Texas has become a regular fixture near the top of the women’s college basketball world. The Longhorns earned a No. 1 NCAA Tournament seed for the third straight year and reached the Final Four in consecutive seasons, ending a 20-year absence from the event.
But after losing to UCLA in last season’s semifinal, Texas saw three important players transfer: Jordan Lee went to South Carolina, guard Aaliyah Crump joined Duke, and forward Justice Carlton moved to Houston.
That kind of turnover is part of college basketball now, though it still stung. “That broke my heart,” point guard Bryanna Preston said, adding that the players had to make the choices they felt were right for them.
Lee, who averaged 13.2 points and was one of Texas’ leading perimeter defenders, made her South Carolina debut against Maryland, scoring 13 points as a starter. Crump, a highly regarded recruit, had been limited by injuries last season. Both were among the most notable transfers in the country.
Madison Booker, however, isn’t dwelling on the departures. “That’s their journey,” she said. “I’m supporting them always.”
The Longhorns also have to replace Rori Harmon, who spent five seasons running the team before moving to the WNBA’s Washington Mystics. Harmon was known for her relentless defense and often guarded the other team’s top perimeter player. Preston is expected to take on much of that responsibility.
Coach Vic Schaefer likes Preston’s speed and energy, but says replacing Harmon’s defensive impact will be difficult. “Who is going to step to be that No. 1 defender?” he said.
Booker remains the centerpiece. She filled in at point guard when Harmon missed much of a season with a knee injury, and her size, ballhandling and shooting make her a difficult matchup. Now in her fourth year, she’s already established herself in the program’s history and is focused on winning a national title.
Her most recent Final Four, though, ended painfully. Booker shot 3 for 23 against UCLA, missing 17 consecutive attempts at one point. A layup that could have brought Texas within one in the final 20 seconds was blocked. It was her second tough Final Four performance; she scored 11 points in a lopsided loss to South Carolina in 2025.
“It’s a new year and a new team,” Booker said. “That loss was heartbreaking, but it’s in the past. We move on.”
She is 31 points short of becoming the fourth player in Texas history to reach 2,000 career points. After taking a month away from basketball following the UCLA loss, Booker returned to practice focused on becoming a more complete scorer and helping build confidence in a young group.
“I can’t be good without my teammates,” she said.
Texas opens its season Wednesday night against Fairleigh Dickinson. The Longhorns are ranked No. 6 and are expected to challenge top-ranked South Carolina for the SEC title. Schaefer is confident in his star: “In my mind, Madison Booker is the best player in the country.”
