If Sooner Nation thought this season of Oklahoma women's basketball was fun, just wait for the next.
The 2024-25 women's college basketball season just ended on Sunday with the UConn Huskies beating the South Carolina Gamecocks to become national champions. With confetti still on the court, attention immediately turned to next season, especially for every other fan base whose season ended without a title.
Shortly after the buzzer sounded, ESPN released its way-too-early top 25. With the UCLA Bruins at the top, ESPN had the Sooners at No. 7.
ESPN ranks Sooners in top 10 of way-too-early top 25
The top-10 expectations aren't a shock considering the Sooners spent most of this season inside the top 10 before making the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2013. OU posted a 27-8 overall record after losing to eventual champion UConn.
The Sooners will return all but one starter and three of their top three scorers, including All-American center Raegan Beers. And OU will also add an incredible talent to the mix while losing very little.
Aaliyah Chavez, the No. 1 recruit in the 2025 class as a guard, committed to OU and should immediately be slotted into the Sooners' lone opening in the starting lineup. Minds like Trae Young expect Chavez to be up there with names like Caitlin Clark and Paige Bueckers.
Chavez likely won't meet expectations Day 1, but even as a freshman she can maintain the Sooners as a top-10 squad through SEC play. Chavez surrounded by the experience and talent coach Jennie Baranczyk already has should be enough to get the Sooners beyond the Sweet 16 next March.
With OU at No. 7, half of ESPN's top 10 was made up by SEC teams, including No. 2 South Carolina, No. 4 Texas, No. 6 LSU and No. 8 Tennessee.