Texas Longhorns stars Madison Booker and Rori Harmon have become synonymous with Texas basketball and are largely touted as critical drivers of a possible championship run. However, another sensation could be the key to the Longhorns earning their ring: sophomore guard Jordan Lee.
Lee, who joined head coach Vic Schaefer’s team during the 2024-2025 season, was part of the roster that advanced to the Final Four in Tampa, Florida, in April 2025. The Longhorns ultimately lost to South Carolina, 84-57, in the semifinals but Lee’s standout 16-point performance as a freshman was noteworthy.
Now, in her second season, she’s been essential to helping Texas achieve an 8-0 start, get upset wins over UCLA and South Carolina and earn a No. 2 ranking in the USA TODAY Women’s College Basketball Coaches Poll. She leads the Longhorns into another test against No. 10 North Carolina on Thursday (7 p.m. ET, ESPN2).
The California native’s timely rise begs the question: Could she be what helps Texas potentially knock off the defending champion UConn Huskies? The answer to that question remains to be seen, but here are three ways Lee is helping the Longhorns push for a return to the Final Four.
1. Lee’s three-level scoring makes Texas true offensive threat
Look across the Longhorns roster, and it’s very easy to deduce much of what they do on the offensive end starts and ends with Booker and Harmon. Booker, who leads the team in scoring, averages 16.8 points a game, and Harmon handles the facilitation duties with 6.2 assists per contest. The question then becomes: where does the other scoring come from?
Enter Lee, who hasn’t stopped making an impact since the season began. Lee is averaging 14.6 points per game (second to only Booker) and has become an extra threat teams have to account for. She’s the true definition of a three-level scorer, something many players don’t achieve until later in their careers. The sophomore has solid range on her 3-point shooting, a gorgeous pull-up jumper and utilizes her speed to get into the paint quickly.
2. Lee’s two-man game with Harmon is hard to defend
Harmon does a tremendous job of finding open players for points, but her growing relationship with Lee is noticeable. Lee’s constantly moving around the court to get herself open for her teammate and thus, extending how Harmon can manipulate defenses. The sophomore’s energy, attention to detail and ability to find the seemingly undetectable open windows for a pass are something that other teams have yet to figure out.
3. Lee’s energy and aggression make her the X-factor
Lee has a motor that just keeps going. Her energy is infectious, and her aggression, whether looking for her own shot or applying defensive pressure, could be what helps elevate Texas to the next level.