AUSTIN, Texas — In a rare mid-season outburst, Vic Schaefer, head coach of the Texas Longhorns women’s basketball, voiced sharp criticism of award voting panels this week, arguing that his standout point guard has been consistently overlooked for one of women’s college basketball’s top honors.
Speaking to reporters after Thursday’s dominant 77-64 victory over the LSU Tigers women’s basketball, Schaefer made it clear he believes Rori Harmon deserves far greater recognition for her performance this season — especially in the race for the prestigious Nancy Lieberman Point Guard of the Year Award.
“When she’s done playing, man… the numbers she’s going to have — there won’t be another player like her in the history of women’s college basketball,” Schaefer said, visibly frustrated that Harmon remains absent from the award winners despite being part of the mid-season watch list. “She deserves way more attention than she’s gotten.”
The Lieberman Award honors the best point guard in NCAA women’s basketball each season. Harmon, known for her all-around playmaking, defensive tenacity and leadership on a Longhorns team with championship aspirations, has put together another strong campaign but has yet to secure the honor. She ranks among the sport’s leaders in assists and steals, and recently broke Texas’ all-time steals record.
Harmon’s résumé this season includes averaging robust assist and steal numbers, demonstrating her dual role as a facilitator and stopper on defense — contributions Schaefer insisted should weigh heavily in awards voting. “I’ve had some really good players in my career, but I haven’t had anybody like her,” the coach added.
The coach’s remarks underscore an ongoing conversation in women’s college basketball about how postseason honors are determined and whether certain statistical achievements and intangibles are being adequately valued by voters. Schaefer stopped short of criticizing any specific voters by name, but his comments amplified the debate around how elite point guards are evaluated and recognized.
With the season still unfolding and Harmon’s team firmly in contention nationally, attention now shifts to whether elite performance down the stretch will translate into postseason honors — both for her and other top guards across the country.
