Tag: Rori Harmon

Longhorns trio named to Wooden Award preseason watch list

The talented trio is expected to be vital to the Longhorns’ success and is now getting national recognition

With the women’s college basketball season almost underway, the Texas Longhorns are making headlines. On Thursday, Rori Harmon, Madison Booker, and Laila Phelia were named to the Wooden Award preseason watch list. The talented trio is expected to be vital to the Longhorns’ success and is now getting national recognition.

After three years at Michigan, Phelia will enter her first year with Texas with high expectations. During her time with the Wolverines, Phelia scored 1,243 points and was a First Team All-Big Ten selection last season. She should provide the Longhorns with another weapon offensively after scoring in double figures 29 times last season.

Joining Phelia is Booker, who is coming off a stellar freshman campaign. During her first season in Austin, Booker earned WBCA First Team All-America honors and was named the Cheryl Miller Small Forward of the Year. With more help offensively, her numbers should continue to improve.

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Rounding out the list is Harmon, who has been a consistent model of excellence in Austin. In 12 games last season, she recorded 93 assists and 14 turnovers. Before an injury cut her season short, Harmon was leading the country in assist-to-turnover ratio. The Texas native has scored 925 points and dished out 501 assists during her time as a Longhorn.

While Texas will need everyone to contribute, Harmon, Booker, and Phelia will set the tone, and the rest of the country is taking notice of their potential.

Rori Harmon ready to play key role following injury shortened junior season

Now that Harmon is fully healthy, she is expected to recapture her role in the Longhorns’ offense

During the 2023-2024 campaign, Longhorns women’s basketball was without one of their key players, Rori Harmon for the majority of the season. The Houston native was limited to 12 games due to a season-ending knee injury she suffered on Dec.27. Now that Harmon is fully healthy, she is expected to recapture her role in the Longhorns’ offense.

Before her injury, Harmon was in the midst of a career. She was averaging a career-high 14.1 points and 7.8 assists per game. The talented guard had also added 37 steals to her resume and was making an impact at both ends of the court. Due to her play, Harmon was an irreplaceable piece.

With Harmon fully recovered, expectations are high for this coming season. In October, she was named to the 20-player watch list for the 2025 Nancy Liberman Award. The award is given annually to the top point guard in women’s NCAA Division I college basketball. She was also named a Preseason All-SEC honoree.

For Harmon, high expectations are something she has become used to. She has gotten better each year, and during her time in Austin, the Longhorns have been one of the best teams in the country. That will be no different this year, as they have been ranked in the top five in numerous preseason polls.

The key for Harmon will be showing that she can continue to improve her game. Last year, she shot better from three-point range and made her presence felt on the boards, averaging 5.6 rebounds per game. If she can continue to be that player, then the Longhorns will be in good hands.

Three Notre Dame players among ESPN’s top 25 in women’s basketball

The Irish have serious talent. No doubt about it.

Notre Dame is expected to contend for a national championship this season. That’s not by accident. There are many talented players on the Irish, and at least one prominent sports media outlet recognizes that, not that others don’t.

ESPN has released its preseason list of the top 25 players in women’s basketball. The Irish were one of seven teams to have more than one player on the list. In all, three Irish players were afforded the honor.

Unsurprisingly, [autotag]Hannah Hidalgo[/autotag] ranks the highest among her teammates at third. Even without having played last season, [autotag]Olivia Miles[/autotag] still made the list, clocking in at 13th. [autotag]Sonia Citron[/autotag] is right behind her at 14th.

To make things even more exciting, the Irish will face every player this season who is ranked alongside Hidalgo in the top five of this list. Those players are JuJu Watkins, the top-ranked player, alongside USC teammate Kiki Iriafen, Paige Bueckers of UConn and Madison Booker of Texas, which also clocked Rori Harmon in at ninth.

There indeed are some fun times in store for the Irish this season.

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ESPN’s Charlie Creme highlights Notre Dame in big early-season games

Be sure to watch these games.

Notre Dame is expected to do well this season. Its No. 6 ranking in the AP Top 25 Preseason Poll is evidence of that. Naturally, some of its early games will receive a lot of attention.

In light of the poll’s release, ESPN women’s basketball bracketologist Charlie Creme has published a story that answers the question of what the biggest early-season game is for each team ranked in that poll.

Creme has the Irish’s ACC/SEC Women’s Basketball Challenge matchup against Texas as the Irish’s biggest game and gives the following reason:

“Both the Irish and Longhorns saw freshmen become stars a season ago with their team leaders out with injury. Rori Harmon is back for Texas to team up with Madison Booker, and [autotag]Niele Ivey[/autotag] can now pair [autotag]Hannah Hidalgo[/autotag] and [autotag]Olivia Miles[/autotag], returning from a knee injury. This is a dream backcourt matchup that could define which duo is meshing the best. This looks to be the best Irish team under Ivey. This game and one a week later against UConn, also in South Bend, should tell us just how good.”

The Irish also will face USC early in the season, and Creme has that game as the biggest for the Trojans, who rank third in the poll. Here’s the reason for that:

“A week before the two schools square off in football in Los Angeles, they do the same in basketball. Both the Trojans and the Irish should be in the mix for a No. 1 seed come March, and the winner of this game takes a massive advantage in that quest. One month before (JuJu) Watkins gets to go head-to-head with (Paige) Bueckers, she faces Hannah Hidalgo, the second-best freshman to Watkins a year ago.”

So yeah, there are a few game on the schedule you won’t want to miss. Simply put, don’t.

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Rori Harmon granted medical hardship waiver

On Thursday, the NCAA approved a medical hardship waiver for Harmon

Longhorns women’s basketball star Rori Harmon will have an extra year of eligibility after a knee injury limited her to 12 games last season. On Thursday, the NCAA approved a medical hardship waiver for Harmon. She will have the option to use a redshirt season in 2025-26.

Since making her collegiate debut, Harmon has been a human highlight reel for the Longhorns. She is a two-time All-America honorable mention selection and 2023 Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year. In 79 games, she has 925 career points and 501 career assists.

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After missing most of the 2023-2024 campaign, Harmon is grateful for an extra year of eligibility.

“I’m grateful to the NCAA for approving the medical hardship waiver and giving me the option to have an additional year at Texas,” Harmon told Longhorns athletics. “I want to thank The University of Texas compliance office for their assistance on my behalf. The last eight months have been difficult, but I have had the best support system with my teammates, coaches and Texas administration to get me through it.”

The Longhorns will have one of their best playmakers in the lineup with Harmon back in the mix. The Texas native averaged a career-high 14.1 points and 7.8 assists per game during her junior season.

When the season begins, Harmon will be a player to keep an eye one as she provides a reminder of why she is critical to the Longhorns success.

Trio of Oklahoma Sooners earn preseason All-Big 12 honors

As voted on by the coaches, three Oklahoma Sooners earned preseason All-Big 12 honors led by a pair of unanimous selections.

Led by unanimous selections for [autotag]Madi Williams[/autotag] and [autotag]Taylor Robertson[/autotag], the Oklahoma Sooners earned three preseason All-Big 12 selections as voted on by the coaches.

Announced Wednesday, Williams and Robertson represent the only school to feature multiple unanimous selections.

Williams, from Fort Worth, Texas, earned her second consecutive unanimous preseason honor. She returns for her fifth season in Norman after a strong 2021 that saw her lead the Sooners with 18 points per game and 7 rebounds per game. Here 2021 earned her a unanimous All-Big 12 selection.

Robertson is the Big 12’s all-time leader in three-pointers made and earned a  unanimous All-Big 12 selection at the conclusion of 2021. Last season she averaged 17.2 points per game and 4.7 rebounds per game, earning All-America honorable mention honors.

Plagued by injuries in the 2021-2022 season, [autotag]Ana Llanusa[/autotag] earned preseason honorable mention honors. She provides a third big-time scoring threat for [autotag]Jennie Baranczyk[/autotag] and the Oklahoma Sooners. In 10 games, Llanusa averaged 17.3 points and 2.3 assists per game.

Only four players in all were unanimous selections for the league’s preseason honors. [autotag]Ashley Joens[/autotag] of Iowa State and [autotag]Rori Harmon[/autotag] of Texas were the other unanimous selections. Joens was voted the preseason Big 12 player of the year.

How to watch No. 2 Texas vs. No. 1 Stanford in the Elite Eight

Texas is looking to clinch their first Final Four appearance since 2003.

No. 2 Texas is back in the Elite Eight for the second consecutive season after taking down No. 6 Ohio State in a 66-63 thriller. Last season Texas’ NCAA tournament run ended with a loss to South Carolina in the Elite Eight.

Awaiting the Longhorns this time around is defending national champion and No. 1 seeded Stanford Cardinal.

The two teams met earlier in the season where Texas pulled off the 61-56 upset on the road in what was a breakout game for star point guard Rori Harmon. The freshman scored 21 points on an efficient 8-16 shooting. Texas will need a similar performance from Harmon to pull off the victory again.

Slowing down Stanford’s Cameron Brink will be a focus of Vic Schafer’s game plan for this one. Brink can do it all for the Cardinal, she leads the team in both scoring and rebounding.

Here is how to tune in for this highly anticipated matchup between Texas and Stanford.

No. 2 Texas takes down No. 6 Ohio State, advances to the Elite Eight

Texas is moving on to the Elite Eight for the second straight season.

Texas is moving on to the Elite Eight for the second straight season after outlasting Ohio State in the Sweet 16.

The Buckeyes jumped out to a 20-16 lead with an excellent end to the first quarter. The Texas defense took control of the game from the second quarter on. The Horns held Ohio State to just 10 points in the second quarter to regain a 32-30 lead heading into halftime.

Vic Sheafer’s squad was able to hold off Ohio State in the second half and held on to win 66-63. Joanne Allen-Taylor paced the Texas offense with 17 points on 7-11 shooting. Lauren Ebo added nine points and eight hard-fought rebounds of her own.

Up next for Texas is the winner between No.1 seed Stanford and No. 4 seed Maryland. Texas took down the Cardinal 61-56 earlier in the season.

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How to watch No. 2 Texas vs. No. 6 Ohio State in the Sweet 16

No. 2 Texas is looking the part as a national championship contender in the NCAA tournament thus far.

No. 2 Texas is looking the part as a national championship contender in the NCAA tournament thus far. The Longhorns took care of business in convincing fashion against the likes of No. 15 Fairfield and No. 7 Utah, advancing to the Sweet 16 for the second straight season.

Awaiting Texas in the next round in No. 6 seed Ohio State. The Buckeyes pulled off the upset against Kim Mulkey and No. 3 LSU in the Round of 32. Jacy Sheldon dropped 23 points for Ohio State in the victory.

Texas is riding a 13-game win streak entering this matchup, their last loss coming to Baylor way back on Feb. 6. Vic Schaefer feels really good about how his team is playing.

Here is how to tune in as Texas takes on Ohio State with a spot in the Elite Eight on the line.

Texas takes down Utah 78-56, advances to Sweet 16

Texas is on to the Sweet 16 for the second consecutive season.

Texas women’s basketball was on a mission against Utah on Sunday. The Horns left no doubt in a dominant performance against the No. 7 seeded Utes.

The Longhorns hit shots from all over the court in the win, shooting 64% from the field and 50% from beyond the arc. Texas exploded for 25 points in the second quarter to take full control of the game.

Star point guard Rori Harmon was the engine that made the offense go. She finished with 11 points, eight assists and grabbed four rebounds. Harmon is playing as well as any player in the nation.

The 78-56 victory will send Texas to the Sweet 16 for the second consecutive season. The Longhorns will take on the winner of LSU and Ohio State. Last year, Texas upset Maryland in the Sweet 16 to advance to the programs first Elite Eight since 2016.

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