The Big 12 Women’s Basketball Tournament Begins Wednesday — How Far Can The Cowgirls Go?

KANSAS CITY, MO — The Oklahoma State Cowgirls enter the 2026 Phillips 66 Big 12 Women’s Basketball Tournament as the No. 4 seed with a double bye, giving them a significant advantage as they head to the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri, this week.

The tournament runs March 4-8, with first-round games beginning Wednesday and the championship set for Sunday at 4 p.m. CT on ESPN (or Monday if BYU advances).

OSU (22-8 overall, 12-6 in Big 12 play) will not play until the quarterfinals on Friday, March 6, at 11 a.m. CT on ESPNU.

As the No. 4 seed, the Cowgirls draw the winner of Thursday’s second-round game between No. 5 Texas Tech and the survivor of Wednesday’s play-in matchup between No. 12 Kansas State and No. 13 Cincinnati.

A quarterfinal victory would send Oklahoma State to the semifinals on Saturday against the winner of the No. 1 TCU bracket (most likely the Horned Frogs themselves).

From there, a spot in the championship game Sunday would pit them against the winner of the No. 2 West Virginia/No. 3 Baylor side of the bracket.

Only three wins separate the Cowgirls from the Big 12 title and the automatic NCAA Tournament bid that comes with it, though they’re expected an invite regardless. 

Oklahoma State’s path is manageable but demanding. Texas Tech, ranked in the top 25 in recent weeks, represents the most probable quarterfinal foe.

TCU, the regular-season champion and defending tournament winner, looms as the clear favorite behind star guard Olivia Miles.

West Virginia and Baylor provide additional championship-level tests. Still, the double bye grants valuable rest after a long conference season, allowing the Cowgirls to heal and prepare in a neutral-site environment where their identity can shine.

For a deep run in Kansas City, Oklahoma State must lean on its proven strengths. Senior guard Micah Gray leads the way, averaging 14.1-14.6 points per game while ranking third in the Big 12 in three-pointers made (approximately 2.6-2.8 per contest at 35.3 percent). Her ability to stretch the floor and create off the dribble will be vital against tournament defenses.

The starting five has started every game together, something rarely done: forward Achol Akot and guard Jadyn Wooten each dropped 18 points in the regular-season finale, guard Stailee Heard added 16 points and four steals while providing elite perimeter defense and secondary scoring, and transfer Amari Whiting chipped in double figures with strong rebounding and playmaking.

The Cowgirls rank among the nation’s best defensively, allowing just 63.1 points per game while forcing turnovers at a high rate. Offensively, they average 81.7-82.1 points on 46.4 percent shooting, thriving in transition and with balanced scoring.

Under fourth-year head coach Jacie Hoyt, Oklahoma State has reached the NCAA Tournament in three of the past four seasons. Their remarkable home dominance, 16-1 at Gallagher-Iba Arena this year and 17-1 a season ago, built the confidence and chemistry now translating to March success.

The lone home loss came early to Baylor, but the Cowgirls closed the regular season with an eight-game home winning streak, including a decisive victory over Kansas.

The Big 12 Tournament remains one of the deepest in the country, with TCU (No. 1 seed) heavily favored to repeat as champions behind their suffocating defense and strong offense.

Yet the format rewards momentum, and Oklahoma State’s rest, defensive identity, and veteran leadership position them as a dangerous mid-bracket threat capable of knocking off higher seeds.

Personally? I believe this Cowgirls team can make a deep run all the way to the championship game.

With the extra days of preparation, elite defense, and proven shooters like Gray and Heard, Oklahoma State has the tools to upset Texas Tech, challenge TCU in the semifinals, and reach Sunday’s final…possibly hoisting the trophy if their three-point shooting clicks on the big stage.