UT Women’s Basketball 2026 Season Preview

The Texas Longhorns women’s basketball team are poised for an elite 2025-2026 season

Led by head coach Vic Schaefer, the Longhorns’ superstar, forward Madison Booker, who is the reigning SEC Player of the Year , and longtime point guard Rori Harmon brings back one of the most experienced back-courts in the country. The two are rounded it out by sophomore forward Justice Carlton, who can give the team another sure-thing post option and rim protector.

Although Texas suffered some roster losses through the transfer portal—most

notably Ndjakalenga Mwenentanda (now at Vanderbilt) and Laila Phelia (now at

Syracuse)—the Longhorns reloaded with a blend of transfers and incoming freshmen.

Among the biggest additions are Breya Cunningham, Teya Sidberry, and Kyla Oldacre, both

forwards with experience in Power 4 programs.

They also have a promising class that includes Ashton Judd and Irish sharpshooter Grace Prenter. This new wave of talent is expected to address one of Texas’ key weaknesses from last season: perimeter shooting. With a deep and versatile roster, Texas is poised to be more well-rounded and dangerous from beyond the arc—something that proved to be a limitation in the 2024–25 NCAA Tournament.

In the tournament, the Longhorns made just 12 three pointers across

four games. The Longhorns will face a tough schedule, including a high-profile SEC/ACC

Challenge match-up against North Carolina at the Moody Center in December. Within the

SEC, they’ll compete with national powerhouses LSU, South Carolina, and Big XII rivals

Baylor, making for a season full of top-tier match-ups and tournament-level intensity.

Early national rankings by ESPN place Texas among the top four teams in the

country, alongside perennial powerhouses South Carolina, UConn, and UCLA. With

veteran leadership, improved depth, and a hunger to build on last season’s success, Texas

is not only a serious contender for another Final Four—but also a legitimate threat to win

its first national title since 1986.

Amaria Fields – Covers sports for Texas Sports Monthly and Hook Em News. She played at Boston College and the University of Detroit Mercy, and Is a McKinney North alum where she hold several offensive records and scored over 1,900 career points. Ms. Fields also worked in NBA Player Development and with both the Mavericks and Celtics organizations.