Oklahoma Sooners women's basketball

Oklahoma Sooners women's basketball
2025–26 Oklahoma Sooners women's basketball team
UniversityUniversity of Oklahoma
First season1975 (50 years ago)
Athletic directorJoe Castiglione
Head coachJennie Baranczyk (5th season)
LocationNorman, Oklahoma
ArenaLloyd Noble Center
(capacity: 12,000)
ConferenceSEC
NicknameSooners
ColorsCrimson and cream[1]
   
NCAA Division I tournament runner-up
2002
Other NCAA Division I tournament results
Final Four2002, 2009, 2010
Elite Eight2002, 2009, 2010
Sweet Sixteen1986, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2025
Appearances1986, 1995, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026
Conference tournament champions
2002, 2004, 2006, 2007
Conference regular-season champions
2001, 2002, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2023, 2024
Uniforms
Home
Away

The Oklahoma Sooners women's basketball team represents the University of Oklahoma (OU) and competes in NCAA Division I as members of the Southeastern Conference (SEC).

History

Main article: List of Oklahoma Sooners women's basketball seasons

OU women's basketball began during the 1974–75 academic year. In March 1990, Oklahoma officials released a statement saying that the women's basketball program was to be dropped, after many years of sub-par performance and low attendance. Many people voiced their complaints and eight days later, OU reinstated the program.[2][3] At the time, the average attendance per game was 65 people. In 1996, Oklahoma hired former Norman High School women's basketball coach Sherri Coale to the same position at the university. The Sooner women's basketball team developed in years since to status as a leader in attendance across the nation. The Sooners averaged attendance of 6,851 in 2011–12 at home games, and the support for the sport led to Oklahoma hosting first and second-round games in the Women's NCAA Basketball Championships at Lloyd Noble Center in Norman. The Sooners also set a record on February 2, 2009, when they played host to the number 13 Tennessee Lady Volunteers, led by coach Pat Summit, who was trying to get career victory 1,000, something that no other coach had done before. The attendance for that game, which was held at the Ford Center in Oklahoma City, was close to 13,000 as well as setting a record for the most watched women's basketball game in history. The Sooners led the Big 12 Conference in attendance as well. As with the men's team, they call Lloyd Noble Center home.

The program gained national prominence during the 2002 post-season when they advanced to the national title game and lost to the University of Connecticut Huskies. In the 2005–06 season, the Sooners were led by their coach Sherri Coale and the nationally known sophomore twins Courtney and Ashley Paris, daughters of former San Francisco 49ers offensive tackle Bubba Paris, to the third round of the national tournament. The team also won the Big 12 regular-season championship (with a 16–0 conference record) and the Big 12 Tournament. They became the first Big 12 women's basketball team to remain undefeated throughout conference play.

In the 2008–09 season, the Sooners made it to the Final Four of the 2009 NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament. They advanced through the Oklahoma City Regional, where they enjoyed considerable home court advantage, as Norman and Oklahoma City are separated by fewer than 20 miles.

The 2010–11 and 2011–12 seasons failed to result in regional championships and NCAA Final Four appearances. Playing through rigorous non-conference schedules and a rugged Big 12 slate, the Sooners received No. 6 seeds each of the two years. The 10–11 team advanced through the Charlottesville, Virginia, first and second round site with a win over nearby James Madison University and an upset win over the University of Miami Hurricanes. The season came to an abrupt halt in Dayton, Ohio, in the Sweet Sixteen, with the team falling to No. 2 seed Notre Dame, which steamrolled to a national championship appearance that year. The 11–12 team failed to make it past the No. 3 seed St. John's Red Storm in a 74–70 defeat in front of several thousand Sooner fans in Norman, Oklahoma. St. Johns lost in the Sweet Sixteen to the Duke Blue Devils in Fresno, California.

Oklahoma City hosted an NCAA regional in March 2013.[4]

The 2012–13 Sooners missed graduating senior Jelena Serena, but retained the rest of the team. Adding to the corps were two National Top 20 recruits, Maddie Manning and Nicole Kornet, and Sooners Jasmine Hartman and Lyndsey Cloman rejoined the active roster. Both Hartman and Cloman sat out the entire 2011–12 season with injuries.

Conference affiliations

Prior to joining the SEC, Oklahoma has played in the Big Eight and the Big 12 conferences. The Sooners joined the Big 12 in 1996 when the Big Eight and four members of the Southwest Conference created the Big 12. Oklahoma has been affiliated with the following conferences:

Conference Years Reason left
Big Eight Conference 1982–1996 Conference dissolved
Big 12 Conference 1996–2024 Joined SEC
Southeastern Conference 2024–present

Coaches

Main article: List of Oklahoma Sooners head women's basketball coaches

Since its formation in 1974 the team has been led by nine different head coaches. Since 2021, Jennie Baranczyk has served as the head coach of the program.

Year-by-year results

Season Team Overall Conference Standing Postseason Coaches' poll AP poll
Amy Dahl (Independent) (1974–1975)
1974-1975 Amy Dahl 2–14 –
Amy Dahl: 2–14 (.125) – (–)
Cathie Schweitzer (Independent) (1975–1978)
1975-1976 Cathie Schweitzer 3–14 –
1976-1977 Cathie Schweitzer 4–20 –
1977-1978 Cathie Schweitzer 20–12 –
Cathie Schweitzer: 27–46 (.370) – (–)
Doyle Parrack (Independent) (1978–1980)
1978-1979 Doyle Parrack 13–16 –
1979-1980 Doyle Parrack 17–16 –
Doyle Parrack: 30–32 (.484) – (–)
Maura McHugh (Independent) (1980–1982)
1980-1981 Maura McHugh 21–11 –
1981-1982 Maura McHugh 17–14 –
Maura McHugh (Big Eight Conference) (1982–1987)
1982-1983 Maura McHugh 17–11 7–7 4th
1983-1984 Maura McHugh 22–10 8–6 3rd NWIT Sixth Place
1984-1985 Maura McHugh 23–7 10–4 2nd
1985-1986 Maura McHugh 24–7 10–4 1st NCAA Sweet Sixteen
1986-1987 Maura McHugh 18–10 6–8 T–5th
Maura McHugh: 142–70 (.670) 41–29 (.586)
Valerie Goodwin-Colbert (Big Eight Conference) (1987–1990)
1987-1988 Valerie Goodwin-Colbert 14–13 7–7 5th
1988-1989 Valerie Goodwin-Colbert 11–16 4–10 8th
1989-1990 Valerie Goodwin-Colbert 7–22 2–12 T–7th
Valerie Goodwin-Colbert: 32–51 (.386) 13–29 (.310)
Gary Hudson (Big Eight Conference) (1990–1993)
1990-1991 Gary Hudson 10–18 4–9 7th
1991-1992 Gary Hudson 17–12 7–7 4th
1992-1993 Gary Hudson 12–15 6–8 6th
Gary Hudson: 39–45 (.464) 17–24 (.415)
Burl Plunkett (Big Eight Conference) (1993–1996)
1993-1994 Burl Plunkett 18–12 7–7 5th WNIT Champions
1994-1995 Burl Plunkett 22–9 11–3 2nd NCAA Second Round
1995-1996 Burl Plunkett 12–15 4–10 7th
Burl Plunkett: 52–36 (.591) 22–20 (.524)
Sherri Coale (Big Twelve Conference) (1996–2021)
1996-1997 Sherri Coale 5–22 1–15 12th
1997-1998 Sherri Coale 8–19 2–12 T–9th
1998-1999 Sherri Coale 15–14 8–8 T–5th WNIT Second Round
1999-2000 Sherri Coale 25–8 13–3 T–1st NCAA Sweet Sixteen
2000-2001 Sherri Coale 28–6 15–1 1st NCAA Sweet Sixteen
2001-2002 Sherri Coale 32–4 14–2 1st NCAA Runner-Up
2002-2003 Sherri Coale 19–13 9–7 T–5th NCAA First Round
2003-2004 Sherri Coale 24–9 9–7 6th NCAA Second Round
2004-2005 Sherri Coale 17–13 8–8 T–6th NCAA First Round
2005-2006 Sherri Coale 31–5 16–0 1st NCAA Sweet Sixteen
2006-2007 Sherri Coale 28–5 13–3 T–1st NCAA Sweet Sixteen
2007-2008 Sherri Coale 22–9 11–5 T–3rd NCAA Second Round
2008-2009 Sherri Coale 32–5 15–1 1st NCAA Final Four
2009-2010 Sherri Coale 27–11 11–5 T–2nd NCAA Final Four
2010-2011 Sherri Coale 23–12 10–6 3rd NCAA Sweet Sixteen
2011-2012 Sherri Coale 21–13 11–7 T–2nd NCAA Second Round
2012-2013 Sherri Coale 24–11 11–8 T–3rd NCAA Sweet Sixteen
2013-2014 Sherri Coale 18–15 9–9 T–5th NCAA First Round
2014-2015 Sherri Coale 21–12 13–5 2nd NCAA Second Round
2015-2016 Sherri Coale 22–11 11–7 T–4th NCAA Second Round
2016-2017 Sherri Coale 23–10 13–5 3rd NCAA Second Round
2017-2018 Sherri Coale 16–15 11–7 T–3rd NCAA First Round
2018-2019 Sherri Coale 8–22 4–14 T–8th
2019-2020 Sherri Coale 12–18 5–13 9th
2020-2021 Sherri Coale 12–12 9–9 6th
Sherri Coale: 513–294 (.636) 250–154 (.619)
Jennie Baranczyk (Big Twelve Conference) (2021–2024)
2021-2022 Jennie Baranczyk 25–9 12–6 4th NCAA Second Round
2022-2023 Jennie Baranczyk 26–7 14–4 T–1st NCAA Second Round
2023-2024 Jennie Baranczyk 23–10 15–3 1st NCAA Second Round
Jennie Baranczyk (Big 12): 74–26 (.740) 41–13 (.759)
Jennie Baranczyk (SEC) (2024–present)
2024-2025 Jennie Baranczyk 27–8 11–5 T–4th NCAA Sweet Sixteen
2025-2026 Jennie Baranczyk 14–2 2–1
Jennie Baranczyk (SEC): 41–10 (.804) 13–6 (.684)
Total: 952–624 (.604) Big 8: 93–102 (.477)
Big 12: 291–167 (.635)
SEC: 13–6 (.684)

      National champion         Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion         Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion       Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

Championships

Conference regular season

Season Coach Conference Overall record Conference record
1985–86 Maura McHugh Big Eight 24–7 10–4
1999–2000§ Sherri Coale Big 12 25–8 13–3
2000–01 Sherri Coale Big 12 28–6 15–1
2001–02 Sherri Coale Big 12 32–4 14–2
2005–06 Sherri Coale Big 12 31–5 16–0
2006–07§ Sherri Coale Big 12 28–5 13–3
2008–09 Sherri Coale Big 12 32–5 15–1
2022–23§ Jennie Baranczyk Big 12 26–7 14–4
2023–24 Jennie Baranczyk Big 12 23–10 15–3
Conference regular season championships 9

§ – Conference co-champions

Conference tournament championships

Year Coach Opponent Score Site Conference Overall record Conference record
2002 Sherri Coale Baylor 84–69 Kansas City, Missouri Big 12 32–4 14–2
2004 Sherri Coale Texas 66–47 Dallas, Texas Big 12 24–9 9–7
2006 Sherri Coale Baylor 72–61 Dallas, Texas Big 12 31–5 16–0
2007 Sherri Coale Iowa State 67–60 Oklahoma City, OK Big 12 28–5 13–3
Conference tournament championships 4

NCAA tournament history

The Sooners reached the NCAA tournament and Sweet Sixteen for the first time in 1986. In 1995, Oklahoma made their second trip to the tourney, falling in the second round.

After another break, the Sooners made their third appearance in the 1999–2000 season, and have become a mainstay in the tournament since then, entering the field of 64 every year since. In that time period, the Sooners have reached three Final Four appearances, which is tied for 9th in NCAA Women's Basketball History. Since 2002, the Sooners' first appearance, their three appearances ties them for fifth, behind Tennessee (6), Connecticut (5), Stanford (5) and Louisiana State (5).

NCAA tournament results

The Sooners have appeared in the NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament 26 times. They have a record of 39–25.

Year Seed Round Opponent Result
1986 (4) Second Round
Sweet Sixteen		 (5) Vanderbilt
(1) Texas		 W 86–67
L 59−85
1995 (7) First Round
Second Round		 (10) Loyola (MD)
(2) Louisiana Tech		 W 90−55
L 36–48
2000 (5) First Round
Second Round
Sweet Sixteen		 (12) BYU
(4) Purdue
(1) Connecticut		 W 86–81
W 76–74
L 80–102
2001 (2) First Round
Second Round
Sweet Sixteen		 (15) Oral Roberts
(10) Stanford
(6) Washington		 W 70–64
W 67–50
L 67–84
2002 (1) First Round
Second Round
Sweet Sixteen
Elite Eight
Final Four
Title Game		 (16) Hartford
(9) Villanova
(4) Texas Tech
(3) Colorado
(1) Duke
(1) Connecticut		 W 84–52
W 66–53
W 72–62
W 94–60
W 86–71
L 70–82
2003 (10) First Round (7) George Washington L 61–71
2004 (3) First Round
Second Round		 (14) Marist
(6) Stanford		 W 58−45
L 43–68
2005 (8) First Round (9) Arizona L 69–72
2006 (2) First Round
Second Round
Sweet Sixteen		 (15) Pepperdine
(7) BYU
(3) Stanford		 W 78–66
W 86–70
L 74–88
2007 (3) First Round
Second Round
Sweet Sixteen		 (14) SE Missouri State
(6) Marquette
(7) Ole Miss		 W 74–60
W 78–47
L 82–90
2008 (4) First Round
Second Round		 (13) Illinois State
(5) Notre Dame		 W 69−61
L 75–79 (OT)
2009 (1) First Round
Second Round
Sweet Sixteen
Elite Eight
Final Four		 (16) Prairie View A&M
(9) Georgia Tech
(4) Pittsburgh
(6) Purdue
(3) Louisville		 W 76–47
W 69–50
W 70–59
W 74–68
L 59–61
2010 (3) First Round
Second Round
Sweet Sixteen
Elite Eight
Final Four		 (14) South Dakota State
(11) Arkansas–Little Rock
(2) Notre Dame
(4) Kentucky
(1) Stanford		 W 68–57
W 60–44
W 77–72 (OT)
W 88–68
L 66–73
2011 (6) First Round
Second Round
Sweet Sixteen		 (11) James Madison
(3) Miami (FL)
(2) Notre Dame		 W 86–72
W 88–83
L 53–78
2012 (6) First Round
Second Round		 (11) Michigan
(3) St. John's		 W 88−67
L 70–74
2013 (6) First Round
Second Round
Sweet Sixteen		 (11) Central Michigan
(3) UCLA
(2) Tennessee		 W 78–73
W 85–72
L 59–74
2014 (10) First Round (7) DePaul L 100–104
2015 (5) First Round
Second Round		 (12) Quinnipiac
(4) Stanford		 W 111−84
L 76–86
2016 (6) First Round
Second Round		 (11) Purdue
(3) Kentucky		 W 61−45
L 58–79
2017 (6) First Round
Second Round		 (11) Gonzaga
(3) Washington		 W 75−62
L 82–108
2018 (12) First Round (5) DePaul L 79–90
2022 (4) First Round
Second Round		 (13) IUPUI
(5) Notre Dame		 W 78–72
L 64–108
2023 (5) First Round
Second Round		 (13) Portland
(4) UCLA		 W 85–63
L 73–82
2024 (5) First Round
Second Round		 (12) Florida Gulf Coast
(4) Indiana		 W 73–70
L 68–75
2025 (3) First Round
Second Round
Sweet Sixteen		 (14) Florida Gulf Coast
(6) Iowa
(2) Connecticut		 W 81–58
W 96–62
L 59–82
2026 (4) First Round
Second Round		 (13) Idaho
(5) Michigan State		 W 89–59
TBD

NCAA tournament seeding history

The following lists where the Sooners have been seeded in the NCAA tournament.[5]

Years → '86 '95 '00 '01 '02 '03 '04 '05 '06 '07 '08 '09 '10 '11 '12 '13 '14 '15 '16 '17 '18 '22 '23 '24 '25 '26
Seeds → 4 7 5 2 1 10 3 8 2 3 4 1 3 6 6 6 10 5 6 6 12 4 5 5 3 4

References

  1. ^ "Colors – OU Brand Guide". OU.edu/Brand. Retrieved June 17, 2024.
  2. ^ SoonerSports.com. When It Was Dropped. OU Women's Basketball 2006 Media Guide. University of Oklahoma. Retrieved on 2007-08-21.
  3. ^ "Media Guide". University of Oklahoma. Retrieved 10 Aug 2013.
  4. ^ "2016–18 regional hosts". Retrieved 2016-04-13.
  5. ^ "2022–23 Oklahoma Sooners Women's Basketball Media Guide" (PDF). University of Oklahoma Athletics. p. 94. Retrieved June 29, 2023.
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