Texas Longhorns guard Rori Harmon (3) drives past defense from TCU Horned Frogs guard Agnes Emma-Nnopu (21) in the second half of the Longhorns' NCAA Playoff Regional final game against the TCU Horned Frogs at Legacy Arena in Birmingham Alabama, March 31, 2025.

Texas Longhorns guard Rori Harmon (3) drives past defense from TCU Horned Frogs guard Agnes Emma-Nnopu (21) in the second half of the Longhorns’ NCAA Playoff Regional final game against the TCU Horned Frogs at Legacy Arena in Birmingham Alabama, March 31, 2025.

Sara Diggins/American-Statesman

In almost five years with the Texas women’s basketball program, Rori Harmon is about to experience a first: a trip to Toronto.

The Longhorns’ last international trip was before the COVID-19 pandemic and next week they will represent the United States in the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association GLOBAL JAM. Other U23 teams expected to play include Brazil, Puerto Rico and Japan, according to a May news release.

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“The Final Four team was last year. This is a new team, new players, so we just have to hone in on his (Vic Schaefer’s) system and what he’s got going on,” Harmon said Wednesday. 

Harmon finished the 2024 season averaging 9.3 points, 5.9 assists and 3.5 rebounds. Bouncing her way into the gym to meet reporters Wednesday, Harmon said she is soaking in every last bit of her final season at Texas and is excited about the chemistry starting to build during workouts. She also said she feels lighter, but that could be because something is missing: the knee brace she wore all season after tearing her ACL in December 2023. 

Texas Longhorns guard Rori Harmon (3) sits with head coach Vic Schaefer on the bench in the second half of the Longhorns' NCAA Playoff semi-final game against the South Carolina Gamecocks at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida, April 4, 2025.

Texas Longhorns guard Rori Harmon (3) sits with head coach Vic Schaefer on the bench in the second half of the Longhorns’ NCAA Playoff semi-final game against the South Carolina Gamecocks at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida, April 4, 2025.

Sara Diggins/American-Statesman

“I don’t know where any of (the braces) them are at… but I feel great,” she said. 

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MORE: Madison Booker shifts focus from USA Basketball to her team at Texas

Rori Harmon preparing for the final lap

Harmon rehabbed her knee in time to suit up for the 2024-25 season. 

But for the Houston native, the mental grind wore her down just as much as the new gear did in her return, despite leading the team with 230 assists and 84 steals last season. 

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“I didn’t really feel like myself all year. I will always complain about the brace, it was always a hindrance to me, I don’t care what anybody says. Being out of it, I just feel so much better,” she said. 

Texas Longhorns guard Rori Harmon (3) leaves the court after the Longhorns' loss to the South Carolina Gamecocks in the NCAA Playoff semi-final game at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida, April 4, 2025.

Texas Longhorns guard Rori Harmon (3) leaves the court after the Longhorns’ loss to the South Carolina Gamecocks in the NCAA Playoff semi-final game at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida, April 4, 2025.

Sara Diggins/American-Statesman

Along with her cat Princess, Harmon said she leaned on her faith a bit more during trying times, and in doing so found calmness and an understanding that everything happens for a reason. Now with a brace-free leg and inner peace, Harmon hopes her growth is evident on the court. 

Last season, she didn’t know if she was going to come back. She and former guard Shay Holle talked a lot about the potential final year of a collegiate career. 

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“She was just saying ‘you really just want to soak in every practice, every minute, every time you’re with your teammates, because it cuts off really fast,'” Harmon said. 

MORE: Bryanna Preston among Texas sophomores ready to take the next step

A business trip to Canada

With a mix of returners and transfers, Texas will have 10 practices before they board the plane. It was only until recently they had close to a full roster, barring two Longhorns still playing with their respective national teams. 

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“We’re gonna play some really good people, so it’ll be a challenge for us trying to get together after just 10 workouts,” said head coach Vic Schaefer. 

MORE: Texas women’s basketball: Is Class of 2022’s exodus a national sign?

Per Schaefer, the team is nowhere near it’s supposed to be come February, when conference play hits full tilt, but the pieces are there. He said that the play inside could get a bit better and chemistry is starting to build because “they enjoy playing with each other.” New teammates have to get used to one another, though.

“They’ve developed some awareness of each other. We have a lot of good things going on with our culture right now, that we haven’t maybe had in the past,” he said. 

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Texas has returners who further developed in the offseason, including Madison Booker and Jordan Lee, who played for FIBA’s America Cup and U19 Women’s World Cup, respectively. Although Harmon doesn’t have international experience, she’s going to use the upcoming games as a learning opportunity.

“(International play) Is always going to be a good gauge if I want to play at the next level. I am in a really good place right now, but there’s always room for improvement,” she said.Â