Jennie Baranczyk’s squad heads to New York for a high-stakes showdown, aiming to extend their perfect record against the Wolverines before diving into SEC play
Oklahoma’s non-conference schedule just got another notable addition.
The Sooners will face Michigan on Dec. 5 in the Champions Classic at Barclays Center in Brooklyn. Tipoff is set for 1 p.m. CT and the game will air on Fox.
The event also includes Maryland and Connecticut, who play in the second game at 3:30 p.m. Oklahoma is a late addition to the field, stepping in for Iowa State as Michigan’s opponent.
It’s a solid early-season opportunity against a Big Ten program in a neutral-site environment that usually draws attention.
This will be the fourth meeting between Oklahoma and Michigan, with the Sooners winning the first three. The most recent matchup came at the 2024 Jumpman Invitational in Charlotte, where Oklahoma pulled away in the fourth quarter for a 72-62 win. That history gives Jennie Baranczyk’s group some familiarity, even if the roster has turned over since then.
Baranczyk is entering her sixth season in Norman and has the program playing at a consistent level. The Sooners have reached the Sweet Sixteen in back-to-back years and continue to look like a team that expects to compete deep into March.
Leading the way again should be Aaliyah Chavez, who earned national freshman of the year recognition from ESPN after a strong first season. Having a player of that caliber back gives Oklahoma a clear focal point on offense and a boost in confidence heading into a tougher non-conference slate.
The Champions Classic game fits with the other marquee dates already on the calendar. Oklahoma opens the season against North Carolina in Paris on Nov. 2, plays at Syracuse in the SEC/ACC Challenge on Dec. 3, and faces Oklahoma State in Bedlam on Dec. 12 at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City. The full non-conference schedule will be released later, but the early framework already includes quality opportunities.
Neutral-site games like this one are useful for a couple of reasons. They give the team experience in a different environment before SEC play heats up, and they offer a chance to measure where the group stands against solid competition outside the league.
Michigan will present a physical, well-coached challenge. How Oklahoma responds to that style on an early December afternoon in Brooklyn should tell us something about the roster’s readiness.
For fans, it’s another chance to see the Sooners on a national stage before conference play. Fox coverage and the Barclays Center setting raise the profile of the game a bit more than a standard midweek non-conference matchup. With Chavez leading the way and Baranczyk’s group coming off another Sweet Sixteen run, Oklahoma should be competitive in these kinds of games.
The addition of Michigan on Dec. 5 gives the early schedule a little more bite. Between Paris, Syracuse, Brooklyn, and Bedlam, the Sooners will have plenty of chances to set a tone before SEC play begins.
The full picture of the non-conference slate will come into focus later. For now, the Champions Classic provides one more quality date to circle.
