse Leger-Walker — will serve as another test and potential benchmark for the Cougars.

UC Davis 64, No. 18 Oregon 57 (Dec. 1)

Before getting too critical of the Ducks, it’s important to know they were without point guard Te-Hina Paopao and center Nyara Sabally. But they still lost to a 4-3 UC Davis team. With the caliber of talent Oregon has, The Oregonian called it “the worst loss of the Kelly Graves era.” I remain unsure about the Ducks, especially when you consider they narrowly escaped Portland two days later (62-59). Oregon plays a good, unranked Colorado team to kick off the January calendar, followed by clashes with No. 4 Stanford, No. 7 Arizona and No. 2 UConn. That’s quite the gauntlet, but also a chance for the Ducks to get back on track with a signature win.

Syracuse 97, No. 18 Ohio State 91 (Dec. 1)

This was Ohio State’s first road game of the season. The Buckeyes were winning games by an average of 29.8 points up until this one, and their inexperience in close games showed. Syracuse kept within striking distance in the first half before outscoring the Buckeyes 29-19 in the third quarter. Defensively, Ohio State just didn’t have it, and the Buckeyes allowed Teisha Hyman to score a career-high 30 points on 4-for-6 shooting from beyond the arc. The Orange also won the battle at the line, going 23-for-26, while Ohio State was 15-for-26.

It’s not a great look for Ohio State that its first road game, and first matchup with a non-mid-major opponent, was a loss. The Buckeyes did beat Purdue in dominant fashion on the road a few days later, which isn’t much of a win but shows that maybe they learned from their defeat to Syracuse. Ohio State will need to be in top form if it wants to make an impact in the Big Ten, which I consider the best conference in the country. In other words, no more losing to teams like Syracuse.

Princeton 58, No. 22 Florida Gulf Coast 55 (Dec. 1)

This one hurts Florida Gulf Coast in the long term, simply because in the ASUN, the Eagles won’t have many tests or chances to prove their worth for a good seed come tournament time. It’s not fair to say they have to go undefeated to be taken seriously, but unfortunately, that’s often how it works in a small conference. Earlier in the season, they did beat an LSU team that we will talk about later, and they have a potentially tougher matchup with Michigan State coming up. I don’t think the Princeton loss is any reason to panic, though the poor shooting performance — 36.4 percent from the field, 27.6 percent from beyond the arc and 63.6 percent from the free-throw line — should raise some alarm bells.

Duke 79, No. 9 Iowa 64 (Dec. 2)

The Blue Devils have been in the back of my mind for a while now, and this is the kind of victory that makes them a part of the national conversation. Now 8-0, Duke hadn’t played any high-caliber teams until the matchup with Iowa. The Blue Devils delivered, with an impressive defensive performance guarding prolific scorer Caitlin Clark. She finished with 22 points but scored just four first-half points while going 9-for-27 from the field and 1-for-13 from the 3-point line. Iowa was coming off of a short pause due to COVID-19, and I don’t expect Clark to struggle like this often. Still, this is a great win for Kara Lawson and Duke. It got the previously unranked Blue Devils all the way up to No. 19 in the AP poll and should give them confidence going into a big matchup against No. 1 South Carolina on Dec. 15.

UT Arlington 61, No. 13 South Florida 56 (Dec. 2)

South Florida, say it ain’t so. I didn’t expect to see the Bulls on this side of an upset, and certainly not to UT Arlington right as the team was climbing the rankings. South Florida gained a ton of respect with its wins over Oregon and Stanford, and this is the type of defeat that can have newly-acquired believers changing their minds. It was a dismal offensive performance for the Bulls, who shot 32.4 percent from the field, and 22.7 percent from the 3-point line. South Florida is 5-3, but the other two losses came to top-10 teams Tennessee and UConn. The Bulls were coming off back-to-back upset wins, so it’s fair to think they may have been gassed against UT Arlington. A bad loss, yes, but I’m not panicking for the Bulls.

LSU 69, No. 14 Iowa State 60 (Dec. 2)

Iowa State didn’t necessarily play poorly in this game, which makes the win even better for Kim Mulkey and LSU. The Cyclones were in early foul trouble but still got their usual production from Ashley Joens, who had 24 points and 13 rebounds. The big difference came at the 3-point line and with turnovers. LSU went 7-of-10 from 3, five of which came in the first half to give the Tigers a six-point lead going into the break. LSU also forced 16 turnovers and did a good job of taking care of the ball, coughing it up just seven times. LSU deserved its spot in the top 25 after this win.

As for the Cyclones, losing their first game against a tough opponent was a problem. No. 15 Iowa State bounced back Wednesday night with a statement 77-70 win over their state rivals, No. 12 Iowa, giving us a better indication of what this Cyclones team is capable of.

Georgia Tech 55, No. 20 Georgia 54 (Dec. 5)

Here’s another upset that makes a lot of sense to me, but how it happened doesn’t. If you tell me Georgia Tech had a big win, I will assume it was thanks to Lorela Cubaj and Lotta-Maj Lahtinen. But the latter only scored seven points, and Cubaj did most of her work on the glass, hauling in an impressive 15 rebounds while also scoring 11 points. The Yellow Jackets got solid production from Nerea Hermosa and Eylia Love, who had 14 points apiece. Cubaj’s rebounding came in handy, as Georgia Tech had 44 boards to Georgia’s 37. I don’t think we are done seeing Georgia Tech on the winning end of upsets, either. The Yellow Jackets have the talent to play with top teams once all the pieces come together.

If you made it through all of that, congratulations! You’re now just as confused as I am. Now, here are my rankings for the week.

JWS’ Top 25 in Week 5

1. South Carolina
2. UConn
3. NC State
4. Stanford
5. Indiana
6. Arizona
7. Baylor
8. Iowa
9. Louisville
10. Maryland
11. Tennessee
12. Texas
13. Michigan
14. Iowa State
15. South Florida
16. BYU
17. Ohio State
18. Duke
19. Georgia Tech
20. Kentucky
21. Oregon State
22. Notre Dame
23. Florida Gulf Coast
24. LSU
25. Oregon

Eden Laase is a contributing writer at Just Women’s Sports. She previously ran her own high school sports website in Michigan after covering college hockey and interning at Sports Illustrated. Follow her on Twitter @eden_laase.

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.”

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.

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.”

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.”

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.

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.

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. ​

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.

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.”

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.

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. 

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.

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