Ranked No. 6 in the preseason AP Poll, the 2025-26 Sooners are looking to build off a Sweet 16 appearance in 2024-25, their first since 2013, with all three of their top 2024-25 scorers coming back.
They return 62% of their offensive production from an offense that ranked No. 5 in the nation with 84.7 points per game in 2024-25. Senior center Raegan Beers, redshirt senior guard Payton Verhulst and junior forward Sahara Williams each played a pivotal role in the success. Beers led the team with 17.3 points and 9.4 rebounds per game last year. Verhulst added 14.9 points and led the team with 3.9 assists per game. Williams rounded out the top three in scoring with 10.6 points per game.
While they crave further success, head coach Jennie Baranczyk wants her team to stay grounded.
“If we’re living in March right now, we’re going to have a really hard November,” Baranczyk said. “That’s the beautiful part of having three leaders that are really good, that are veteran leaders, that speak up, that take the brunt, that understand what it feels like to play in February and March.”
Williams noted how she leans into a leadership role after performing well last year.
“I personally like to lead by example,” Williams said. “This year, Jennie has (said), ‘You have a strong voice too, and people will respond to you.’ … It’s been cool to see, when I say something, how they respond.”
The Sooners go into 2025-26 with five freshmen, including guard Aaliyah Chavez, forward Emma Tolan, forward Brooklyn Stewart, guard Keziah Lofton and center Daffa Cissoko. Verhulst said she has focused on being present for the new group on and off the court.
“I try to be there for all of them. … I want to be their outlet if they need to talk to somebody,” Verhulst said. “I want to be a great ear for them to (talk) to and a shoulder to lean on whenever they need help.”
The Sooners will tip off regular season play against the Belmont Bruins at 4:30 p.m. on Nov. 3 at the Lloyd Noble Center.
This story was edited by Joshua McDaniel.
