Netflix to Premiere a Documentary Series on Oklahoma Sooners Women’s Basketball: A Deep Dive Into a College Basketball Franchise
From the hardwood to your home screen, the Oklahoma Sooners women’s basketball team is about to hit prime time in a whole new way. Netflix just announced the upcoming release of a documentary series centered on the powerhouse that is OU Women’s Hoops. The working title: Crimson Queens: Built Not Bought. And it’s already drumming up serious hype.
Think of it as Last Chance U meets The Last Dance—but with a Big 12 twist, a lot more grit, and a fierce sisterhood of athletes rewriting the rules. This is college basketball through the lens of fire, focus, and female empowerment.
The Rise of the Crimson Queens
The Sooners have long been a respected name in women’s college basketball, but in recent years, they’ve started turning heads on a national scale. With deep tournament runs, All-American talent, and a coaching culture that breeds both accountability and swag, OU has established itself as one of the game’s elite programs.
This documentary digs into that rise—from the legendary days of Sherri Coale to the present era led by head coach Jennie Baranczyk. It explores how Oklahoma built its program from the ground up, staying true to its roots while embracing the evolution of women’s sports in the NIL era.
The cameras roll from the locker room to the classroom, from early-morning weight sessions to sold-out Lloyd Noble Center crowds. It’s a raw, unfiltered look at what it takes to wear the crimson and cream.
More Than Just Basketball
According to Netflix’s press release, the series isn’t just about wins and losses. Crimson Queens dives deep into identity, legacy, and resilience.
You’ll meet players who juggle 4.0 GPAs with 40-minute game nights. You’ll follow young stars from Oklahoma, Texas, and beyond who chose Norman over flashy NIL offers from bigger markets. And you’ll hear unfiltered truths about what it’s like to be a Black woman in a sport that still fights for equal respect.
Hip hop legend Rapsody is on board as an executive producer and soundtrack curator, blending classic beats and original tracks with the storytelling. Expect bars with purpose, lyrics that hit like a crossover, and vibes that echo the spirit of sisterhood.
“It’s more than hoops,” Rapsody said in a behind-the-scenes teaser. “It’s culture. It’s power. It’s voice. These women—these queens—are putting the whole world on notice.”
The Power of a Platform
What makes Crimson Queens especially powerful is its timing. Women’s basketball is surging in popularity, with players like Caitlin Clark, JuJu Watkins, and Angel Reese dominating headlines and driving TV ratings to all-time highs.
Oklahoma is capitalizing on that momentum. This documentary doesn’t just shine a light on the Sooners’ program—it puts the entire college women’s basketball ecosystem under a microscope.
Expect deep-dive segments on the recruitment grind, the politics of NIL, gender equity in college sports, and the mental health toll of being a student-athlete in the digital age. You’ll see the tears, the injuries, the setbacks, and the comebacks.
And at the heart of it all? A team that plays with passion, unity, and unapologetic fire.
Key Players to Watch
If you’re not already familiar with the Sooners roster, this series is your crash course. From high-scoring guards with icy handles to dominant post players anchoring the defense, OU’s talent pool is stacked.
One standout is point guard Maya “MJ” Johnson, a five-star recruit with a killer crossover and a love for Tupac. She’s got game, she’s got grit, and she’s got a story that’ll stick with you.
Then there’s senior forward Jordan Davis, a vocal leader and a fierce advocate for LGBTQ+ visibility in sports. Her journey from a small-town Oklahoma kid to one of the team’s captains is both emotional and empowering.
And don’t forget freshman phenom Rylee Thompson, whose viral TikToks balance dance battles with deep threes.
Coaching With Culture
A major focus of the docuseries will be head coach Jennie Baranczyk’s approach to leadership. She’s not just running practices—she’s building people. Her philosophy blends old-school discipline with modern-day empathy.
Under Baranczyk, players are encouraged to speak their minds, express themselves, and represent their communities with pride. It’s a system that values both stats and soul.
“I tell my team every day—we’re not just hoopers,” Baranczyk says in episode one. “We’re leaders, we’re scholars, we’re creators. And yeah, we’re gonna win, too.”
Music Meets Movement
The sonic identity of Crimson Queens is deeply rooted in hip hop. The score, curated by Rapsody, will feature beats from J. Cole’s Dreamville collective, Megan Thee Stallion, Lauryn Hill, and even Oklahoma-native artists like Jabee.
The goal? To give each episode a soundtrack that reflects the emotions on screen—whether it’s a tough road loss in Ames or a comeback win in the Big 12 tourney. This isn’t your typical sports doc. This is a rhythmic celebration of Black excellence, female unity, and Oklahoma pride.
Streaming Soon
Netflix hasn’t confirmed the official release date, but sources say the series is expected to drop in Fall 2025—right before the start of the NCAA basketball season. A teaser trailer will hit in June, and a companion behind-the-scenes podcast is also in the works.
The series is directed by Ava DuVernay’s ARRAY Films in collaboration with LeBron James’ SpringHill Company, ensuring top-tier storytelling and production quality.
Final Thoughts
Crimson Queens: Built Not Bought isn’t just about a basketball team—it’s about culture, community, and carving out space in a system that hasn’t always made room. It’s about what happens when young women take control of their narrative, ball out on their own terms, and turn adversity into art.
Oklahoma Sooners women’s basketball is ready for the spotlight. And now, thanks to Netflix, the whole world is about to see what happens when passion meets p
urpose—on and off the court.
Stay tuned. The queens are coming.