Completed Event: Women's Basketball at #4 Texas on February 1, 2026 , Loss , 70, to, 78
Final
Women's Basketball
70
at #4 Texas
78
University of Oklahoma Athletics
Photo by: Asia Purnell/University of Oklahoma
Chavez Named ESPN's National Freshman of the Year
March 11, 2026 | Women's Basketball
NORMAN – Oklahoma guard Aaliyah Chavez was named the nation's Freshman of the Year by ESPN, it was announced Wednesday.
An All-SEC Second Team and SEC All-Freshman selection, Chavez leads the 10th-ranked Sooners with 18.4 points per game, the highest mark among qualified Power Five freshmen. She also averages 4.2 assists, 3.8 rebounds and 1.5 steals per contest.
Chavez joins UConn's Paige Bueckers as the only freshmen since 2009 to average at least 18.0 points, 4.0 assists and 3.5 rebounds per game while committing 3.0 turnovers or fewer.
The Lubbock, Texas, product entered college as the No. 1 player in the class of 2025 and a consensus national prep player of the year. This season she has appeared on watch lists for national player of the year, national freshman of the year and national point guard of the year, while tying an SEC record with eight Freshman of the Week honors.
Chavez has recorded 12 games with 20 or more points, the third-most among true freshmen nationally, and her six 20-point performances against ranked opponents lead all first-year players. Against teams ranked in the AP or WBCA polls, Chavez averaged 19.1 points, 3.8 assists and 3.5 rebounds while helping the Sooners secure six ranked wins in 2025-26.
In Oklahoma's 12-point win over then-No. 2 South Carolina on Jan. 22, Chavez set a school record with 15 points in overtime and finished with 26 points, eight assists and four rebounds.
Chavez is chasing several OU freshman records and is on pace to break the NCAA freshman record for free-throw percentage. Entering the NCAA Tournament, she is shooting 93.9% at the line and carries an active streak of 62 consecutive made free throws, an SEC and Oklahoma record.
She is one of just five Sooner freshmen to score 500 points in their debut season and is on pace to finish among the program's top three freshmen all-time in points, assists, 3-pointers made and steals.
The Sooners await their NCAA Tournament seeding, which will be announced during the NCAA Selection Show on Sunday at 7 p.m. CT on ESPN. According to ESPN's Bracketology, Oklahoma is projected to host first- and second-round games at Lloyd Noble Center as a top-16 team.
An All-SEC Second Team and SEC All-Freshman selection, Chavez leads the 10th-ranked Sooners with 18.4 points per game, the highest mark among qualified Power Five freshmen. She also averages 4.2 assists, 3.8 rebounds and 1.5 steals per contest.
Chavez joins UConn's Paige Bueckers as the only freshmen since 2009 to average at least 18.0 points, 4.0 assists and 3.5 rebounds per game while committing 3.0 turnovers or fewer.
The Lubbock, Texas, product entered college as the No. 1 player in the class of 2025 and a consensus national prep player of the year. This season she has appeared on watch lists for national player of the year, national freshman of the year and national point guard of the year, while tying an SEC record with eight Freshman of the Week honors.
Chavez has recorded 12 games with 20 or more points, the third-most among true freshmen nationally, and her six 20-point performances against ranked opponents lead all first-year players. Against teams ranked in the AP or WBCA polls, Chavez averaged 19.1 points, 3.8 assists and 3.5 rebounds while helping the Sooners secure six ranked wins in 2025-26.
In Oklahoma's 12-point win over then-No. 2 South Carolina on Jan. 22, Chavez set a school record with 15 points in overtime and finished with 26 points, eight assists and four rebounds.
Chavez is chasing several OU freshman records and is on pace to break the NCAA freshman record for free-throw percentage. Entering the NCAA Tournament, she is shooting 93.9% at the line and carries an active streak of 62 consecutive made free throws, an SEC and Oklahoma record.
She is one of just five Sooner freshmen to score 500 points in their debut season and is on pace to finish among the program's top three freshmen all-time in points, assists, 3-pointers made and steals.
The Sooners await their NCAA Tournament seeding, which will be announced during the NCAA Selection Show on Sunday at 7 p.m. CT on ESPN. According to ESPN's Bracketology, Oklahoma is projected to host first- and second-round games at Lloyd Noble Center as a top-16 team.
Players Mentioned
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