Oklahoma Women’s Basketball schedule for 2025-2026 released

Introduction & Context

The Oklahoma Sooners women’s basketball program is undergoing an exciting phase as it enters its second season in the Southeastern Conference (SEC). The 2025–26 schedule for the team was officially released, revealing both non-conference matchups and the grueling slate of SEC play.

Under head coach Jennie Baranczyk, now entering her fifth season at the helm, expectations are high. The Sooners hope to build off a strong 2024–25 season, where they finished 27–8 overall and 11–5 in SEC play.

Before diving into the schedule itself, let’s look at the roster and coaching stability, then analyze the schedule (non-conference, SEC, challenges), and project prospects and key matchups.

Roster & Coaching Staff: Building Around Returning Talent

Coaching Staff

• Head Coach: Jennie Baranczyk (5th year)
• Assistants include Pauline Love, Shannon Gage, Michael Neal, Tyus Hooks, Markisha Kastantin (per the team’s wiki)
• The continuity in the staff gives stability, especially heading into tougher SEC play.

Key Returning Players & New Faces

According to the official roster announcement, Oklahoma returns several contributions from previous seasons and also brings in new talent.

Some roster highlights include:

• Beatrice Culliton (C, Sr.)  a veteran presence down low.
• Zya Vann (G, So.)  offering backcourt depth.
• Caya Smith (F, So.)  continuing her development.
• Aaliyah Chavez (G, Fr.)  a heralded freshman recruit, expected to inject new energy into the guard rotation.

The mix of experience and youth gives Baranczyk options, though the depth will be tested in the SEC.

Structure of the 2025–26 Schedule

The 2025–26 schedule comprises:

1. Exhibition games
2. Non-conference regular season games
3. Conference (SEC) slate
4. Postseason (SEC Tournament, NCAA Tournament / WNIT, etc.)

Let’s break each of these down, along with the challenges posed and key matchups to watch.

Exhibition / Preseason

• The Sooners open with an exhibition match vs Oklahoma Christian on Wednesday, October 29 at Norman, OK.
• Exhibition games serve as tune-ups: opportunities to integrate new players, test lineups, and build chemistry before official competition.

Non-Conference Regular Season

While the full non-conference slate is still being fleshed out (some broadcast times and TV information are pending), a few key matchups are already locked in:

• In the 2025 ACC/SEC Challenge, Oklahoma will host NC State on Wednesday, December 3.
• The Sooners are also expected to face a demanding non-conference schedule, including this matchup against NC State (ACC) to test themselves early.
• Beyond that, the full non-conference slate was revealed when OU officially unveiled its full schedule.

These non-conference games are crucial: they help a team build a resume for postseason consideration, especially when the conference slate is brutal.

SEC Conference Slate

The SEC schedule is now fully set. Oklahoma’s home and away opponents have been designated:

Home SEC opponents:

• Arkansas
• Florida
• LSU
• Ole Miss
• Mississippi State
• South Carolina
• Tennessee
• Texas A&M

Away SEC opponents:

• Alabama
• Auburn
• Georgia
• Kentucky
• Missouri
• Vanderbilt
• Texas
• Texas A&M

Key points about the SEC schedule:

• Oklahoma has home games against South Carolina and LSU, which will be marquee matchups.
• The Sooners travel to Texas to face a conference rival.
• The SEC slate is expected to be among the most competitive in the country; balancing travel, rest, and consistency will be vital.

It’s also worth noting that SEC announced Oklahoma’s 2026 opponents, and while full dates/times are yet to be set, we already know the pairings.

Postseason Play

While the official postseason schedule (SEC Tournament, NCAA Tournament) is not yet set in stone, standard structure applies:

• SEC Tournament: Where seeding, byes, and matchups will be revealed closer to March, based on regular-season performance.
• NCAA Tournament / WNIT: Depending on how well Oklahoma performs, they may earn a berth in the NCAA tournament or WNIT.
• The postseason performance will heavily depend on how Oklahoma handles the grind of their conference schedule and whether they can pull off key wins in non-conference play.

Key Matchups & Challenges to Watch

NC State (ACC/SEC Challenge)

This cross-conference duel is a highlight of the non-conference season. With NC State playing at Oklahoma in the ACC/SEC Challenge on December 3, this game will test OU’s readiness against top-tier competition.

Home vs South Carolina & LSU

Hosting juggernauts like South Carolina (a perennial women’s basketball powerhouse) and LSU gives Oklahoma an opportunity to make a statement. These games will likely draw big crowds and media attention.

Road Test at Texas

Traveling to face Texas is always a critical challenge, especially in the SEC era. Handling hostile environments is key for teams aspiring to run deep in postseason.

Depth & Injury Management

Given the physicality of SEC play, depth will be tested. Rookies, bench players, and rotation flexibility will be crucial in surviving back-to-back road games or tough stretches.

Building Momentum in Non-Conference

Strong performances early in non-conference can build confidence, give players experience, and help with NCAA Tournament resume. On the flip side, early losses could hurt seeding and team morale heading into February/March.

Outlook, Predictions & What to Watch

Expectations & Goals

• Win the SEC crown? That’s a tall order given the competition, but Oklahoma will aim to be in the mix.
• Deep postseason run: The ultimate test will be whether the Sooners can translate regular-season success into postseason momentum.
• Player progression: How well the team develops its younger players and integrates new contributors (like Aaliyah Chavez) will matter.

Strengths & Advantages

• Coaching stability and experience
• Strong returning core players
• Home-court advantage at Lloyd Noble Center
• Ability to schedule strong non-conference tests

Risks & Threats

• Injuries, depth issues in the back half of the season
• The steep learning curve of SEC play
• Travel fatigue and consistency in performance

What to Watch Game-by-Game

• The opening exhibition and early non-conference games: first impressions
• The ACC/SEC Challenge vs NC State  a preview of postseason level
• Mid-season stretch of SEC play  road trips, back-to-backs
• Late-season home games vs powerhouse opponents
• How the team handles adversity/losing streaks

Full Schedule (as Available)

Below is what is currently known from the official schedule listing.

Date	Opponent / Event	Location	Notes
Oct 29	vs Oklahoma Christian (Exhibition)	Norman, OK	Exhibition opener
Dec 3	vs NC State	Norman, OK	ACC/SEC Challenge matchup
Other non-conference matchups	TBA	TBA	Times and TV info pending
SEC Home Games	Arkansas, Florida, LSU, Ole Miss, Mississippi State, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas A&M	Home	Full list released
SEC Away Games	Alabama, Auburn, Georgia, Kentucky, Missouri, Vanderbilt, Texas, Texas A&M	Away	Full list released

Note: Broadcast times and TV networks for many games are not yet finalized and will be posted later by the athletic department.

Conclusion

The release of the 2025–26 Oklahoma Sooners women’s basketball schedule signals an intense, challenging, and opportunity-filled season ahead. With a mix of established contributors and new faces, the Sooners are positioning themselves to compete at a high level in the SEC and seek a deep postseason run.

Key takeaways:

• The SEC slate is loaded, and every game will count.
• Non-conference matchups like the ACC/SEC Challenge will serve as early tests.
• Depth, consistency, and health will be pivotal for success.
• The home matchups against top-tier opponents offer chances for statement wins.