The Oklahoma women’s basketball team split a pair of SEC games last week.

OU (14-3, 2-2 SEC) suffered an 81-77 road loss to Mississippi State on Thursday. It then bounced back with a 77-62 home win over Texas A&M on Sunday.

OU dropped from No. 10 to No. 13 in the AP Top 25 Poll. It was ranked No. 11 last week in the USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll, which will release this week’s rankings on Tuesday.

Each week, The Oklahoman will take a look at OU’s recent results, break down how its NCAA Tournament resume has changed and compare it to the competition. Here’s where the Sooners stand as of Monday:

More: OU women’s basketball roster: A look at the 2024-25 Oklahoma Sooners

Oklahoma basketball results last week

Jan. 9: Mississippi State 81, Oklahoma 77

OU stumbled in its 81-77 road loss to Mississippi State on Thursday. The Sooners committed 21 turnovers, which the Bulldogs converted into 25 points. This marked OU’s first loss to an unranked opponent this season, and the team dropped to 1-2 in SEC play.

Jan. 12: Oklahoma 77, Texas A&M 62

OU bounced back by earning a 77-62 home win over Texas A&M on Sunday. Raegan Beers recorded 16 points and six rebounds, but she exited the game with an apparent shoulder injury late in the third quarter and didn’t return. OU head coach Jennie Baranczyk didn’t have an update after the game on Beers, who’s averaging team highs of 17.2 points and 9.2 rebounds.

More: OU women’s basketball doomed by turnovers in road loss at Mississippi State

Oklahoma basketball NET rankings: No. 12 (last week: No. 11)

• Quad 1 record: 3-3
• Quad 2 record: 1-0
• Quad 3 record: 1-0
• Quad 4 record: 9-0

More: OU women’s basketball dominates Texas A&M as Raegan Beers suffers injury

Bracketology projections

ESPN: No. 4 seed vs. No. 13 Drake in Norman (Region 3) as of Jan. 10.

More: What will 2025 bring for OU athletics? We make 25 bold predictions for the Sooners

Next up: Missouri

Matchup: Oklahoma (14-3, 2-2 SEC) vs. Missouri (11-8, 0-4 SEC)

Tipoff: 6 p.m. Thursday; Lloyd Noble Center in Norman

Livestream: SEC Network+

Oklahoma governor Kevin Stitt has signed an executive order that allows colleges and universities within the state to directly compensate student-athletes for their name, image, and likeness (NIL).

This decision builds on the framework established by Senate Bill 1786, passed in 2024, and positions Oklahoma as a trailblazer in navigating the complex and rapidly evolving world of collegiate athletics.

Stitt’s order addresses a pressing issue: the fragmented and inconsistent NIL rules across the country.

While the NCAA and major conferences inch toward a settlement in the In College Athlete NIL Litigation, which could eventually allow direct payments, the timeline for a resolution remains uncertain.

Stitt’s action ensures that Oklahoma’s programs won’t have to wait.

By empowering universities to pay athletes now, the executive order eliminates the competitive disadvantage that could arise if other states or conferences move faster.

“This executive order ensures that these student-athletes have access to the same opportunities as their peers in other states,” Stitt said in a statement to The Oklahoman. “It’s about leveling the playing field and maintaining the competitive edge that defines Oklahoma athletics.”

The directive shields Oklahoma’s universities from potential fallout if no settlement is reached or if revenue sharing fails to be universally adopted.

Even in the absence of a federal resolution, Oklahoma schools will be equipped to support their athletes directly. This foresight guarantees stability in a landscape defined by uncertainty, setting a standard that other states may soon follow.

Crucially, the order prohibits the use of taxpayer dollars for NIL payments, instead allowing the creation of foundations to act as clearinghouses for third-party contributions. These foundations provide a transparent and legally sound mechanism for entities to support athletes without fear of reprisal from organizations like the NCAA or athletic conferences.

Stitt’s move also addresses a unique challenge within Oklahoma’s collegiate landscape.

The state’s four Division I programs: The Oklahoma Sooners, Oklahoma State Cowboys, Oral Roberts Golden Eagles, and Tulsa Golden Hurricane compete in different conferences, each with its own NIL policies.

This fragmentation risks creating inequities among schools, but the executive order establishes a unified approach, ensuring all institutions can operate on a level playing field.

The response from Oklahoma’s university leaders has been overwhelmingly positive.

Oklahoma Sooners president Joseph Harroz Jr. praised the measure’s potential to support student-athletes while preparing institutions for the eventual transition to revenue sharing.

“This action strengthens our ability to recruit, retain, and cultivate extraordinary talent, positioning our student-athletes for success in every aspect of their lives,” Harroz said.

Oklahoma State president Kayse Shrum echoed these sentiments, highlighting how the order benefits both athletes and fans.

“Today’s executive order brings exciting possibilities for our institutions, our student-athletes, and our fans,” Shrum stated.

By enabling direct NIL payments now, Stitt’s executive order accelerates the shift from collective-driven compensation models to the more comprehensive revenue-sharing systems widely seen as the future of collegiate athletics.

This proactive approach ensures that Oklahoma’s programs won’t be left behind, even as federal and legal discussions drag on.

Associated Press

NORMAN, Okla. (AP) — Raegan Beers scored 16 points before suffering a left shoulder injury in the third quarter, and No. 10 Oklahoma rolled past Texas A&M 77-62 on Sunday.

Beers, a 6-foot-4 center, was helped off the floor by teammates. She returned to the bench with an ice pack on her shoulder, but did not play again.

The Sooners (14-3, 2-2 SEC) bounced back from a loss to Mississippi State on Thursday to claim their first home SEC win in their first season in the conference.

Aicha Coulibaly scored 16 points for Texas A&M (8-8, 1-3), which shot 26.9%.

It was the second straight blowout loss for the Aggies, who dropped a 90-49 decision to No. 2 South Carolina on Thursday.

Oklahoma made 9 of 14 field goals in the first quarter and Beers scored 10 points in the period as the Sooners took a 27-10 lead.

The Sooners led 44-23 at halftime after holding the Aggies to 18.9% shooting. Beers scored 16 points and made 10 of 11 free throws before the break.

Takeaways

Texas A&M: The Aggies tried to rally in the third, but were too far behind to take advantage of Beers’ absence. The Aggies trailed 59-38 when Beers was hurt, and outscored the Sooners 24-18 the rest of the way.

Oklahoma: It wasn’t the cleanest game for the Sooners. They made 8 of 33 3-pointers and committed 19 turnovers. They’ll need to improve those areas against better opponents.

Key moment

Oklahoma, already leading by 17 heading into the second quarter, held the Aggies to one field goal in the first five minutes of the second to resume its defensive dominance.

Key stat

Texas A&M made 3 of 19 3-pointers.

Up next

Texas A&M hosts Georgia and Oklahoma hosts Missouri, both on Thursday.

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