The Texas Longhorns women's basketball program, fresh off consecutive Final Four appearances, is facing a significant roster overhaul as the transfer portal opens. Head coach Vic Schaefer's task has shifted from reloading to rebuilding after a wave of key departures this week.

While three-time All-American Madison Booker remains the cornerstone, the Longhorns are losing a substantial portion of their core. The team was already set to graduate starting point guard Rori Harmon, center Kyla Oldacre, and reserve forward Teya Sidberry.

The bigger shock came with the immediate exodus of players expected to be major contributors next season. Sophomore guard Jordan Lee, the team's second-leading scorer (13.2 PPG) and top three-point threat, entered the portal. She is joined by sophomore forward Justice Carlton (8.5 PPG), a 28-game starter who showed flashes of brilliance, and highly-touted 2025 recruit Aaliyah Crump, who averaged 7.9 points in 24 games despite a foot injury. Forward Aaliyah Moore, who missed last season injured, is also transferring.

Carlton's departure was particularly poignant, as she posted on social media, "I never imagined I’d transfer... But some things just don’t work."

This mass exit presents a stark challenge for a program that has re-established itself as a national powerhouse under Schaefer. In his six seasons, Texas has returned to the Final Four, made three other Elite Eight appearances, and captured both SEC regular-season and tournament titles, earning No. 1 seeds in the process.

The focus in Austin now turns to how Schaefer will navigate the portal himself to retool around Booker and a top-ranked incoming recruiting class, aiming to keep the Longhorns in championship contention.