Upcoming Event: Women's Basketball versus Southern Nazarene - EXH on October 25, 2026 at 2 PM
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Women's Basketball
vs Southern Nazarene - EXH
University of Oklahoma Athletics
October 21, 2026 | Women's Basketball
NORMAN – Oklahoma's Aaliyah Chavez and Sahara Williams earned Preseason All-SEC recognition from the league's head coaches on Tuesday, with Chavez landing on the first team and Williams securing a spot on the second team. The selections were determined by the conference's 16 head coaches, who were not permitted to vote for their own players.
Chavez, who also earned preseason second-team honors from the SEC media, returns for her sophomore campaign after a record-setting debut season in Norman. The reigning ESPN and CBS Sports National Freshman of the Year led the Sooners with 18.4 points per game while adding 4.2 assists and 3.8 rebounds. An All-SEC second-team and WBCA All-America honorable mention selection last year, Chavez paced all true freshmen nationally in scoring and finished seventh in the conference overall.
The former No. 1 overall recruit poured in 625 points as a freshman, the second-highest total by a first-year player in program history. She was equally impressive at the free-throw line, where her 92.9% clip set an NCAA freshman record and matched OU's single-season mark. Chavez also sank an OU and SEC-record 62 consecutive free throws and collected a league-record eight SEC Freshman of the Week awards. She reached double figures in 33 of 34 appearances, topping 20 points on 12 occasions, most among all true freshmen nationally.
Williams enters her senior season in Norman as one of the SEC's most versatile forwards after turning in the best statistical campaign of her career in 2025-26. The senior averaged career highs of 12.4 points, 7.9 rebounds and 3.8 assists while adding 1.1 steals per game. She joined UConn's Sarah Strong as the only two Power Five players nationally to average at that stat line in 2025-26. Williams also became the 40th player in Oklahoma history to surpass 1,000 career points.
A fixture in the Sooners' starting lineup since arriving on campus, Williams has started every game of her collegiate career. The former five-star recruit earned All-Big 12 honors in 2024 and has continued to expand her game during Oklahoma's transition to the SEC. Williams also enjoyed a successful summer representing the United States, helping the Americans capture gold at the FIBA 3x3 World Cup.
In addition to Tuesday's individual honors, No. 21 Oklahoma was picked sixth in the SEC preseason media poll released Monday, behind South Carolina, Texas, LSU, Vanderbilt and Kentucky. The Sooners have finished fifth in the conference standings in each of their first two seasons as SEC members.
Vanderbilt's Mikayla Blakes was tabbed SEC Preseason Player of the Year and joined OU's Chavez, Kentucky's Clara Strack, LSU's MiLaysia Fulwiley and Mikaylah Williams, Ole Miss' Talaysia Cooper, South Carolina's Joyce Edwards and Tessa Johnson, Texas' Madison Booker and Vanderbilt's Aubrey Galvan on the first team.
The second team featured Oklahoma's Williams alongside Florida's Kiyomi McMiller, Kentucky's Me'Arah O'Neal, Ole Miss' Jada Richard, Mississippi State's Madison Francis, Missouri's Grace Slaughter, South Carolina's Chloe Kitts, Jordan Lee and Ashlyn Watkins, Texas' Breya Cunningham and Vanderbilt's Mia Woolfolk.
Oklahoma opens its 2026-27 campaign Nov. 2 against North Carolina at Oui-Play Paris in Paris, France. The season opener tips off at 1:30 p.m. CT on ESPN2. Before heading overseas, the Sooners will host Southern Nazarene in a free exhibition Oct. 25 at Lloyd Noble Center. The exhibition will not be broadcast.
Season tickets for the 2026-27 season are on sale now, with general admission packages starting at $108. For more information, contact the OU Athletics Ticket Office at (405) 325-2424, email outickets@ou.edu or visit SoonerSports.com/Tickets.
Courtside seating for the 2026-27 season is available along the west sideline and south baseline adjacent to the Oklahoma bench. Fans interested in premium seating can contact the Sooner Club at (405) 325-8000 or soonerclub@ou.edu.
Chavez, who also earned preseason second-team honors from the SEC media, returns for her sophomore campaign after a record-setting debut season in Norman. The reigning ESPN and CBS Sports National Freshman of the Year led the Sooners with 18.4 points per game while adding 4.2 assists and 3.8 rebounds. An All-SEC second-team and WBCA All-America honorable mention selection last year, Chavez paced all true freshmen nationally in scoring and finished seventh in the conference overall.
The former No. 1 overall recruit poured in 625 points as a freshman, the second-highest total by a first-year player in program history. She was equally impressive at the free-throw line, where her 92.9% clip set an NCAA freshman record and matched OU's single-season mark. Chavez also sank an OU and SEC-record 62 consecutive free throws and collected a league-record eight SEC Freshman of the Week awards. She reached double figures in 33 of 34 appearances, topping 20 points on 12 occasions, most among all true freshmen nationally.
Williams enters her senior season in Norman as one of the SEC's most versatile forwards after turning in the best statistical campaign of her career in 2025-26. The senior averaged career highs of 12.4 points, 7.9 rebounds and 3.8 assists while adding 1.1 steals per game. She joined UConn's Sarah Strong as the only two Power Five players nationally to average at that stat line in 2025-26. Williams also became the 40th player in Oklahoma history to surpass 1,000 career points.
A fixture in the Sooners' starting lineup since arriving on campus, Williams has started every game of her collegiate career. The former five-star recruit earned All-Big 12 honors in 2024 and has continued to expand her game during Oklahoma's transition to the SEC. Williams also enjoyed a successful summer representing the United States, helping the Americans capture gold at the FIBA 3x3 World Cup.
In addition to Tuesday's individual honors, No. 21 Oklahoma was picked sixth in the SEC preseason media poll released Monday, behind South Carolina, Texas, LSU, Vanderbilt and Kentucky. The Sooners have finished fifth in the conference standings in each of their first two seasons as SEC members.
Vanderbilt's Mikayla Blakes was tabbed SEC Preseason Player of the Year and joined OU's Chavez, Kentucky's Clara Strack, LSU's MiLaysia Fulwiley and Mikaylah Williams, Ole Miss' Talaysia Cooper, South Carolina's Joyce Edwards and Tessa Johnson, Texas' Madison Booker and Vanderbilt's Aubrey Galvan on the first team.
The second team featured Oklahoma's Williams alongside Florida's Kiyomi McMiller, Kentucky's Me'Arah O'Neal, Ole Miss' Jada Richard, Mississippi State's Madison Francis, Missouri's Grace Slaughter, South Carolina's Chloe Kitts, Jordan Lee and Ashlyn Watkins, Texas' Breya Cunningham and Vanderbilt's Mia Woolfolk.
Oklahoma opens its 2026-27 campaign Nov. 2 against North Carolina at Oui-Play Paris in Paris, France. The season opener tips off at 1:30 p.m. CT on ESPN2. Before heading overseas, the Sooners will host Southern Nazarene in a free exhibition Oct. 25 at Lloyd Noble Center. The exhibition will not be broadcast.
Season tickets for the 2026-27 season are on sale now, with general admission packages starting at $108. For more information, contact the OU Athletics Ticket Office at (405) 325-2424, email outickets@ou.edu or visit SoonerSports.com/Tickets.
Courtside seating for the 2026-27 season is available along the west sideline and south baseline adjacent to the Oklahoma bench. Fans interested in premium seating can contact the Sooner Club at (405) 325-8000 or soonerclub@ou.edu.
Players Mentioned
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