Thursday night in women’s college basketball delivered in more ways than one, with a loaded slate featuring championship contenders, teams on the rise, ones attempting to find their footing, and one of the biggest upsets in recent memory. Let us jump straight into the thick of it.
Entering conference play with a perfect 13-0 record, the Oklahoma women’s basketball team went on to claim blowout wins over Texas A&M and Mississippi State. Then, a bit of controversy ensued with three straight losses to Ole Miss, Kentucky, and LSU. The Sooners fell from No. 5 to No. 16 in the Associated Press poll due to the freefall.
The team’s fortunes turned around last night with a hard-fought overtime win over South Carolina, 94-82. This was the program’s third win in 35 games all-time against top-two challengers. The first was against No. 2 Texas in 2004 and No. 2 Kansas State in 2024. In other words, such a win over the Gamecocks was history in the making.
Oklahoma was led by star freshman guard Aaliyah Chavez, who scored 15 of her 26 points in overtime. Her 15 points carried the team in the extra period, where the Sooners scored 19.
AALIYAH CHAVEZ DROPS 15 IN OT TO LEAD NO. 16 OKLAHOMA TO A 94-82 UPSET WIN OVER NO. 2 SOUTH CAROLINA 🍿🔥 pic.twitter.com/DlHw7uTv6f
— espnW (@espnW) January 23, 2026
From the first whistle to the last, South Carolina never truly matched Oklahoma’s pace or urgency. The team may have been 19-1 entering Thursday’s matchup, but the team hasn’t been on cruise control since losing to Texas back in November. At this point last season, the team had defined roles down the roster, especially against the top teams across the nation.
The Gamecocks lost one of their most impactful leaders on the court, star senior Chloe Kitts, before the season started. Other players are playing in new roles, and the chemistry has been off at times throughout games. South Carolina returned just over half of its roster from the previous season, with three players advancing on to the WNBA.
This time last year, former Gamecock and current Los Angeles Sparks forward Sania Feagin stepped into a larger role after losing Ashlyn Watkins for the season with a knee injury. Feagin helped pilot South Carolina to the national championship game. The team hasn’t figured out who will step up in Kitts’ absence in the manner Feagin did for Watkins, and March will be here before we know it. With five players still learning the system, the growing pains will play a factor.
Last night was a multiple-screen kind of night, and Iowa on the road at Maryland quickly turned into one of the best games of the night by far. Down 17 with three minutes left in the final frame, the Terrapins mounted a 24-7 run to tie the game at 73 and force overtime after a clutch three-pointer from star transfer Oluchi Okanawa.
The Hawkeyes regained composure and outscored Maryland 12-5 in overtime, taking the win and handing the Terrapins their second straight loss after a 20-point blowout at UCLA last week. Iowa senior Ava Heiden led the Hawkeyes with 20 points on 9-13 shooting. Four of the team’s starters finished with double figures. Chazadi Wright added 18, and Hannah Stuelke posted a 12-point, 11-rebound double-double. She now has five on the season.
Ava Heiden tonight:
20 PTS, 8 REB, 2 AST, 9/13 FGIowa holds off Maryland in OT! pic.twitter.com/GiMAzY8jjr
— Women’s Hoops Network (@WomensHoops_USA) January 23, 2026
The road ahead doesn’t get any easier for Maryland. No. 25 Washington journeys east to College Park next Wednesday and a tough Oregon team the following Saturday. Conference play hasn’t gone exactly as Maryland might’ve planned, dropping three straight games to ranked opponents.
After exiting non-conference play, the Kentucky women’s basketball team only suffered one defeat at the hands of Maryland in November. Conference play kicked off with a top-five win over LSU and a cruise past Missouri. Since then, the Wildcats have gone 2-3 in the SEC with back-to-back losses against Mississippi State and now Tennessee.
Freshman sensation Mia Pauldo led the Lady Vols with 21 points, which was just over a fourth of the team’s offense. Deniya Prawl was the next closest scorer with nine points.
Freshman Mia Pauldo vs No. 11 Kentucky:
21 PTS
4 RBS
2 AST
1 STLNo. 17 Tennessee wins, 60-58! 👀✨ pic.twitter.com/MQhIe3O29t
— I talk hoops 🏀 (@trendyhoopstars) January 23, 2026
Since losing star senior forward Teonni Key to injury, the offense sputters at the start of games. This was the case against Mississippi State and Tennessee. Carelessness with the ball was the story of the night, with 21 turnovers. Jordan Obi had a double-double, posting 14 points and 11 rebounds. Clara Strack had nine points and 15 rebounds. Amelia Hasset added 16 points and three blocks, but the Wildcats lacked activity from their bench, going scoreless for the game.
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Born and raised in Chicago, Christan Braswell is a women’s sports journalist with a focus on the WNBA and women’s college basketball. He’s an avid fan of elevator screens and stuffed-crust pizza. Outside of sports, he’s an avid cook and lover of the great outdoors.
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