Oklahoma's Chavez Confident in Sooners' Bright Future

Freshman point guard Aaliyah Chavez excited about talented incoming class as Oklahoma looks to build on Sweet 16 run

Mar. 29, 2026 at 1:34am

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An abstract, expressionist painting in vibrant neon colors depicting the dynamic movement and energy of a women's college basketball team, with the players' forms dissolving into bold, gestural brushstrokes.Oklahoma's young, talented roster exudes confidence and excitement for the program's bright future on the hardwood.Bethany Today

Oklahoma freshman point guard Aaliyah Chavez expressed confidence in the Sooners' future after their Sweet 16 loss to South Carolina, citing the team's talented incoming freshman class as a major reason for optimism. Chavez, the No. 1 recruit in 2025, led OU in scoring this season and believes the Sooners will be 'scary' next year with several key players returning and a highly touted recruiting class joining the fold.

Why it matters

Oklahoma's women's basketball program has been on the upswing in recent years, making the Sweet 16 this season. With Chavez leading the way and a strong recruiting class coming in, the Sooners have a chance to take the next step and become a national title contender in the near future, which would be a major boost for the school and the local community in Oklahoma.

The details

Chavez, who averaged 18.3 points per game as a freshman, was OU's leading scorer in the loss to South Carolina with 21 points. She expressed excitement about the Sooners' incoming freshman class, which includes five-star local product Keziah Lofton and international additions Emma Tolan and Daffa Cissoko. The Sooners will also return starters Sahara Williams and Zya Vann, providing Chavez with a strong supporting cast as she looks to lead the team to new heights next season.

  • On March 29, 2026, Oklahoma's season ended with a 94-68 loss to South Carolina in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament.
  • Immediately after the loss, Chavez spoke to The Oklahoman's Colton Sulley about her confidence in the Sooners' future.

The players

Aaliyah Chavez

A freshman point guard for the Oklahoma Sooners, Chavez was the No. 1 recruit in the class of 2025 and led the team in scoring this season at 18.3 points per game.

Jennie Baranczyk

The head coach of the Oklahoma Sooners women's basketball team, Baranczyk has helped build the program into a Sweet 16 contender and has assembled a talented incoming recruiting class to complement Chavez.

Brooklyn Stewart

A freshman forward for the Oklahoma Sooners who was a consensus four-star recruit and ranked as the No. 66 player in the class by ESPN.

Keziah Lofton

A five-star local product from Bethany, Oklahoma who is part of Oklahoma's highly touted incoming freshman class.

Emma Tolan

An international addition to Oklahoma's freshman class, hailing from Ireland.

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What they’re saying

“It's gonna be scary next year. Obviously we have a lot of people coming back. We came out hard and, man, the freshman group in general is gonna be so special. Obviously I'm really close to them, and it's just gonna be amazing next year.”

— Aaliyah Chavez, Freshman point guard

What’s next

Oklahoma will look to build on this season's Sweet 16 appearance and make a deeper NCAA Tournament run next year, with Chavez leading the way and the team's highly touted freshman class joining the fold.

The takeaway

Aaliyah Chavez's confidence in Oklahoma's future is a great sign for the program, as the talented freshman point guard believes the Sooners have the pieces in place to take the next step and become a national title contender. With a strong core of returning players and an impressive incoming recruiting class, Oklahoma appears poised to make some noise in the women's college basketball landscape in the coming years.