Texas women’s basketball head coach Vic Schaefer showed some heart for his players in the dying seconds of Friday’s Final Four game against UCLA.
Graduating Texas senior Rori Harmon checked out of the heavyweight NCAA Tournament clash as her team trailed 51-44 with 3.1 seconds left at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix, Ariz. Harmon was understandably emotional as she walked off the floor in her Longhorns uniform for the final time.
Schaefer sensed his lead guard needed a shoulder to cry on. The veteran coach took Harmon aside and shared an emotional moment with her just before the final seconds ticked off the clock.
Whew. Incredible career for Rori Harmon. Consoled by her head coach Vic Schaefer as the Longhorns lose to UCLA.
— Noah Gross (@noah_gross27) April 4, 2026
It ends for #Texas in the Final Four.
Special relationship between these two.#HookEm | 📹: ESPN pic.twitter.com/w3pMKakGoY
Harmon finished with eight points and five assists on 4/11 shooting in what was a rough offensive night for Texas. Longhorns first option Madison Booker made just three of her 23 shot attempts for six points, as UCLA kept her in check the entire night.
Schaefer, who is in his sixth season as Texas’ head coach, has had Harmon as his starting point guard in each of the last five seasons. After losing in the Elite 8 in two of their first three seasons together, the Longhorns made it to the Final Four in back-to-back seasons, falling one game short of the national title game both times.
Schaefer handled his Final Four loss much differently than Geno Auriemma did hours earlier. The UConn head coach confronted Dawn Staley after losing to her South Carolina squad hours earlier.
