The thought of leaving Harvard never crossed Harmoni Turner’s mind. But that didn’t stop the offers from coming.
Power conference schools, especially the SEC institutions closer to Turner’s Mansfield, Texas, home, had deals lined up hoping to lure her away from Cambridge.
And in the era of name, image, and likeness — and with nearly 1,400 women’s college basketball players entering the transfer portal last year — it wasn’t far-fetched to believe they had a shot.
But Turner wasn’t one of those 1,400.
Last week, she got the validation when she led the Crimson to the NCAA Tournament in her final season.
“I didn’t want the easy way out,” Turner said. “I’m super grateful for a lot of people that were interested in me, a lot of schools that were. At the same time, I feel like my relationships with my teammates and my coaches are worth more than any amount of money.“
As enticing as other programs might’ve been, she had a chance to do something at Harvard that hadn’t been done in decades: win an Ivy League title and reach the NCAA Tournament. She took it.
“Why be a part of history when you can make it?“ Turner said. “I feel like we’ve done so much together collectively that I wouldn’t change my journey for the world. And I feel like that’s what makes my story that much greater. I’m super grateful for that.”
The Crimson beat Princeton and Columbia to capture their first Ivy League tournament crown and earn a No. 10 seed in the NCAA Tournament. Harvard fell to Michigan State in the first round. Turner averaged 22.5 points per game, best in the Ivy League and the ninth in the nation. She set Harvard’s single-game scoring record with 41 points in November against Boston College, set the Ivy League tournament scoring record with 41 points against Princeton last week, then scored 24 against Michigan State.
“She probably needs some days to just really process, as I do,” said Crimson coach Carrie Moore.
Moore understands firsthand what Turner’s next steps might look like. Moore led the league in scoring her final season at Western Michigan in 2007, then signed a training camp contract with the Phoenix Mercury, went on to play one professional season in Poland, then signed another training camp contract with the Chicago Sky in 2008.
“You just don’t really have time to sit and think about all that you’ve done, especially for her, right?” Moore said. “Like we only had one other player in the history of our program that has ever compared to what she’s done. That’s a lot. She’s been through a lot and it has not been easy. So I think for her to just take some time, rest, and just really like reflect on everything that has happened is the best thing she can do.
“And then after a couple weeks, I’m sure she’ll be back in the gym hopefully preparing for a professional career. I think she has shown her name should be called on that night. I’ll be right there alongside her waiting to hear her name.”
The WNBA Draft will be held April 14 in New York. Players must declare at least 10 days before draft day. The women’s national championship game is set for April 6. Because of how close the draft is to the end of the tournament, players still competing can declare within the 10-day window, but then must state their intentions within 24 hours of their team’s final game.
The draft will be three rounds, but there will be one fewer player selected: The Las Vegas Aces had to forfeit their first-round pick when the league determined they violated workplace policies and player-benefit rules.
For the past decade, the WNBA Draft has produced stars — from Breanna Stewart in 2016 and A’ja Wilson in 2018 to Sabrina Ionescu in 2020 and Caitlin Clark in 2024 — and the next three drafts are expected to be loaded just the same.
UConn guard Paige Bueckers is expected to headline a class that will also include Notre Dame stars Olivia Miles and Sonia Citron. Many teams, including the Connecticut Sun, are preparing by stockpiling picks to build around young talent.
Two players spent their entire college careers at Harvard and then heard their names called in the WNBA Draft: Allison Feaster was drafted fifth by the Los Angeles Sparks in 1998. Temi Fagbenle was taken 35th in 2016 by the Minnesota Lynx.
McKenzie Forbes, who started at Cal, only got to play two seasons with the Crimson between sitting out because of NCAA transfer rules in 2019-20 and COVID in 2020-21 before moving on to Southern Cal for her final season. She was drafted last year by the Sparks with the 28th pick.
As much as Turner accomplished in four years at Harvard, Moore said she still has plenty in store.
“She’s a pro,” Moore said. “She’s only scratching the surface. Believe that or not, but she’s got an incredible career ahead of her.“
Julian Benbow can be reached at julian.benbow@globe.com.