Texas women’s basketball took the court at the Moody Center one last time on Monday before the Big 12 Tournament to cut down the nets in celebration of the team’s first conference championship since 2004.

Texas secured the regular season crown with its 80–52 win over Kansas State on Saturday, sharing the title with Oklahoma. But the Longhorns waited until fans could be in attendance for the net cutting celebration. 

“We thought about (cutting down the nets) as soon as we got back,” head coach Vic Schaefer said at Monday’s ceremony. “We thought there might be an opportunity for some of you all to come, let (the players) feel that energy in the building.”

In its inaugural season, the Moody Center proved to be a significant home-court advantage for the Longhorns, as Texas boasted a 14–2 record at home. 

“We felt like we actually had a real home-court advantage this year,” junior guard Shay Holle said. “I could see on the faces of the other team when the songs blaring before the game, they’re kind of like, ‘Oh gosh.’ We had that advantage this year, which just made it a lot more fun.”

Holle was not the only one to touch on Texas’ new home-court advantage. Schaefer thanked fans for coming out all season at the net cutting ceremony. 

“It isn’t the building that makes it,” Schaefer said. “It’s the guts of a building that make whatever it represents. (The fans) are the guts of this building, and you are what makes this a great home-court advantage.”

After winning the conference, Texas still has two more championships to play for: the Big 12 Tournament Championship and the National Championship. Sophomore point guard Rori Harmon said that the team’s effort is how they will continue to win this season.

“We constantly play hard and play with effort,” Harmon said. “We have energy, and I feel like everything else will fall in line. I’ve seen what this team is capable of. We need to find a way to be consistent, and like Coach Schaefer said, there’s not that many games left. We still have a lot to improve on.” 

After the celebrations end, Texas will travel to Kansas City for the Big 12 Tournament. Because Texas swept Oklahoma during the regular season, the Longhorns own the regular season tie-breaker and are the tournament’s top seed. 

“We’re playing our best basketball, and we’re rolling,” Schaefer said. “Whoever we get that first night, it’ll be two teams that want to beat the crap out of Texas.”  

Texas will have a first round bye in the Big 12 Tournament and will face the winner of Kansas State versus Texas Tech on Friday.