Texas women’s basketball has already gotten an early look at what its new roster can do against some of the country’s best competition.
Now, the No. 6 Longhorns are preparing to test those lessons when they open the regular season on Wednesday against Fairleigh Dickinson at the Moody Center.
Texas went 2–1 in exhibition play, posting dominant wins over UCLA and Baylor before falling to UConn 83-61. Even with the loss, the two wins offered a glimpse of the offensive versatility head coach Vic Schaefer hopes will define his team, even though there is still plenty to work on.
“(I’m) excited about our opportunities this season, and we’re a work in progress,” Schaefer said. “But I’m really pleased in that I think we’ve grown and gotten better since our Connecticut game.”
Texas is navigating departures of several key contributors, including point guard Rori Harmon. With five freshmen joining the roster, Schaefer has spent the preseason establishing a new identity and finding players who can fill a variety of roles.
Replacing Harmon, in particular, means replacing more than her production. Schaefer noted that her defensive presence will be especially difficult to replicate, pointing to her ability to cover her teammates and serve as the team’s best on-ball defender.
The early exhibition schedule gave the newcomers an opportunity to experience high-level competition before the actual season. When the Longhorns faced the Huskies, Schaefer felt completely comfortable placing his newbies front and center and tasking them with guarding junior All-American forward Sarah Strong.
The five freshmen aren’t afraid to compete — they just need experience.
One of the biggest takeaways from the preseason schedule was Texas’ potential from beyond the arc.
Against UCLA, junior guard Bryanna Preston scored 20 points and knocked down four of her five three-point attempts. Senior forward Madison Booker led the Longhorns with 21 points, seven rebounds and six assists, while senior forward Breya Cunningham added 16 points.
“I think Preston has gotten better in the last week and a half from the Connecticut game to UCLA,” Schaefer said. “She showed great improvement and just (understands) what’s required if you’re the point guard at the University of Texas.”
The Longhorns shot 47.3% from three against the Bruins, making nine of their 19 attempts.
Success continued against Baylor when junior guard Zya Vann led Texas with 18 points, shooting a perfect 6-for-6 from the arc. Texas finished the game 7-for-9 from three.
“If you were in practice yesterday, I don’t think (Vann) missed a three, and she took a bunch,” Schaefer said. “When we’re shooting it well, it’s going to be really hard for people to figure out how to defend us.”
Even with the exhibition victories, Schaefer emphasized that the team’s development goes beyond its results.
Ball security, defensive rotations and taking charges remain priorities as Texas builds the habits it hopes will carry into the heart of the season. Schaefer noted that the team struggled with turnovers during a recent practice and stressed that taking care of the ball goes beyond just playing the game. It requires focus and pride.
“Winning masks a lot of problems,” Schaefer said. “For me, I don’t run from that.”
Still, he’s been encouraged by the improvement he’s seen over the teams’ practices and knows that the learning process will continue once the regular season begins.
Texas takes on Fairleigh Dickinson in its season opener with tipoff scheduled for 7 p.m.
