There are no houses divided in the state of Oklahoma right now.
The Oklahoma City Thunder are a win away from winning the state's first-ever major professional championship heading into Game 6 of the NBA Finals against the Indiana Pacers at 7:30 p.m. CT Thursday on ABC. And for this historical moment, Bedlam lines are seemingly erased as those who wear crimson or orange are now just donning blue to support the Thunder.
Sooner Nation has plenty of reasons to support the Thunder, who play in the same area code as OU. Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault is also married to Ashley Kerr, who is an assistant coach for OU's women's gymnastics team that just won a national title this season. The two have been married since 2019.
The Sooners have shown support for the Thunder throughout this historical run that hopefully soon ends with an NBA title.
Thunder Up ⚡️
— Oklahoma Sooners (@OU_Athletics) June 5, 2025
Good luck to the @okcthunder in the #NBAFinals! pic.twitter.com/tRfaHtCAJ8
it's NBA Finals time in OKC and you know who we're rooting for! #BoomerSooner x #ThunderUp pic.twitter.com/ucsAGiRRq6
— Oklahoma Women's Gym (@OU_WGymnastics) June 5, 2025
Ready to Thunder Up! ⚡️ @okcthunder pic.twitter.com/nyNTjZsKb3
— Oklahoma Football (@OU_Football) April 20, 2025
"These guys are uncommon. They do everything right. They're professional. They're high character. They're competitive. And most of all, they're team first. They embody everything it means to be a team".
— Jim Nagy (@JimNagy_Sooners) May 29, 2025
𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐬 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐛𝐥𝐮𝐞𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 @OU_Football.🫡#ThunderUp pic.twitter.com/V0Xy2CHNIU
But the Oklahoma State Cowboys also share this state and fandom of the Thunder. OSU football coach Mike Gundy has even said he roots for the Thunder after befriending Daigneault.
When "the game" is mentioned in this state, there's no question of which game. There's no wondering who the person next to you cheers for. There's no "Boomer Sooner" or "Orange Power" proclaimed, just "Thunder Up!" It's the only time and sport when someone learns where an Oklahoman is from and doesn't have to wonder which team they care about and why.
The Thunder is all Oklahoma has.
So if only until the Thunder hoist that Larry O'Brien trophy, this state is cheering for just one team right now.
OU, OSU fans unite to cheer for Thunder
OSU and OU fans may party together for the first time in history
— PokeNation (@Big12Pokes) June 17, 2025
We sacrificed our athletic programs for this Thunder run https://t.co/JWLN8gexv0
— Boomer Beamer (@ImDerBatman) June 17, 2025
“There’s not an OU, OSU, UT fan anywhere we’re all Thunder fans right now” idk who that dude was on the news just now but what a quote 🫡
— Cason ⚡️ (@cason_douglas) June 17, 2025
It’s my favorite thing about the Thunder. We’ve never had anything truly unite us as OU and OSU fans. The Thunder do that. That’s why we’re one of the loudest and most passionate fanbases in pro sports. We’re stronger together!
— Quinton Flaming (@QFlaming67) June 17, 2025
Shoutout to all the OSU Thunder fans that have to wear an OU logo tonight, y’all are troopers 🫡 pic.twitter.com/Pn4K1mfYhB
— Bobby Howard (@BobbyHowardOK) May 23, 2025
The State of Oklahoma did in fact sacrifice the success of all OU (and OSU) sports so the Thunder could win a title……..
— FIRE NICO (@BMFS1991) June 3, 2025
OSU and OU fans watching the Thunder: pic.twitter.com/m4IJXNpgYa
— PokeNation (@Big12Pokes) October 16, 2024
Before the Thunder it was simply OU fans & OSU fans. After they arrived, the Thunder became the great unifier of the state. I’m a die hard OU guy, but have made great friends who are OSU folks because of Thunder. Blue connects Red & Orange. 🧬 💙⚡️🏀 https://t.co/l0H9ARTL4i pic.twitter.com/bHGfJjFRWE
— Logan Meyer (@Logmey92) December 13, 2023
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