Rori Harmon is first Longhorn to earn Big 12's preseason MVP honor for women's basketball

For the first time, the Texas women will enter a basketball season with the best player in the Big 12 on its roster.

Texas point guard Rori Harmon was named the Big 12's preseason player of the year on Wednesday. She's the first Longhorn to earn the conference preseason honor.

The junior averaged 7.4 assists last season, which was fourth-best nationally and a school record. Harmon averaged 11.2 points per game and was named the Big 12's defensive player of the year. In an 81-69 win at TCU on Jan. 4, she recorded UT's first triple-double since 2010.

The Big 12's preseason awards are selected by the conference coaches. How accurate have these picks been? In 18 of the 26 previous years that the Big 12 selected a preseason MVP, that player went on to be named the player of the year at the end of the season:

∙ 2022-23: Ashley Joens, Iowa State

∙ 2021-22: NaLyssa Smith, Baylor

∙ 2020-21: NaLyssa Smith, Baylor

∙ 2019-20: Lauren Cox, Baylor

∙ 2017-18: Kalani Brown, Baylor

∙ 2013-14: Odyssey Sims, Baylor

∙ 2012-13: Brittney Griner, Baylor

∙ 2011-12: Brittney Griner, Baylor

∙ 2010-11: Brittney Griner, Baylor

∙ 2008-09: Courtney Paris, Oklahoma

∙ 2007-08: Courtney Paris, Oklahoma

∙ 2006-07: Courtney Paris, Oklahoma

∙ 2005-06: Sophia Young, Baylor

∙ 2004-05: Kendra Wecker, Kansas State

∙ 2003-04: Nicole Ohlde, Kansas State

∙ 2002-03: Nicole Ohlde, Kansas State

∙ 2001-02: Stacey Dales, Oklahoma

∙ 1997-98: Alicia Thompson, Texas Tech

Harmon was joined on the preseason team by forward DeYona Gaston. Like Harmon, Gaston earned a first-team nod on last season's all-conference team. As a junior, she averaged 12.1 points and 5.8 rebounds per game. The Big 12 also tabbed UT forward Madison Booker as its preseason freshman of the year. Guard Shaylee Gonzales and forward Aaliyah Moore received honorable mentions on the preseason team.

Texas will open its season with a home game against Southern on Nov. 8.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Big 12 honors Texas basketball player Rori Harmon ahead of season