Oklahoma freshman point guard Aaliyah Chavez is just a win away from delivering on her first promise ever made to OU fans.
The No. 4 seed Sooners play No. 1 South Carolina in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament at 4 p.m. CT Saturday in Sacramento, California, with a win sending OU to the Elite Eight, which is exactly where Chavez predicted her team to be way back in August before she had even had an official college practice yet.
Aaliyah Chavez made a bold NCAA Tournament prediction that is nearing reality
Attending her own OU Class Kickoff at the start of the school year, Chavez spoke in front of her fellow classmates at Gaylord Family - Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. She started things off with a "Boomer! Sooner!" chant before making a bold prediction that student newspaper OU Daily videoed.
"So like he said, Sweet 16 last year, but we going to the Elite Eight this year, I promise that," Chavez said. "I promise that, ya'll."
"We going to the Elite Eight this year": OU commit, No. 1 recruit in nation Aaliyah Chavez speaks at OU's Class Kickoff Sunday night.#Sooners pic.twitter.com/idBiUk9oTf
— OU Daily (@OUDaily) August 25, 2025
Chavez had reason to have high expectations after signing with the Sooners as the No. 1 prospect in the 2025 class. OU legend and NBA All-Star Trae Young after Chavez's commitment even went as far as deeming Chavez the next face of women's basketball with the likes of Caitlin Clark and Paige Bueckers. Both of those players won national titles, so the Elite Eight doesn't seem so bold in comparison.
To get there, the Sooners will have to upset South Carolina for the second time this season. And Chavez will likely be the key in accomplishing that while putting on a show in her first NCAA Tournament.
In two NCAA Tournament games so far, Chavez has totalled 33 points and 11 assists while turning the ball over only once. In her March Madness debut, Chavez had 15 points, six rebounds and five assists with no turnovers while playing a team-high 31 minutes. She then put up 18 points and six assists in the second round to become the first freshman from the SEC in 25 years with at least 15 points and five assists in their first two NCAA Tournament games.
Chavez also went nuclear for 15 points in overtime for 26 total in that win the last time OU and South Carolina met.
That Elite Eight prediction was overlooked at the time, but now it's clear that Chavez immediately knew what she and the Sooners were capable of even then.