Oklahoma Lady Sooners Basketball: Why Norman Is the New Center of the SEC

Basketball in Norman feels different lately. If you walk into the Lloyd Noble Center on a Tuesday night in 2026, you aren't just watching a game; you’re witnessing a total cultural shift. People used to talk about Oklahoma as a "football school" that occasionally dabbled in hoops, but Jennie Baranczyk changed that narrative fast. Honestly, she didn't just change it—she lit it on fire.

The Oklahoma Lady Sooners basketball program is currently navigating its second year in the SEC, and the transition hasn't just been smooth; it’s been explosive. As of mid-January 2026, the Sooners sit at a 14-3 record. They’ve had some growing pains, sure. Back-to-back losses to Ole Miss and a tough Kentucky squad in early January stung. But don't let a two-game skid fool you. This team is scoring over 90 points a game, which is second in the entire country.

The Baranczyk Effect and the SEC Jump

Jennie Baranczyk is basically a wizard. Since she arrived from Drake in 2021, she has restored the program to the national elite. We're talking four straight NCAA appearances and a Sweet 16 run in 2025 that saw them take down Iowa before falling to the juggernaut that is UConn.

What makes her system work? Pace. It's fast. It's chaotic for the defense. It’s "positionless" basketball before that became a tired cliché. She wants her players to run, and they do. Last season, the Sooners averaged over 20 assists per game, leading the nation. They don't just score; they share.

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Moving to the SEC was supposed to be a reality check. Everyone said the physicality of South Carolina and LSU would be too much. Instead, the Sooners finished tied for fourth in their inaugural SEC season (2024-25). They aren't just surviving the "gauntlet"—they are the gauntlet.

The Stars Powering the Engine

You can't talk about this roster without mentioning Aaliyah Chavez. The freshman guard arrived with more hype than almost any recruit in program history, and somehow, she’s exceeding it. She’s leading the team with 19.2 points per game. She plays with a swagger that makes you forget she was in high school a year ago.

Then there’s Raegan Beers. The 6'4" senior center is a walking double-double. Averaging 17.1 points and 11.2 rebounds, she provides the interior grit that every SEC team needs. When the perimeter shots aren't falling, Baranczyk just feeds the post. It’s a luxury most coaches would kill for.

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• Sahara Williams: The junior forward is the glue. She’s putting up 12.7 points and over 8 boards a game.
• Payton Verhulst: A veteran presence who hit the 1,000-point career mark recently. She’s the steady hand when things get frantic.
• Zya Vann: Only a sophomore but playing like a pro. She’s averaging double figures and harassing opposing guards on every possession.

What Fans Get Wrong About the "Lady Sooners" Tag

Here is a bit of a nuance: technically, the university refers to them simply as the Oklahoma Sooners. The "Lady Sooners" moniker is a bit of a throwback. While many long-time fans still use it out of habit or affection, the modern era under Baranczyk is all about the "OU" brand being unified.

It’s a small detail, but it reflects how the program views itself. They aren't a "women's version" of a men's team. They are a powerhouse in their own right. When they played Oklahoma State in the 2025 Bedlam matchup at the Paycom Center, they won 92-70. They dominated the conversation in the state.

The Road Ahead: Can They Win the SEC?

The schedule doesn't get easier. On January 18, 2026, the Sooners host No. 6 LSU. A few days later, they welcome the gold standard: South Carolina. These are the games that define a season.

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Right now, the team is ranked 13th in the AP Poll. They have the 7th-best Simple Rating System (SRS) score in the country, which accounts for both margin of victory and strength of schedule. Basically, the computers love them even more than the human voters do.

The biggest challenge is the defense. While they score 90.8 points per game, they allow about 60. That gap is huge, but against elite SEC talent, that defensive rating (currently 6th in the nation) has to stay elite. They can outrun almost anyone, but can they stop a physical LSU frontcourt for 40 minutes? That’s the $1.075 million question (which, coincidentally, is Baranczyk’s annual salary).

Recruiting the Future

The momentum isn't slowing down. For the Class of 2026, OU has already secured a commitment from Leelee Bell, a 6'3" five-star forward from North Dakota. They also have Finley Chastain locked in for 2027. Baranczyk is building a pipeline that ensures Norman remains a destination for the best players in the country.

Actionable Insights for Fans

If you're following the Oklahoma Lady Sooners basketball journey this season, here is how to stay ahead of the curve:

1. Watch the Assist-to-Turnover Ratio: This is the pulse of the team. When they have 20+ assists, they almost never lose. If they get sloppy with the ball, they become vulnerable to the SEC’s elite transition teams.
2. Attend a Mid-Week Game: The atmosphere at the Lloyd Noble Center has peaked. Attendance is averaging over 6,000, but the big SEC games are sellouts. If you want a ticket for the South Carolina or Texas games, buy them weeks in advance.
3. Monitor the Health of Raegan Beers: She is the only true rim protector with high-volume minutes. If she gets into foul trouble or needs rest, the Sooners’ defensive identity changes significantly.
4. Follow the Freshman Impact: Keep an eye on Keziah Lofton and Brooklyn Stewart. They might not have the flashy stats of Chavez yet, but their defensive contributions in the second half of the season will be the difference between a Sweet 16 and a Final Four run.

The era of Oklahoma being a "sleeping giant" in women's basketball is over. The giant is awake, it’s wearing crimson, and it’s running at full speed. Whether you call them the Lady Sooners or just the Sooners, one thing is certain: you’d better not blink when they have the ball.