This was obviously the most painful goodbye Oklahoma had in some time

Oklahoma senior center Raegan Beers will not wear crimson and cream again. That's tough for any OU women's basketball fan to realize.

The No. 4 Sooners on Saturday lost to No. 1 South Carolina 94-68 in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament to not only end their season, but also conclude Beers' extremely successful college career that she thankfully finished in Oklahoma.

Raegan Beers finishes outstanding Sooners career

Beers spent just two seasons at OU after transferring from Oregon State in 2023, but she felt like a life-long Sooner by the end. She wrapped up her career as a two-time First-Team All-SEC honoree and three-time All-American honorable mention while being a leader in the Sooners' Sweet 16 trips the past two seasons. Beers also tallied 67 double-doubles during her career while averaging 15.8 points and 10.5 rebounds as a senior.

There will be no replacing Beers at OU as she heads to the WNBA. Freshman Daffa Cissoko is the only listed center on the Sooners' roster who will return next season. More than likely, head coach Jennie Baranczyk will have to use the Transfer Portal to fill the hole Beers leaves. Regardless, even the best the portal has to offer this offseason won't be enough to actually fill Beers' void, at least not immediately.

Beers played her final game at Lloyd Noble Center last week when the Sooners beat No. 5 Michigan State 77-71 to punch their ticket to the Sweet 16 for the second year in a row. She had a double-double in that victory with 18 points and 14 rebounds.

Afterward, it was obvious how much OU meant to Beers, even as a transplant who didn't spend her entire career in one place. She got emotional and shed tears at the thought of her time as a Sooner winding down.

"Gratitude," Beers said then. "I love this place. I love these people."

Unprompted, senior teammate Payton Verhulst during that press conference foreshadowed then how hard the goodbye to Beers would be for the Sooners when it came.

"She's one of the most selfless people I've ever met and ever played with, so I literally wish nothing but the best for her every single time she steps on the floor," Verhulst said. "And I know she's going to do great things in the future of basketball and just in her life in general."

Then, when Beers checked out for the final time as a Sooner on Sunday, the OU fans who made the trek to Sacramento, California, gave her a standing ovation as she shared a special moment with Baranczyk on the sideline. Teammates also had emotional goodbyes with Beers on the court after the game.

Beers already made it clear how much Oklahoma meant to her, and OU fans should make sure she knows the feeling is mutual for a visitor who became a staple.