The Texas Longhorns didn’t just beat Oklahoma on Sunday - they sent a message. Behind a dominant first half and a raucous home crowd, Vic Schaefer’s squad took down the then-No. 10 Sooners, 78-70, and extended their home winning streak at the Moody Center to 38 games - the longest active streak in the country.
For junior forward Madison Booker, this one was personal.
She remembered the last time Texas lost at home - Jan. 24, 2024, when Oklahoma edged them out in a 91-87 shootout. Booker had dropped 29 points that night, but the sting of a home loss stuck with her. She wasn’t about to let it happen again.
“We want to protect our home court advantage,” Booker said after the win. “Just protect Moody.
… I don’t think we wanted it to happen again. I think we wanted it to be a different outcome this time at home against OU.”
And it was. Booker got her revenge, Texas got the win, and the Moody Center once again proved why it’s become one of the toughest places to play in women’s college basketball.
This isn’t just about a streak - it’s about a culture that’s taken root in Austin. Since Schaefer took over and the team moved from the Frank Erwin Center to the state-of-the-art Moody Center in 2022, the Longhorns have built something special. The results on the court speak for themselves, but what’s happening in the stands is just as important.
Sunday’s game marked the third time in the past month that Texas has drawn over 10,000 fans for an SEC home matchup. From the early morning buzz of ESPN’s College GameDay to Schaefer’s postgame address to the crowd, the energy inside the arena never let up. It was loud, it was electric, and it was exactly the kind of environment that elevates a program.
Even Oklahoma head coach Jennie Baranczyk took notice, calling it “great for women’s basketball.”
Schaefer, never one to shy away from giving credit where it’s due, made sure to acknowledge the fans who’ve helped turn Moody into a fortress.
“Six years ago, when we got here, 1,500, 2,000 people in ‘The Drum,’ that place was like playing in the Grand Canyon,” Schaefer said Friday. “I think we had 1,100 season ticket holders at the time.
Six years later, here we are. We’re sold out. 6,500 season ticket holders.”
That kind of growth doesn’t happen by accident. It’s the product of winning basketball, yes, but also of a fanbase buying in - showing up, getting loud, and creating the kind of home-court advantage that can swing games and seasons.
“How can you not want to go out there and play your guts out in front of that crowd?” Schaefer said. “It is amazing to have that many people here, supporting these kids.”
And the journey isn’t over. With four regular-season games still to be played at Moody - and the possibility of hosting the first and second rounds of the NCAA Tournament - the Longhorns have plenty more opportunities to feed off their home crowd and keep the streak alive.
Next up? A high-stakes rematch with No. 5 LSU - one of only two teams to hand Texas a loss in SEC play this season.
“We’ll be ready,” Schaefer said.
If Sunday was any indication, so will the fans.