BREAKING NEWS: Oklahoma Sooners Women’s Basketball Fans Reacts in Shock As Coach Jennie Baranczyk makes Surprising statement Announcing that Star Forward Raegan Beers has been made the new….see more

A wave of surprise and excitement swept through Oklahoma Sooners women’s basketball fans today as head coach Jennie Baranczyk made an unanticipated announcement during a packed press conference at the Lloyd Noble Center: Star forward Raegan Beers has been named the new team captain.

Beers, who transferred to Oklahoma ahead of the season and immediately established herself as one of the nation’s most dominant post players, will take over leadership duties effective immediately. The move is seen as both a reward for her exceptional performance and a bold statement about the team’s commitment to chasing an SEC title and deep NCAA Tournament run.

“Raegan is the definition of relentless,” Coach Baranczyk said. “She’s shown incredible work ethic, leadership, and heart since the moment she arrived in Norman. Naming her captain wasn’t planned at the start of the season, but she’s earned it every single day. I’m thrilled for her and for what this means for our team.”

Beers leads the Sooners in both scoring and rebounding, averaging over 22 points and 9 rebounds per game while shooting nearly 70% from the field. Her consistent dominance in the paint has made her a finalist for national player-of-the-year awards and earned her a place on the Wooden Award Top 25 Watch List.

While many fans celebrated the move on social media with posts like “Queen Beers takes the crown!” and “Future All-American Captain!!”, others expressed surprise at the timing of the announcement, given that Beers is still new to the program.

“It’s a little shocking,” said longtime fan Erica James. “But if anyone has earned it this quickly, it’s her. She plays like a warrior every game.”

Teammates also voiced support for the decision. Guard Payton Verhulst praised Beers as “one of the hardest workers I’ve ever played with,” while freshman Sahara Williams described her as “a real leader who holds us all accountable.”

The announcement comes at a critical time, with the Sooners preparing for a challenging stretch of conference games in their first SEC season. Baranczyk, who led Oklahoma to back-to-back conference titles in the Big 12 before the move, made clear that she believes Beers can help unify and inspire the team as it battles for seeding in the NCAA Tournament.

“Being captain is more than a title,” Baranczyk said. “It’s about setting the standard, every single day. And Raegan sets it sky-high.”

The Sooners will take the court this weekend for their first game with Beers wearing the captain’s band—a moment that promises to be emotional for both the team and its passionate fanbase.