In a game that will be remembered as a cornerstone of the 2025-26 season, the No. 16 Oklahoma Sooners delivered a shocking 94-82 overtime upset against the No. 2 South Carolina Gamecocks on January 22, 2026. The clash at the Lloyd Noble Center in Norman was a masterclass in resilience, as Oklahoma overcame an eight-point first-half deficit to snap South Carolina’s 12-game winning streak. This victory marks Oklahoma’s third-ever win over a top-two opponent and their first since defeating Kansas State in 2024.
The Chavez Takeover
The headline of the night was the extraordinary performance of freshman guard Aaliyah Chavez. After a relatively quiet regulation period where she struggled with efficiency, Chavez completely took over in the extra frame. She scored 15 of her game-high 26 points in the five-minute overtime period alone, shooting a perfect 5-for-5 from the field, including four clutch three-pointers. Her ability to hit contested shots from distance effectively dismantled the Gamecocks’ defense and put the game out of reach.
Battle in the Paint
Despite South Carolina’s traditional size advantage, Oklahoma dominated the rebounding battle, outperforming the Gamecocks 54-39. Senior center Raegan Beers was instrumental in this effort, recording her 60th career double-double with 18 points and 14 rebounds while shooting 8-of-9 from the floor. Payton Verhulst added 19 points, providing the veteran leadership needed to weather South Carolina’s late fourth-quarter 8-0 run. By reaching the 94-point mark, the Sooners became the first team to score over 90 points against a Dawn Staley-led South Carolina squad since UConn accomplished the feat in 2019.
