To win a national championship, a team needs both good guard play and size. Texas head coach Vic Schaefer is very aware of that.
“You can win a lot of games with just good guard play, no question, but you gotta have size to go with it,” Schaefer said on Monday night.
The Longhorns’ high-level guard play, spearheaded by graduate point guard Rori Harmon, has been ever-present. To Schaefer’s delight, but not surprise, the latter piece to a championship combination looks to be coming to fruition.
In back-to-back years, Schaefer has gone into the transfer portal to add impact bigs who push this program to ultimate success. In 2024, it was Miami transfer and senior center Kyla Oldacre; in 2025, it was Arizona transfer and junior forward Breya Cunningham.
With both of them in the mix this season, Texas’ dynamic at the five position has been fluid.
Cunningham has started all but one game. However, Oldacre outdoes her slightly in minutes per game. The two have been interchanged day in and day out based on foul trouble, matchups and momentum. Standout performances from both in the same game have been an occasional luxury for Schaefer.
But as the Longhorns enter the climax of their 2025-26 season, now marks the perfect time for the duo to flourish and avoid a dropoff between their substitutions. Against Michigan in Monday’s Elite Eight contest, that was just the case.
“I’m really proud of our five (position) players today … To see them battle like that when I know it takes more than one person to guard them, it’s really incredible,” Harmon said postgame.
Cunningham and Oldacre contributed 11 and 12 points, respectively, utilizing their size advantage to help Texas double Michigan’s paint-points total.
The two went a combined 9-11 from the field — when Texas struggled to stabilize its offensive attack, their bigs capitalized on the moment, and did so with formidable efficiency.
“I think both those kids have continued to work and develop,” Schaefer said. “They’re both really tough — they’re really tough kids and super competitive. … I’m grateful that they chose Texas.”
After securing a spot in the Final Four, Schaefer emphasized that Cunningham and Oldacre transferred to Texas in the middle of their collegiate careers not only because of his track record of developing bigs, but also because of the capability to contend for a national title.
And, this weekend, they get that shot.
The Longhorns could be facing their biggest interior challenge in the NCAA Tournament on Friday night. As a unit, they survived, or, more accurately, overpowered All-American junior center Clara Strack versus Kentucky in the Sweet 16.
However, now comes a rematch against UCLA star, senior center Lauren Betts, who had just eight points against Texas in the Nov. 26 matchup in Las Vegas but shone throughout March.
In Phoenix, the performance of its two-headed monster down low may be a deciding factor between another Final Four exit and Texas’ first title game appearance since the perfect 1986 season.
“I feel like we have a great chance (at the national championship),” Oldacre said. “… As long as we keep our double-edged sword, and going out there, being hungry and humble, we can be unstoppable.”
