Women's Hoops Opens Season Monday Against Southern

NORMAN – Oklahoma tips off its 51st season in program history on Monday when the Sooners host Southern at Lloyd Noble Center. Tip is set for 5 p.m. on SEC Network+ as OU looks to move to 4-0 in season openers under Jennie Baranczyk.

Ranked 10th in both preseason national polls, the Sooners return nearly their entire roster from last season's conference championship-winning team, bringing back all five starters and 11 letterwinners. The team is led by 2024 Big 12 Co-Player of the Year Skylar Vann (15.1 PPG, 7.0 RPG) and last year's Big 12 Newcomer of the Year, Payton Verhulst (12.6 PPG, 5.8 RPG, 3.9 APG). They're joined by one of the nation's top transfers, 6'4" All-American center Raegan Beers (17.5 PPG, 10.3 RPG) from Oregon State, adding even more depth to an already formidable lineup.

FAN INFO

Tickets are on sale for as little as $5 and season ticket holders can pick up their free Watch More OU Women's Basketball shirts on the south concourse before the game.

Oklahoma will celebrate Native American Heritage Night during before and during the contest.

Doors to the arena open one hour before tip, and the Lloyd Noble Center's clear-bag policy is in effect.

THE STARTING FIVE

A win would improve Oklahoma to 4-0 in season openers under head coach Jennie Baranczyk. Monday night's opener marks the earliest start date of a basketball season in program history, narrowly opening earlier than last year's Nov. 6 record start.
Powered by two preseason All-SEC media selections, Oklahoma women's basketball was picked to finish fourth in the Southeastern Conference's preseason media poll, as voted on by a panel of SEC and national media members. In the league's coaches poll, OU was picked fourth, with Beers and Vann reprising their media selections, although Vann did receive one vote for SEC Player of the Year.
In 2023-24, Oklahoma posted a 23-10 record (15-3 Big 12), winning the league crown outright after sweeping Texas to win the crown. The Sooners advanced to the Second Round of the NCAA Tournament, defeating FGCU in the opening round before falling to No. 4 Indiana in Bloomington. Oklahoma's 22 appearances in the NCAA Tournament since 2000 (24 overall) are the fifth most in the country in that time.
Oklahoma was picked to finish fourth in both the SEC media and coaches' preseason polls. Notably, in Coach Baranczyk's three previous seasons at OU, her teams have outperformed their preseason projections. Across her 12-year head coaching career (nine seasons at Drake and three at OU), Baranczyk's teams have met or exceeded preseason expectations in 10 seasons.
If you want to see one of the fastest and most prolific offenses in the country, then come to Norman, Oklahoma. The Sooners are one of two teams (Iowa) in the nation to average over 80 points over the last three seasons. Since Baranczyk arrived in Norman, OU has averaged 81.1 points per game.

SERIES HISTORY

Monday's matchup is the fifth all time between Oklahoma and Southern, with the series tied 2-2.

The Sooners are 2-1 vs. the Lady Jags in Norman, with OU winning in 1994 and 2022, before falling in 2023.

UP NEXT

The Sooners take on Virginia at Lloyd Noble Center at 8 p.m. CT on Friday night. The game will air on SEC Network with Brenda VanLengen and Andrea Lloyd on the call.

Oklahoma defeating UVA 82-67 last season in Charlottesville.

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