With Texas and Tennessee tied at 50 heading into the fourth quarter of Saturday afternoon’s Sweet 16 matchup, the Longhorns forward knew she needed to bring more for her teammates. Typically, Booker steps up by sinking smooth midrange jumpers or using her ranginess to slow the opponent she is guarding. But with the Longhorns’ season at a momentary inflection point, she stood up and spoke up.
While coach Vic Schaefer was taking part in a mid-quarter TV interview, Booker told her teammates seated in front of her that they needed to focus more. She stressed the importance of valuing every possession, setting stronger and more effective screens, not forcing up shots amid the Lady Vols’ frenetic defense. They listened to her and beat Tennessee before moving on to defeat TCU in the Elite Eight.
Booker might not have been so vocal a year ago.
Only a sophomore, she has already emerged as one of the nation’s best players. She was named an AP All-American twice. She won at least a share of conference player of the year honors in two conferences. She is arguably college basketball’s most understated star — a player who has traded making headlines for making baskets, time and again.
Yet with Texas back in the Final Four for the first time since 2003, Booker is also primed to reintroduce herself. Her game will do the talking in Tampa, Fla. She is surely at the top of fellow No. 1 seed South Carolina’s game plan for Friday, but Booker’s voice is growing louder, too.
“She’s always been somebody who has led by example,” assistant coach Blair Schaefer said. “Now, she is understanding the importance of bringing others along with her in this process. The vocal piece, that’s really the piece where she’s stepped up of late.”
oh my @MaddiewitdaB_ 😮💨🤘#HookEmpic.twitter.com/e7P6A4sgao
— Texas Women's Basketball (@TexasWBB) April 1, 2025
The 6-foot-1 wing is still evolving as a leader. She recognizes that she isn’t the most outspoken. Booker said she’s more “lead by example.” But Texas coaches, and Booker, know the value of her words. Blair Schaefer reminds Booker: “You don’t say things a lot, but when you do, it carries weight, so you need to do that more often.” Booker hears Schaefer’s message. She is trying to find organic moments to speak up.
Booker prides herself on her standout work ethic as the first quality people notice. Veteran Longhorns recall Booker’s first summer on campus, how she routinely urged her teammates to play more pickup with her and how she never wanted to sub out of anything. Booker credits star guard Rori Harmon for helping show her the way to lead, being the first in line for drills, in the treatment room or in the gym. Harmon deflects credit back to Booker. “She continues to get in the gym, remain humble and just play team basketball,” Harmon said.
Being comfortable around a coach she has long enjoyed watching has helped her impress. Before Booker blossomed into a Texas star of her own, she was merely a fan of what Vic ...
