The No. 4 Texas Longhorns women’s team (6–0, 0–0 SEC) squared off with the No. 3 UCLA Bruins (6–1, 0–0 Big Ten) at the Michelob ULTRA Arena on November 26, 2025. From the opening tip, this matchup was a sprint. Both teams traded punches, momentum, and defensive stands. It was one of those games where the pace never dipped, and the energy never left the building. Here’s my Player of the Game and full post-game breakdown.
Player of the Game: Rori Harmon (G, #3)
- 26 points
- 3 rebounds
- 5 assists
- 1 steal
- 1 turnover
- 60% FG
- 100% 3PT
- 100% FT
Harmon controlled this game like a veteran floor general. Efficient, poised, and explosive when it mattered. She dictated tempo, got teammates involved, and hit every big shot Texas needed. This was as complete a guard performance as you’ll see this early in the season.
What I liked
Texas played a true team-brand defense. Their help-side rotation was sharp, consistently taking away UCLA’s backdoor looks and off-ball actions. Communication was clean, rotations were on time, and their intensity held for four full quarters.
Offensively, Texas showed they understand spacing at a high level. Golden rule: The ball moves faster than any player—and the Longhorns lived by it. They moved it, swung it, hit the roll, and passed up good shots for great ones. And yes—the midrange made a comeback. In an era obsessed with threes and paint touches, Texas’ guards confidently hunted 15-footers. That layer of shotmaking forced UCLA into uncomfortable coverage all night.
Team stats breakdown
A few numbers explain why Texas walked away with the win:
Field Goals: Texas 44% | UCLA 47%
Three-Pointers: Texas 40% | UCLA 31%
Turnovers: Texas had 10 fewer giveaways
Rebounds: UCLA controlled the boards
So what swung the game?
Free throws, assists, and three-point efficiency. Texas hit an elite 16/17 free throws, knocked down 6/15 from deep, and—most importantly—finished with 16 assists. That assist total tells the full story: Texas played connected, unselfish basketball.
Final thoughts
I’m a huge advocate for women’s athletics, and this Texas squad is putting out high-level basketball. They’re dangerous because they play as one—balanced scoring, multiple creators, and a system built on trust. They can win in the half-court or in transition, and their understanding of spacing is advanced. This is a team with depth, poise, and identity. And as long as they keep defending and sharing the ball like this, Texas is going to be a problem for anyone on their schedule.