No. 6 OU’s (1-0) Head coach Jennie Baranczyk spoke with the media Friday ahead of a matchup with No. 3 UCLA (2-0). The Sooners, coming off a 84-67 win against Belmont, will tip off against the Bruins at 9:30 p.m. on Monday at the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento on Fox Sports 1.
Here are key takeaways:
Raegan Beers matches up with Lauren Betts
OU senior center Raegan Beers is set to match up with her former high school rival, UCLA senior center Lauren Betts.
Beers and Betts spent their high school years in Colorado squaring off against each other at Valor Christian High School and Grandview High School, respectively. Beers’ Valor Christian Eagles won the Colorado 5A state championship her junior season, but Betts defeated Beers’ Valor Christian squad in the state championship the following year.
“What’s neat is they both grew up playing against each other,” Baranczyk said.
Beers and Betts’ rivalry will be renewed on Monday as leaders of top 10 college programs. Beers recorded 29 points and 10 rebounds in her first game in 2025, while Betts is averaging 16.5 points and 5.5 rebounds through the first two games of the season.
“They both have these incredible skill sets, … (and) they're (each) a huge centerpiece to their team,” Baranczyk said.
Aaliyah Chavez looks to get on track
OU freshman guard Aaliyah Chavez strives to find her rhythm after a challenging first game for the former No. 1 recruit.
Chavez finished with 16 points on 5 of 18 shooting, and she added six rebounds, five assists and three steals. Baranczyk, though, is not harping on Chavez’s poor shooting performance and has advocated that she simply wants to see improvement.
“I'm not looking at her to lead us to the promised land on a Monday night in Sacramento,” Baranczyk said. “I'm looking at her to make sure that she continues to get better, and she continues to learn. And she just brings that confidence and just brings her game.”
Monday’s matchup will be no easy feat for the freshman as she matches up against an experienced UCLA squad with eight seniors and a defense averaging 7.5 steals and six blocks per game.
Even with the challenge ahead, Baranczyk is not focused on the potential pressure Chavez faces but the opportunity it presents.
“I want her to shine as a basketball player,” Baranczyk said.
Sooners set to play in NBA arena
The OU-UCLA matchup will not be in Norman or Los Angeles but at the NBA’s Sacramento Kings’ arena. Baranczyk said that this makes a statement about the significance of women’s basketball.
“I think it's pretty neat that the Sacramento Kings have also been able to step up and say, ‘OK, women's basketball is important,’” Baranczyk said.
The setting offers both teams a preview of March Madness with Sacramento serving as one of the women’s tournament regional sites this year. Though neither team wants to think too far ahead, it adds to the appeal of the game.
“There (are) a lot of eyes,” Baranczyk said. “Obviously, having a regional site there can bring some early excitement. We hope that it's a great game for women's basketball.”
This story was edited by Joshua McDaniel.
