The Oklahoma Sooners Women’s basketball squad earned some preseason recognition.
On Monday, the Sooners were picked to finish sixth in the media’s preseason poll, which is voted on by a panel of SEC and national media members. Oklahoma is trailing only the top 5 of South Carolina, Texas, Vanderbilt, LSU and Kentucky. The Sooners have finished fifth in the SEC standings in each of their first two seasons in the league.
Along with the team selection, Oklahoma’s top returning underclassman from last season also received some respect. Sophomore guard Aaliyah Chavez was named to the Preseason Media All-SEC Second Team. Chavez was the only underclassman selected to either preseason All-SEC team.
Preseason All-SEC » @AALIYAH2CHAVEZ ⭐ pic.twitter.com/F2gNPU695k
— Oklahoma Basketball (@OU_WBBall) October 12, 2026
This comes after Chavez averaged 18.4 points, 4.2 assists and 3.7 rebounds per game last season. Her numbers led all true freshmen nationally in scoring and ranked seventh in the SEC in points and ninth in assists. Her 625 total points are the second-most scored by an OU freshman.
She also set OU and NCAA freshman records with a 92.9% free-throw percentage, tying Oklahoma's all-time program record, and established an OU and SEC record with 62 consecutive made free throws. For her efforts last season, Chavez was named ESPN and CBS Sports National Freshman of the Year.
Chavez’s selection marks the sixth consecutive year under head coach Jennie Baranczyk that Oklahoma has landed at least one player on a preseason all-conference team.
2026-27 SEC Women Preseason Predicted Order of Finish
1. South Carolina
2. Texas
3. LSU
4. Vanderbilt
5. Kentucky
6. Oklahoma
7. Ole Miss
8. Tennessee
9. Mississippi State
10. Alabama
11. Texas A&M
12. Florida
13. Georgia
14. Missouri
15. Auburn
16. Arkansas
Preseason Player of the Year
Mikayla Blakes, Vanderbilt
Preseason All-SEC First-Team
Madison Booker, Texas
Mikayla Blakes, Vanderbilt
Joyce Edwards, South Carolina
Clara Strack, Kentucky
Mikaylah Williams, LSU
Preseason All-SEC Second Team
Aaliyah Chavez, Oklahoma
Tessa Johnson, South Carolina
MiLaysia Fulwiley, LSU
Chloe Kitts, South Carolina
Talaysia Cooper, Ole Miss
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This article originally appeared on Sooners Wire: Oklahoma WBB picked to finish 6th in SEC, Chavez among All-SEC
