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Rori Harmon’s final Texas game ends with tears — but her legacy will live on
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- Rori Harmon’s final Texas game ends with tears — but her legacy will live on
PHOENIX ― Rori Harmon's college career didn't end with a national championship or any individual accolades. Instead, it was Harmon on the sideline, after a 51-44 loss to UCLA , holding onto head coach Vic Schaefer as she came to grips with a painful reality.
Harmon pounded her fist on her leg in frustration as Schaefer spoke to her after she checked out for the last time in a Texas uniform. The senior point guard eventually embraced Schaefer, letting all her emotions out. The tears fell as substitutions entered for Harmon and several other Texas players.
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Schaefer was mid-opening statement in his postgame press conference when he pivoted from talking about the loss to praising Harmon.
"Rori Harmon has scored 1,616 points, 977 assists, 659 rebounds, and 388 steals. Not one agency has ever voted her All-American," Schaefer said. "There's not another player in the history of our game ― you hear me? ― not another player in the history of our game that has had those stats, those four statistics. Not one. She's won 137 games. You might as well get rid of whatever awards you got if she ain't good enough to get one of 'em."
It wasn't the first time Schaefer went to bat for his point guard. In February, he made a similar plea for Harmon to receive consideration for the Nancy Lieberman Award which honors the best point guard in the country. Still, Friday's impassioned speech felt different. Schaefer, who days earlier admitted he didn't want his time with Harmon to end, was openly lecturing on Rori Harmon 101, class was in session.
Schaefer chided the public at large for his player's lack of recognition. Friday was Harmon's final game for the Longhorns and Schaefer wanted to make sure people would remember her impact on Texas women's basketball.
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"(She'll) guard your ass at the city limit and show you the door when she's done with you. You want to talk about somebody that's hard to replace. We may never replace her. The impact she has on our team," Schaefer said. "But shame on you. Shame on the people because there's not another player in the history of our game, not one, and we've had some pretty good players. Seen them play in this venue, in the Final Four. They've never done what Rori Harmon did, never. And you know what? I'm going to bet it might not ever happen again."
When Schaefer was finished, the praise for Harmon continued to pour from her teammates. Center Kyla Oldacre called Harmon "one of the greatest teammates" she'd played with. Oldacre said from her first workout with Texas, Harmon offered encouragement. The Texas center said it was Harmon who brought the team together on their best and worst days, offering energy and fire.
Forward Madison Booker could barely get through what she would miss about playing with her point guard before she was overcome with emotion. Moments before, Harmon defended Booker after a rough shooting night against the Bruins. Booker made 3-of-23 attempts from the field in the loss to UCLA.
Harmon didn't care. She says Texas was going back to Booker regardless of any stats. Then, she implored the media in the room to realize Booker was human and give her some grace. Booker returned the favor by expressing how much Harmon meant to her as a teammate and a person.
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"That's my sister ... I've learned so much from her. Impact on and off the court. Our relationship we built. There's not many words to describe it. I mean, I will always root for Rori no matter what. I still think she's one of the best defenders in the country. Like Coach Schaefer was saying, I don't think people give her her flowers enough. I think she deserves 'em," Booker said through her tears.
Still, Booker wasn't done. She had more she needed to say, and her words said everything Harmon couldn't as she looked down at the table in front of her and sobbed while Booker talked.
"She led this team to back-to-back Final Fours. That should not go unnoticed at all. I wouldn't be me without Rori Harmon. That's a fact," Booker said.
"When I first got here, I didn't know what real work ethic was until I met Rori Harmon. We always tell you this story. She's always the first one in the gym, first one anywhere. Work ethic is off the charts. Her passion for her game is off the charts. That's the one thing that really stuck out to me as a freshman. I think that's really helped me now coming into my junior year, about to be a senior next year. Not many words to describe Rori Harmon as a person ... and I love her."
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Harmon will move on from Texas in the coming days and could be drafted by a WNBA team on April 13. Schaefer endorsed Harmon for the next phase of her basketball career.
"If I had a job in the WNBA, (she'd) be the first one I'd go get. She can run your team. She has no ego," Schaefer said.
"If you want somebody that's going to set the tone, is going to bring it every day ― don't care if you're a 12-year vet or a rookie, I'm going to guard your ass ― you go get her because she's good."
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Texas women's basketball praises Rori Harmon in emotional goodbye
