The Texas women’s basketball team has reached the Elite Eight in four of the past five seasons, yet the Longhorns have not earned a spot in a Final Four since 2003. Is this the year they break the curse? It is!
Texas’ defense came up huge in this game holding TCU’s Hailey van Lith to just 3-of-15 shooting, while All-American Madison Booker put up a game-high 18 points to lead the Longhorns to the Final Four.
With Texas now in the Final Four, three of the No. 1 seeds have reached the tournament semifinals. Only USC remains, as they prepare take on Paige Bueckers and No. 2 UConn.
Follow along live for bracket updates, scores, highlights and more from Monday’s action:
FINAL: Texas 58, TCU 47
The second half was a masterclass from Texas’ Madison Booker. She ended the first half with fewer than ten points, but rose to the occasion in the final 20 minutes, shooting the lights out and ending the game with a game-high 18 points on 8-of-17 shooting.
FOLLOW THE MADNESS: NCAA women’s basketball scores, schedules, teams and more.
The difference in this game was undoubtedly Texas’ defense. Not only were they able to get Sedona Prince to foul out, but they held Hailey Van Lith to 3-of-15 shooting. Lith was still able to put up 17 points thanks to her stellar free throw shooting, but a 20% clip from the field from your best player is tough for any team to overcome.
Rori Harmon with dagger fadeaway
With under a minute and a half to play, Texas’ Rori Harmon hit a midrange turnaround jumper that ultimately sealed TCU’s fate by pushing Texas’ lead to double digits.
Without Prince, it was very difficult for TCU to defend the paint, and Texas took full advantage, dominating the offensive glass and getting looks close to the basket. On Texas’ next possession, TCU chose not to foul, which all but confirms that this game is officially out of reach.
Prince fouls out
With six and a half minutes to go, seventh-year senior Sedona Prince fouled out of the contest with a blocking foul on Madison Baker. Prince has been one of TCU’s most important players for the entire season, and has been one of the only consistent forces down low in the offensive zone.
TCU trails by 12.
Kyla Oldacre steal and score
Kyla Oldacre is 6’6″ but you wouldn’t be able to tell by the way she’s been scooting all night. With TCU looking to make a comeback, Oldacre shut down the Horned Frogs’ offensive attack, deflecting an inbound pass to Sedona Prince over the TCU center. Oldacre then took off for the basket and was able to get the bucket and the foul, the fourth on Prince, giving Texas their biggest lead of the night.
End of third quarter: Texas 42, TCU 33
As has been the case all game, TCU has struggled to get any looks down low. Despite Hailey Van Lith’s remarkable ball-handling and Sedona Prince’s presence near the rim, TCU has not been able to find high-efficiency looks, relying on off-ball maneuvering for their best opportunities.
As expected, Texas’ cold shooting from the end of the first half did not carry over into the third quarter. The Longhorns have looked much closer to what we saw throughout the regular season in the third, even hitting a pair of three-pointers, which is not Texas’ forte to say the least. At this rate, it will be very difficult for TCU to make a comeback.
Texas pulling away
It may only be nine points, but in a game like this, that’s a whole lot. Texas’ defense remains the biggest factor in this game, but after hitting their first two threes of the game as well, combined with a three-point play from Madison Booker, Texas has matched their biggest lead of the night.
TCU ties it up
Watching this game, you’d assume that Texas was up big, but poor shooting and untimely turnovers have kept Texas from running away with the score. TCU’s resilience has been admirable. The Horned Frogs have struggled to get looks down low, relying on off-angle contested shots against Texas’ overwhelming press, but TCU was able to tie the game up thanks to four straight free throws.
Offense aplenty in third quarter
Just three and a half minutes into the third quarter and both teams have already nearly matched their totals from each of the previous two quarters. Texas is still boasting a dominant defense, refusing to give TCU an easy look down low, but TCU has found a few holes and have been able to attack.
On the other end, TCU is doing a fine job of forcing Texas into inefficient shots, but the Longhorns have still been able to find lanes to the basket at a higher rate than their Horned Frogs.
End of First Half: Texas 23, TCU 21
It took a while for TCU to get cooking but it appears Hailey Van Lith has finally figured out her stroke. She finished the first half, scoring five of her team’s final seven points.
Texas is struggling to knock down shots, and even Rori Harmon (game-high 11 points) failed to hit each of her last three shots. Somehow this is a two-point game, but TCU cannot continue relying on Texas to miss shots. They’ll need to find more consistency on offense to pull off the comeback.
Texas ends first half on cold streak
The Longhorns might be leading but they need to find their groove moving forward. The team ended the first half hitting just two of their last ten shots. That cold stretch, combined with a few poor giveaways, have allowed the Horned Frogs to keep pace in a defensive battle.
Rori Harmon carrying Texas’ offense
While points have been hard to come by for both teams, that hasn’t been the case for Texas’ Rori Harmon. She has not been an elite scorer for the Longhorns this season, but she’s already surpassed her per game scoring mark for the year with five minutes left to go in the first half. Harmon has 11 points on 5-of-11 shooting. Texas’ depth surely showing out in this contest.
Texas leads 23-14.
Van Lith gets and-one for first points of game
Texas had scored all four points of the second quarter and both Sedona Prince and Hailey Van Lith had yet to score. In fact, the entire TCU squad had just one two-pointer all game, but Van Lith was able to find a nice lane on a drive to her defender’s left for a layup and a foul.
TCU will need Van Lith and Prince to find their grooves if they want any hope of winning. Texas leads 19-12.
Texas women’s basketball coach Vic Schaefer wants to be ‘great’
This is the sort of team and season Vic Schaefer envisioned when he accepted the Texas job in 2020.
Texas has long ranked as a strong program – it’s an NCAA women’s tournament regular – but it last won a national championship in 1986, when Jody Conradt’s team went 34-0.
Schaefer previously coached Mississippi State to two national runner-up finishes, and when he left that job for Texas, he declared that he was coming to make Texas great, not good.
Read the full story of Texas’ road to the women’s NCAA tournament by Blake Toppmeyer. Schaefer also recently said he agrees with other superstar coaches, LSU’s Kim Mulkey and UConn’s Geno Auriemma, that the tournament’s super regional format is not ideal.
End of Q1: Texas 13, TCU 9
Although TCU has struggled to find momentum on offense, they did end the first quarter on a high note with Hailey Van Lith finding an open shooter beyond the arc for an open three. TCU went from scoring fewer than half as many points as its interstate counterpart to just a four-point deficit heading into the second quarter.
TCU having trouble finding rhythm
Defense has been the name of the game for both teams thus far, and mental errors have been abundant for TCU. Shot clock violations, five second violations, and an inability to get the ball in the paint on offense is what’s keeping the Horned Frogs from breaking through.
Texas has been outstanding at keeping TCU away from the basket, forcing contested shots or inefficient midrange jumpers. While TCU’s defense is keeping them in the game, they won’t be able to keep pace without a new offensive game plan.
Turnovers killing TCU
Approaching three minutes left in the first quarter, both teams are still below 10 points, and TCU should be thanking its lucky stars for that. Texas has forced seven turnovers, most recently a clean steal of Hailey Van Lith that led to a fast break layup.
Texas leads 9-4.
What time is Texas vs TCU women’s basketball today?
Women’s March Madness continues Monday with an Elite Eight matchup between the No. 2 TCU Horned Frogs and the No. 1 Texas Longhorns in Birmingham, Alabama. The action tips off at 7 p.m. ET.
Where to watch Texas vs TCU: TV, streaming coverage
- TV channels: ESPN
- Live stream: Fubo (Fubo offers a free trial subscription)
Watch Women’s March Madness with Fubo
Texas women’s basketball roster
Check out the No. 1 Texas Longhorns roster here.
TCU women’s basketball roster
Check out the No. 2 TCU women’s basketball roster here.
What channel is women’s basketball on Monday?
Coverage for Monday’s Elite Eight action will be broadcast across ESPN. You can also watch the games via Fubo, which offers a free trial subscription to new users.
Texas vs. TCU odds and betting line
The Texas Longhorns are favorites to beat the TCU Horned Frogs, according to BetMGM.
Odds as of Monday, March 30.
- Spread: Texas (-7.5)
- Moneyline: Texas (-375); TCU (+300)
- O/U: 128.5
Texas vs. TCU predictions and picks
Our two experts from across the USA TODAY Network who correctly predicted this matchup are split (1-1) on who will win the Elite Eight game between the Longhorns and Horned Frogs. Three of our writers had a now-eliminated team advancing to the Final Four in this spot. Take a look at their full bracket predictions. — Richard Morin
Bold Picks: Women’s March Madness bold predictions for Sweet 16: Notre Dame and UCLA on upset alert?
TCU vs. Texas all-time head-to-head record, history
The Texas Longhorns women’s basketball team and TCU Horned Frogs have faced each other 54 times since 1983. Texas has a 50-4 advantage in the series. Texas last beat TCU on Feb. 10, 2024, 65-43.
Has TCU women’s basketball ever won a national championship?
The TCU Horned Frogs women’s basketball team has never won a national championship. This year’s Sweet 16 appearance marks the furthest the program has advanced in the tournament. The program also has had six second-round appearances, including this season (2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2025).
Texas national championship, NCAA Tournament history
The Texas Longhorns have won one national championship and that title came in 1986. They have appeared in the Final Four three times.
Women’s March Madness odds
March Madness championship odds, according to BetMGM. Odds as of Monday, March 30.
Here’s a full look at the favorites to win the women’s tournament.
- UConn (-125)
- South Carolina (+225)
- UCLA (+650)
- Texas (+725)
- TCU (+4000)
- USC (+5000)
Women’s March Madness 2025 expert predictions
USA TODAY experts set their picks ahead of the NCAA Tournament. Here is who they picked to win the national championship before the madness.
- Nancy Armour, USA TODAY: UConn over Duke
- Jordan Mendoza, USA TODAY: USC over South Carolina
- Cydney Henderson, USA TODAY: South Carolina over UCLA
- Cora Hall, Knoxville News Sentinel: South Carolina over UConn
- Lulu Kesin, Greenville News: South Carolina over UConn
- Meghan Hall, For The Win: South Carolina over USC
- Mike Sykes, For The Win: UConn over South Carolina
- Cory Diaz, The Daily Advertiser: UConn over Notre Dame
- Maxwell Donaldson, Gadsden Times: UConn over South Carolina
- Jenna Ortiz, Arizona Republic: UConn over South Carolina
TCU’s Hailey Van Lith talks mental health
The 2025 women’s NCAA Tournament is currently underway, and the No. 2 seed TCU Horned Frogs are in the Elite Eight. After a convincing 85-70 victory over the No. 7 seed Louisville in the second round, Hailey Van Lith openly discussed her struggles with mental health, which she has dealt with since a young age.
Van Lith shared her experience with media and social media exposure at a young age, revealing that it significantly impacted her mental health. “When I was younger and in college, I struggled with suicidal thoughts and was heavily medicated,” she said. “I felt trapped, and you would never have guessed it because I was thriving on the court. But internally, in my life overall, I was ready to give up.” — Elizabeth Flores
Taylor Jones: What to know about Texas forward
Texas women’s basketball senior Taylor Jones has the handwritten letters “DMFJ” on her shoes for the Longhorn’s Elite Eight game against TCU.
The “D” stands for Deanna, the “J” stands for Jones and “you can probably figure out the other two words,” Jones told USA TODAY Sports on Sunday.
Jones’ mom passed away from lung cancer in 2019. Jones, who averages 14.3 points per game, wears the letters as a reminder that her mom, whose nickname was DMFJ, is always with her.
“She was always someone who reminded me that I’m more than a basketball player,” Jones said. “And I think I always keep that in mind.” — Ansley Gavlak, Special to USA TODAY
TCU news: TCU Horned Frogs star Hailey Van Lith opens up about her mental health struggles
2025 NCAA women’s tournament bracket: Schedule, scores and results (needs updates)
All times Eastern.
Wednesday, March 19 (First Four)
Thursday, March 20 (First Four)
Friday, March 21 (First Round/Round of 64)
Saturday, March 22 (First Round/Round of 64)
- No. 6 Iowa def. No. 11 Murray State, 92-57
- No. 2 UConn def. No. 15 Arkansas State, 103-34
- No. 5 Alabama def. No. 12 Green Bay, 81-67
- No. 2 NC State def. No. 15 Vermont, 75-55
- No. 6 West Virginia def. No. 11 Columbia, 78-59
- No. 3 Oklahoma def. No. 14 FGCU, 81-58
- No. 1 Southern California def. No. 16 UNC Greensboro, 71-25
- No. 10 South Dakota State def. No. 7 Oklahoma State, 74-68
- No. 4 Maryland def. No. 13 Norfolk State, 82-69
- No. 3 North Carolina def. No. 14 Oregon State, 70-49
- No. 7 Michigan State def. No. 10 Harvard, 64-50
- No. 9 Mississippi State def. No. 8 California, 59-46
- No. 8 Illinois def. No. 9 Creighton, 66-57
- No. 6 Florida State def. No. 11 George Mason, 94-59
- No. 1 Texas def. No. 16 William & Mary, 105-61
- No. 3 LSU def. No. 14 San Diego State, 103-48
Sunday, March 23 (Second Round/Round of 32)
Monday, March 24 (Second Round/Round of 32)
Friday, March 28 (Sweet 16)
Saturday, March 29 (Sweet 16)
Sunday, March 30 (Elite Eight)
Monday, March 31 (Elite Eight)
Friday, April 4 (Final Four)
- No. 1 UCLA vs. TBD | ESPN/ESPN2
- No. 1 South Carolina vs. TBD | ESPN/ESPN2
Sunday, April 6 (national championship game)
- TBD vs. TBD, 3 p.m. | ABC
When is the Women’s Final Four?
The women’s NCAA Tournament’s Final Four starts on Friday, April 4 at 7 p.m. with the second semifinal starting 30 minutes after the first game ends. Both games will be held at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida.
The championship game will take place two days later on Sunday, April 6 at 3 p.m. ET at Amalie Arena.
When does the Men’s Final Four start?
On the men’s side, the Final Four is scheduled for Saturday, April 5. The national championship will take place two days later on Monday, April 7. Starting at the Final Four, all games will played at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas.
