Another no-show loss more reason to look forward to Chavez grabbing leadership reins
Sooners' inherent lack of urgency clear yet again in another lopsided loss
Perhaps you, like me, have spent time this season looking ahead to next season, concerned the Sooner women might take a step back.
Following Saturday’s season-ending 94-68 NCAA tournament regional semifinal loss to South Carolina, Oklahoma will come back next season without seniors Raegan Beers and Payton Verhulst.
Beers gave the Sooners an inside presence they’d not had for so, so long and Verhulst could do a bit of everything, always making good decisions, always capable of breaking opponents’ hearts from 3-point range with a patented quick release.
And while the future appears bright for sophomore Caya Smith and freshmen Brooklyn Stewart and Keziah Lofton, just how much can they expect to improve in one offseason?
To prevent that step back, it appeared, the answer would have to be a whole, whole lot.
But perhaps you, like me, don’t think that way any longer.
Perhaps it’s clear this team can’t be led by Aaliyah Chavez fast enough, and when it is maybe coach Jennie Baranczyk will quit accepting efforts like the one OU put together against South Carolina.
