Jordan Betts was once a young artist selling her own t-shirts in the parking lot of her high school in Broken Arrow.
Now, Betts watches No. 24 Oklahoma women’s basketball come onto its home court donning her shirts during pregame warmups.
There’s Only ☝️ Oklahoma pic.twitter.com/2QyiZNEiQT
— Oklahoma Basketball (@OU_WBBall) February 8, 2024
It all started when Black Student Association adviser Angelique Price informed Betts, who often goes by her artist name J Betts, that Tyus Hooks, an Oklahoma women’s basketball assistant coach and program coordinator, had seen her artwork and reached out to collaborate. Betts had already been serving as the public relations chair for BSA and had gained small recognition for her graphic work design. She had commissioned several shirts for past events under her own brand, 405 University.
“(Hooks) approached me and he was like, ‘Hey, I love your stuff, your shirts, I love your designs,’” Betts told the OU Daily. “‘I was wondering if we could get something like that for OU women’s basketball?”’
Betts did not hear back from Hooks for some time after. She wrote it off as a one-time interaction, before being contacted again in December about designing a shirt for Black History Month. The team planned to wear the shirt for National Girls and Women in Sports Day. When Betts fully realized she would take part in designing team-worn apparel for the women’s basketball team, her dream became a reality.
“Basketball has always been a goal of mine since I was a teenager,” Betts said. “I love basketball, it’s so fast-paced. I love the fashion and the culture of it.”
Betts, a Tulsa native, developed a passion for art at a young age. She started painting at three years old and has drawn inspiration from a wide range of styles and genres.
From basketball icons like Allen Iverson and Michael Jordan, to anime cartoons like "Samurai Jack," hip-hop groups like "A Tribe Called Quest" and even contemporary artists like Salvador Dali, Betts found inspiration in her city and her life. However, it was not until Betts attended Broken Arrow High School that she started designing t-shirts.
Betts sold her first self-made apparel from outside of her car in the school parking lot, with her new venture earning some quick and easy cash.
When tasked with creating the shirt for OU, Betts went through different redesigns. She set out with the goal of perfectly encapsulating the spirit of women in sports. After repeating the phrase “create history” countless times, it finally clicked and she came up with the slogan “Create HERstory.”
“I started creating these random characters,” Betts told the Daily. “I had no idea who they were, I was just drawing and getting them where they would fit in. I started adding little championship globes, a championship ring and confetti in the back. Altogether, it was supposed to be like a collage of creating history, … well, HERstory.”
Betts commissioned her shirt, was invited to team practices and was set to be honored during their matchup against TCU on Wednesday.
Despite Betts arriving at the Lloyd Noble Center late, she was met with the sight of OU coaches, staff and players warming up in her shirts.
We were proud to collab with OU student J Betts who designed our warmup shirts last night 🔥 pic.twitter.com/KH4ISJBr4I
— Oklahoma Basketball (@OU_WBBall) February 8, 2024
“It’s still kind of surreal right now,” Betts told the Daily. “Seeing stuff like my name on ESPN. I was like, ‘What the heck, I’m not even an athlete.’ People were coming up to me all night asking, ‘Did you make this shirt?’ It was really overwhelming for me personally because I’ve never been used to things like that.”
No. 24 Oklahoma trounced TCU 72-55 that night, behind a 17 point night from senior forward Skylar Vann. In the postgame press conference, head coach Jennie Baranczyk began addressing reporters by complimenting Betts’ work.
“The first thing I want to talk about is just giving a shoutout for the t-shirts made today,” Baranczyk commented postgame. “J Betts, who is a part of our Black Students Association, created this shirt for us. It’s always fun to be able to have the worlds combine, whether it’s a student organization with athletics.
“I’m really proud to be able to wear this shirt and to be able to honor her on National Girls and Women in Sports Day.”
Betts has not announced any further collaborations with OU women’s basketball or any upcoming projects with athletics. However, Betts is grateful for the opportunity she was given and is focusing on continuing her work with her brand 405 University.
“I’m not really expecting to be reached out to,” Betts told the Daily. “That literally was enough for me. I loved it and I loved the experience, but altogether, I’m staying hopeful. Anything could happen.”
Betts fancies the idea of one day designing apparel for the WNBA or for celebrities like Michael Jordan. However, Betts chooses not to look too far ahead and only focuses on continuing to further her art.
“Every artist wants to be in a museum or travel the world. I just have a long list of goals and I’m trying to knock them off one by one.”
