Clutch Heroics: Rori Harmon's Jumper Lifts No. 4 Texas Over No. 2 South Carolina

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LAS VEGAS, NV — The inaugural women’s Players Era Championship title game delivered instant drama as the No. 4 Texas Longhorns stunned the undefeated No. 2 South Carolina Gamecocks 66-64, with Longhorns point guard Rori Harmon sinking a clutch 10-foot floater with one second left on the clock.

The victory, secured late Thursday night in a highly anticipated rematch of last season’s Final Four, not only gives the Longhorns (7-0) an early-season résumé boost but also nets the players a substantial share of the $1 million NIL prize pool.

Harmon’s MVP Moment

Rori Harmon, who was named the Tournament MVP, saved her most decisive play for the final moments. Held to just four points through much of the game by the tenacious South Carolina defense, the tie score at 64-64 set the stage for her heroics. Coach Vic Schaefer, who had called Harmon the “best point guard in the country” after their semifinal win, put the ball in her hands. Harmon drove hard to the left side of the key, pulled up, and delivered the game-winning floater over the Gamecock defense, breaking South Carolina’s 7-0 season start and handing them their first loss since the previous April’s NCAA Championship game.

The shot capped an evening where Harmon also broke the Texas career assist record, finishing the game with nine assists, which pushed her past Kami Ethridge’s previous mark.

Longhorns’ Grit Erases Eight-Point Deficit

The game was a fierce, physical battle, fitting for two programs that define themselves by defensive intensity. Texas jumped out to an early lead, but the Gamecocks, led by Ta’Niya Latson and Joyce Edwards who each scored 16 points, clawed back and eventually built an eight-point lead in the second half.¹

However, the Longhorns’ perseverance showed, as they outscored South Carolina 24-14 in the final stages of the game. Guard Jordan Lee led all scorers for Texas with a superb 19 points, while Madison Booker delivered an all-around performance with 16 points and nine rebounds.² The ability of the Longhorns to secure their second consecutive top-three win in the tournament—having defeated No. 3 UCLA just the night before—cemented their status as a legitimate national championship contender.

The Final Scoreboard

Team	1Q	2Q	3Q	4Q	Final
No. 4 Texas	16	13	17	20	66
No. 2 South Carolina	14	16	17	17	64

The dramatic victory gives Texas the Players Era title and a significant emotional and financial boost heading into the long conference season, confirming the Longhorns’ readiness to compete at the highest level of the sport.