Oklahoma has a nightmare draw in the 2026 SEC Women's Basketball Tournament

The SEC standings did not fall favorably for the Oklahoma women's basketball team.

The bracket for the 2026 SEC Women's Basketball Tournament was released on Sunday as the regular season concluded. The Sooners earned the No. 5 seed after going 11-5 in SEC play and 23-6 overall. Other than earning a first-round bye as a top-8 seed, the bracket presents a daunting road for Jennie Baranczyk's squad to capture OU's first SEC title when the tournament tips off on Wednesday in Greenville, South Carolina.

SEC Women's Basketball Tournament bracket released for Sooners

With that first-round pass, the Sooners await the winner of No. 12 Florida and No. 13 Mississippi State. OU absolutely hammered Mississippi State 95-47 early on in conference play, but Florida actually gave the Sooners a run for their money in a close 81-74 battle on Feb. 12 in Norman. If the Gators get past Mississippi State, they not only already know they can hang with OU, but also have the added motivation of revenge.

Beyond that second-round matchup, the Sooners would face No. 4 LSU in the quarterfinals on Friday. LSU already handled the Sooners 91-72 this season at Lloyd Noble Center. The Tigers have also made it to the semifinals of the SEC Tournament the last three years under Kim Mulkey.

If the Sooners do manage to upset LSU, they would be rewarded with top-seeded South Carolina, which has won four of the last five SEC tournaments, including the last three in a row. OU took down South Carolina 94-82 in overtime this season in Norman, but that upset might actually make the revenge-minded Gamecocks even more dangerous in this situation.

Outside of daunting matchups, OU also lacks depth while dealing with games in potentially four straight days in order to win an SEC title. Freshman point guard Aaliyah Chavez leads the Sooners with 18.4 points and 4.2 assists a game with a team-high 32 minutes, which proves she's been stellar in her rookie campaign, but this will also be Chavez's first March Madness as the intensity and stakes drastically rise. Both their biggest flaw and greatest strength could end up haunting the Sooners in a postseason that starts with a daunting SEC Women's Basketball Tournament slate.

How to watch SEC Women's Basketball Tournament with full schedule and bracket

Wednesday

No. 9 Kentucky vs. No. 186 Arkansas
10 a.m. CT on SEC Network (Watch using fuboTV free trial)

No. 12 Florida vs. No. 13 Mississippi State
12:30 p.m. CT on SEC Network (Watch using fuboTV free trial)

No. 10 Texas A&M vs. No. 15 Auburn
5 p.m. CT on SEC Network (Watch using fuboTV free trial)

No. 11 Alabama vs. No. 14 Missouri
7:30 p.m. CT on SEC Network (Watch using fuboTV free trial)

Thursday

No. 8 Georgia vs. Winner of No. 9 Kentucky / No. 16 Arkansas
10 a.m. CT on SEC Network (Watch using fuboTV free trial)

No. 5 Oklahoma vs. Winner of No. 12 Florida / No. 13 Mississippi State
12:30 p.m. CT on SEC Network (Watch using fuboTV free trial)

No. 7 Ole Miss vs. Winner of No. 10 Texas A&M / No. 15 Auburn
5 p.m. CT on SEC Network (Watch using fuboTV free trial)

No. 8 Tennessee vs. Winner of No. 11 Alabama / No. 14 Missouri
7:30 p.m. CT on SEC Network (Watch using fuboTV free trial)

Friday

No. 1 South Carolina vs. Winner of No. 8 Georgia / TBD
11 a.m. CT on ESPN (Watch using fuboTV free trial)

No. 4 LSU vs. Winner of No. 5 Oklahoma / TBD
1:30 p.m. CT on ESPN (Watch using fuboTV free trial)

No. 2 Vanderbilt vs. Winner of No. 7 Ole Miss / TBD
5 p.m. CT on SEC Network (Watch using fuboTV free trial)

No. 3 Texas vs. Winner of No. 8 Texas / TBD
7:30 p.m. CT on SEC Network (Watch using fuboTV free trial)

Saturday

Semifinal Game 1
3:30 p.m. CT on ESPN2 (Watch using fuboTV free trial)

Semifinal Game 2
6 p.m. CT on ESPN2 (Watch using fuboTV free trial)

Sunday

Championship Game
2 p.m. CT on ESPN (Watch using fuboTV free trial)