NORMAN – The Oklahoma Sooners Women’s Basketball team tipped off their 2025-26 season with a mix of excitement, nerves, and a whole lot of promise. A young roster filled with fresh faces joined forces with a core of proven veterans.
And the blend was on full display in their 84-67 win over Belmont at Lloyd Noble Center.
With experienced leaders like Raegan Beers, Payton Verhulst, and Sahara Williams setting the tone, and the nation’s number 1 recruit Aaliyah Chavez making her highly anticipated debut, this OU squad already looks like one with the right balance of energy and experience.
They jumped out to a quick start behind their up tempo offense, pushing the pace and attacking early in possessions. But Belmont’s hot shooting kept the game close through the middle quarters, forcing Oklahoma to make defensive adjustments.
Belmont came out firing from deep, hitting seven of their first ten three point attempts to stay within striking distance. The Bruins’ shot making slowed the Sooner’s pace and tested their composure. That’s when the Sooners’ defensive pressure, led by freshmen Keziah Lofton and Zya Vann alongside the relentless Sahara Williams, shifted the momentum.
Their ability to disrupt passing lanes and turn stops into transition opportunities helped OU pull away in the fourth quarter, sealing a comfortable win after a competitive start.
While the win showed flashes of the Sooner’s potential, there were plenty of teaching moments, also. The most glaring issues came from the perimeter and the foul line. OU went just 3-23 from three point range, and while many of those looks were clean, the execution just wasn’t there. They’ll need more consistency from beyond the arc to stretch defenses and open up their interior game.
Free throw shooting was another sore spot. The Sooners finished 15-30 from the line, leaving far too many points on the table. For a team with championship aspirations, those misses could be costly in tighter games later this season.
The turnover count also crept a bit too high, with 18 giveaways. Playing at the pace OU prefers, some mistakes are inevitable, but cleaning that number up will be a key point of emphasis moving forward.
On the positive side, Oklahoma’s dominance inside was overwhelming. The Sooners outscored Belmont 54-18 in the paint, and it was clear that when they simplified things and played through Raegan Beers, good things happened. Beers looked unstoppable down low, posting 29 points and 10 rebounds while commanding double teams all night.
OU’s high-low action with Beers and transfer Brooklyn Stewart also showed real promise, giving them a dependable offensive foundation they can lean on all season.
Defensively, OU made the necessary adjustments after Belmont’s early barrage from deep. Following their 7-10 start from beyond the arc, the Bruins went just 3-24 the rest of the way.
Head coach Jennie Baranczyk credited the turnaround to her team’s effort and communication: “We just started defending better,” she said simply after the win.
Chavez shined in her debut with 16 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists. While she didn’t shoot particularly well, it was easy to see that there was a lot of talent there. She’s going to be allowed to play with a lot of freedom and will need to work herself into a rhythm. Once she finds it, look out because it will be a lot of fun.
Sahara Williams stuffed the stat sheet with 11 points and 14 boards to go along with her game changing defensive pressure while Verhulst added 11 points and 9 rebounds, giving OU a steady veteran presence on both ends.
It wasn’t perfect, far from it, but Oklahoma showed exactly why their ceiling is so high. With their mix of youth, experience, and interior dominance, this young team’s first test was a successful one.
