Completed Event: Women's Basketball versus Southern Nazarene - EXH on October 25, 2026 , Win , 124, to, 39
Final
Women's Basketball
124
vs Southern Nazarene - EXH
39
University of Oklahoma Athletics
Photo by: Asia Purnell/University of Oklahoma
November 04, 2026 | Women's Basketball
NORMAN – Oklahoma sophomore guard Aaliyah Chavez was named to the 15-player Wade Trophy Watch List on Wednesday, becoming the only underclassman nationally to earn a spot on the prestigious list. The award is presented annually to the top player in women's college basketball.
The selection puts Chavez on the watch list for every major national player of the year award entering the 2026-27 season. The reigning ESPN and CBS Sports National Freshman of the Year returns to Norman following a historic debut campaign in which she led the Sooners with 18.4 points per game while adding 4.2 assists and 3.8 rebounds. Chavez led all true freshmen nationally in scoring and ranked seventh overall in the SEC, earning All-SEC second-team and WBCA All-America honorable mention accolades. She was also named a preseason All-SEC second-team selection by the league's media entering her sophomore season.
The former No. 1 overall recruit made an immediate mark on the Oklahoma record books, scoring 625 points as a freshman, the second-most by a first-year player in program history. Chavez scored in double figures in 33 of her 34 appearances and surpassed 20 points 12 times, more than any other true freshman nationally. Her efficiency at the free-throw line was equally historic, as she set an NCAA freshman record with a 92.9% clip, matching OU's single-season mark, and established Oklahoma and SEC records with 62 consecutive made free throws. Chavez also collected a league-record eight SEC Freshman of the Week honors.
The Wade Trophy Watch List is comprised of candidates selected by the WBCA NCAA Division I Awards Committee, which will evaluate the field at midseason and determine whether additional players warrant consideration based on their performances. The winner will be announced in April at the 2027 WBCA Convention in Columbus, Ohio, site of the 2027 NCAA Women's Final Four.
Chavez is one of six SEC players on the list, the most of any conference. Oklahoma is slated to face nine of the other 14 candidates during the regular season.
The Sooners opened their 2026-27 campaign Monday with a 91-79 victory over No. 12 North Carolina in Paris, France. Oklahoma returns to Norman for its home opener Sunday against Morgan State at 2 p.m., kicking off a stretch of six home games in 11 days.
Here is the complete 2026-27 Wade Watch list:
The selection puts Chavez on the watch list for every major national player of the year award entering the 2026-27 season. The reigning ESPN and CBS Sports National Freshman of the Year returns to Norman following a historic debut campaign in which she led the Sooners with 18.4 points per game while adding 4.2 assists and 3.8 rebounds. Chavez led all true freshmen nationally in scoring and ranked seventh overall in the SEC, earning All-SEC second-team and WBCA All-America honorable mention accolades. She was also named a preseason All-SEC second-team selection by the league's media entering her sophomore season.
The former No. 1 overall recruit made an immediate mark on the Oklahoma record books, scoring 625 points as a freshman, the second-most by a first-year player in program history. Chavez scored in double figures in 33 of her 34 appearances and surpassed 20 points 12 times, more than any other true freshman nationally. Her efficiency at the free-throw line was equally historic, as she set an NCAA freshman record with a 92.9% clip, matching OU's single-season mark, and established Oklahoma and SEC records with 62 consecutive made free throws. Chavez also collected a league-record eight SEC Freshman of the Week honors.
The Wade Trophy Watch List is comprised of candidates selected by the WBCA NCAA Division I Awards Committee, which will evaluate the field at midseason and determine whether additional players warrant consideration based on their performances. The winner will be announced in April at the 2027 WBCA Convention in Columbus, Ohio, site of the 2027 NCAA Women's Final Four.
Chavez is one of six SEC players on the list, the most of any conference. Oklahoma is slated to face nine of the other 14 candidates during the regular season.
The Sooners opened their 2026-27 campaign Monday with a 91-79 victory over No. 12 North Carolina in Paris, France. Oklahoma returns to Norman for its home opener Sunday against Morgan State at 2 p.m., kicking off a stretch of six home games in 11 days.
Here is the complete 2026-27 Wade Watch list:
| Name | Institution | Position | Height | Current Year |
| Mikayla Blakes | Vanderbilt | Guard | 5-8 | Junior |
| Madison Booker | Texas | Forward | 6-1 | Senior |
| Jaloni Cambridge | Ohio State | Guard | 5-7 | Junior |
| Aaliyah Chavez | Oklahoma | Guard | 5-10 | Sophomore |
| Audi Crooks | Oklahoma State | Center | 6-3 | Senior |
| Joyce Edwards | South Carolina | Forward | 6-3 | Junior |
| Toby Fournier | Duke | Forward | 6-2 | Junior |
| Hannah Hidalgo | Notre Dame | Guard | 5-7 | Senior |
| Kymora Johnson | Virginia | Guard | 5-7 | Senior |
| Liv McGill | Oklahoma State | Guard | 5-9 | Junior |
| Olivia Olson | Michigan | Guard | 6-1 | Junior |
| Clara Strack | Kentucky | Center | 6-5 | Senior |
| Sarah Strong | Connecticut | Forward | 6-2 | Junior |
| JuJu Watkins | USC | Guard | 6-2 | Senior |
| Mikaylah Williams | LSU | Guard | 6-0 | Senior |
Players Mentioned
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/ Women's BasketballMonday, November 02
Monday, November 02
Thursday, October 15
Tuesday, October 13
