LAS VEGAS – No. 4 Texas defeated No. 3 UCLA 76-65 Wednesday night in the Players Era Festival,setting up a championship showdown with No. 2 South Carolina. The Longhorns built a commanding lead, going up by 20 at halftime, before a late Bruins rally.
rori Harmon led Texas with 26 points, 5 assists, and 3 rebounds, sealing the victory with a crucial mid-range jumper and late free throws. Harmon now has 768 career assists, just nine shy of Kamie Ethridge’s program record.Madison Booker added 16 points,7 rebounds,and 5 assists for the Longhorns. Texas played without Bryanna Preston, Ashton Judd, and Aaliyah Crump due to injuries.
UCLA mounted a second-half comeback, outscoring Texas 22-17 in the third and 18-12 in the fourth. Gianna Kneepkens and Kiki Rice each scored a team-high 17 points for the Bruins, with Kneepkens adding 2 assists and 2 rebounds, and Rice contributing 6 rebounds and 3 assists. Charlisse Leger-Walker finished with 13 points,3 rebounds,and 2 assists.
Bruins star Lauren Betts faced defensive pressure from Texas and briefly left the game in the third quarter with an apparent arm injury, returning later with only two additional points. She finished with 8 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 assists.
Texas (6-0) will face South Carolina (6-0) in the championship game Thursday night. South Carolina defeated Duke 83-66, led by Madina Okot’s 23 points and 13 rebounds, and joyce Edwards’ 22 points. UCLA (6-1) will play Duke in the consolation game.
The Players’ Era Festival,held in Las Vegas,awards bragging rights,impacts regular-season standings,and provides NIL incentives for participating teams. This year’s tournament features 18 men’s teams and four women’s teams and is considering expanding to include more teams next season following fan feedback.
