Texas Longhorns Advance to Elite Eight, Defeat Kentucky

All-America forward Madison Booker leads Texas with 17 points and 8 rebounds

Mar. 28, 2026 at 9:50pm

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An abstract, cubist-style painting depicting the dynamic movements and energy of a women's basketball game, with the players and court deconstructed into sharp, overlapping geometric shapes and planes in vibrant colors.Texas' relentless defense and balanced scoring attack propel the Longhorns to the Elite Eight for the third consecutive year.Fort Worth Today

The Texas Longhorns women's basketball team defeated fellow SEC member Kentucky 76-54 in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament. All-America forward Madison Booker had 17 points and 8 rebounds, while guard Rori Harmon contributed 11 points, 7 assists, and 6 steals for the Longhorns. Texas jumped out to a 15-0 run in the first quarter and never looked back, sending them to the Elite Eight for the third consecutive year under coach Vic Schaefer.

Why it matters

The Longhorns' victory over Kentucky continues their impressive tournament run, as they look to make it back to the Final Four for the second straight year. Texas has established itself as one of the top women's basketball programs in the country under Schaefer's leadership.

The details

Texas responded to Kentucky's opening 3-pointer with a 15-0 run, during which Harmon had three defensive rebounds and four assists in just 90 seconds. The Longhorns maintained a double-digit lead for the rest of the game, with Harmon finishing the first half with 9 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, and 6 steals - matching the NCAA single-season record for steals in a game. Booker and guard Jordan Lee also had strong performances, scoring 17 and 18 points respectively.

  • The game was played on Saturday, March 28, 2026 in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament.

The players

Rori Harmon

A guard for the Texas Longhorns who had 11 points, 7 assists, and 6 steals in the win over Kentucky.

Madison Booker

An All-America forward for the Texas Longhorns who had 17 points and 8 rebounds in the game.

Jordan Lee

A guard for the Texas Longhorns who scored 18 points in the victory.

Clara Strack

The 6-foot-5 center for Kentucky who led the Wildcats with 16 points.

Vic Schaefer

The head coach of the Texas Longhorns, who has led the team to the Elite Eight for the third consecutive year.

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What they’re saying

“Rori Harmon had 11 points, seven assists and six steals and Texas beat fellow SEC member Kentucky 76-54 on Saturday, sending the top-seeded Longhorns to another Elite Eight in the women's NCAA Tournament.”

— The Associated Press

What’s next

The Longhorns will play second-seeded Michigan in the Fort Worth Regional 3 final on Monday night. The winner will advance to the Final Four.

The takeaway

Texas has established itself as one of the top women's basketball programs in the country, making the Elite Eight for the third straight year under coach Vic Schaefer. The Longhorns' balanced scoring attack and stifling defense have them poised to make a deep run in the NCAA Tournament.