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SACRAMENTO, CA — Skylar Vann is always reminding her sister, Zya, to raise her voice.
Point guards are usually expected to be loud and commanding on the floor, shouting out sets and setting up offense with the ball in their hands the most.
By nature, Zya isn’t the most vocal player.
“There are different ways to be leaders,” said Skylar, a standout forward for the OU women's basketball team from 2020-25 who was teammates with her sister last season. “You can lead by different examples. She leads by her defensive mindset, getting stops and also her energy. She has a huge energy shift when she goes in the game.”
The fire she brings with her play is infectious. It’s not deafening, but it ripples throughout the Sooners’ locker room.
Sophomore Zya Vann doesn’t get the attention freshman phenom Aaliyah Chavez or star center Raegan Beers receive nationally, but she’s been one of OU’s most critical X factors in returning to a second consecutive Sweet 16. Ahead of the No. 4 seed Sooners’ matchup with No. 1 seed South Carolina on Saturday, Baranczyk calls Vann the most improved player in the entire SEC.
More: OU women's basketball already owns win over South Carolina, but 'it feels like ages ago'
Vann doesn’t have the most outward personality, but her confidence has grown through the roof as she’s worked to become more vocal and find her own unique leadership role. Her maturation, even in the short period since last season, has led to her rapid improvement.
“A lot of times sophomores can get really intimidated by certain things, and she doesn't,” Baranczyk said. “She knows that she's got to get better. She knows she has to come in really focused. She knows she's got to guard. She knows there are times that she's going to have to get switched on to a post and do whatever she can. There are times where she has to make really big plays for us offensively.”
Vann has done just that. By all accounts, it’s a credit to newfound confidence.
She’s started all 33 games, all while averaging career highs in points (10.5), rebounds (4.3), assists (2.3) and steals (2.2) — her 71 steals are the most for an OU player since Danielle Robinson’s 87 in 2010-11. Vann has recorded 17 games this season with 10-plus points, including 11 against the Gamecocks on Jan. 22.
“We can always talk about the tangible things on the court and everything she does, but it’s a confidence thing,” veteran Sahara Williams told The Oklahoman. “She knew what she wanted for herself and went and got it. When you work hard and trust that you're prepared for what's to come, your confidence hits different.”
It hasn’t always come smoothly for Vann this season. Playing alongside Chavez — the Sooners’ ball dominant point guard — has been an adjustment.
Both still underclassmen, Chavez and Vann have learned the hard way throughout the season that failing is essential to development. But having veteran presences like Beers, Payton Verhulst and Williams has helped tremendously.
“The offense is very different,” Skylar said. “There are a lot of scorers on the court this year. With Aaliyah and Zya, there comes a time when they’ve got to experience certain things together. This is a time where you want that connection to be at its best and at its peak and they’re finally peaking right now going into the Sweet 16.”
MUSSATTO: Can OU women's basketball can top South Carolina again in Sweet 16? The case for & against
When it all becomes too much, Vann relies on family. OU basketball is in her DNA as her father, Bryatt Vann, starred for the Sooners under Billy Tubbs in 1992 and 1993.
She credits a lot of her strides to his guidance. The two are always in the gym together and meet frequently for dinner to chat about the previous game. She also talks to her sister daily.
“He's basically been through, like, all of this — what I'm going through now,” Vann said. “So his advice is really helpful. He’s been walking me through all of this, what to expect and everything.”
For Skylar, it’s been surreal watching her sister play on the biggest stage in the toughest conference in the country. She watches as much as she can.
Her favorite moment of the season was Vann’s perseverance against Michigan State in the second round. Following a slow first half by her standards, Vann focused on setting up her teammates and finding the best shots in the second, finishing with 12 points, six assists and five rebounds in the win.
“I’ve been through college,” Skylar said, “and I know how hard it is to work through that mental shift and mental mindset of, ‘I didn't play good this half. I just need to stop playing, or I give up, or I'm not going to do good.’ There's two ways you can go. That was my favorite moment only because I'm seeing her grow so much as a player and also as a person.
“She looks very nonchalant when she plays, she looks like she’s not there, but she's one of the hardest workers I know, and she loves this game so deeply that she will do anything to win. This game against South Carolina is going to show that she's a fighter. Vann’s are fighters and that's what Zya truly is.”
More: OU women's basketball star Raegan Beers felt all the emotions leading Sooners to Sweet 16
When Vann hears the praise from her coach, she deflects the attention.
“I just think of the people who have helped me improve and helped me get to where I am,” Vann said. “I couldn't be here without Jennie and my team. They push me to be my best every day.”
You won’t find Vann shouting orders or yelling at her teammates very often. But she holds them accountable by her actions on and off the floor.
Vann saw the greatness surrounding her before this season and knew she needed to elevate her game. One thing is for certain: she’ll be bringing that quiet, but lethal energy in the Sweet 16.
“She hasn't shied away from one moment,” Baranczyk said. “When you can see young people fall down, get up and go — the difference between a-year-ago Zya Vann and today's Zya Vann is completely different.”
Colton Sulley covers the Oklahoma Sooners for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Colton? He can be reached at [email protected] or on X/Twitter at @colton_sulley. Support Colton's work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com.
TIPOFF: 4 p.m. CT Saturday at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California (ESPN)
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Zya Vann's confidence fuels OU women's basketball in NCAA Tournament
Continue reading...
Point guards are usually expected to be loud and commanding on the floor, shouting out sets and setting up offense with the ball in their hands the most.
By nature, Zya isn’t the most vocal player.
“There are different ways to be leaders,” said Skylar, a standout forward for the OU women's basketball team from 2020-25 who was teammates with her sister last season. “You can lead by different examples. She leads by her defensive mindset, getting stops and also her energy. She has a huge energy shift when she goes in the game.”
The fire she brings with her play is infectious. It’s not deafening, but it ripples throughout the Sooners’ locker room.
Sophomore Zya Vann doesn’t get the attention freshman phenom Aaliyah Chavez or star center Raegan Beers receive nationally, but she’s been one of OU’s most critical X factors in returning to a second consecutive Sweet 16. Ahead of the No. 4 seed Sooners’ matchup with No. 1 seed South Carolina on Saturday, Baranczyk calls Vann the most improved player in the entire SEC.
More: OU women's basketball already owns win over South Carolina, but 'it feels like ages ago'
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Vann doesn’t have the most outward personality, but her confidence has grown through the roof as she’s worked to become more vocal and find her own unique leadership role. Her maturation, even in the short period since last season, has led to her rapid improvement.
“A lot of times sophomores can get really intimidated by certain things, and she doesn't,” Baranczyk said. “She knows that she's got to get better. She knows she has to come in really focused. She knows she's got to guard. She knows there are times that she's going to have to get switched on to a post and do whatever she can. There are times where she has to make really big plays for us offensively.”
Vann has done just that. By all accounts, it’s a credit to newfound confidence.
She’s started all 33 games, all while averaging career highs in points (10.5), rebounds (4.3), assists (2.3) and steals (2.2) — her 71 steals are the most for an OU player since Danielle Robinson’s 87 in 2010-11. Vann has recorded 17 games this season with 10-plus points, including 11 against the Gamecocks on Jan. 22.
“We can always talk about the tangible things on the court and everything she does, but it’s a confidence thing,” veteran Sahara Williams told The Oklahoman. “She knew what she wanted for herself and went and got it. When you work hard and trust that you're prepared for what's to come, your confidence hits different.”
It hasn’t always come smoothly for Vann this season. Playing alongside Chavez — the Sooners’ ball dominant point guard — has been an adjustment.
Both still underclassmen, Chavez and Vann have learned the hard way throughout the season that failing is essential to development. But having veteran presences like Beers, Payton Verhulst and Williams has helped tremendously.
“The offense is very different,” Skylar said. “There are a lot of scorers on the court this year. With Aaliyah and Zya, there comes a time when they’ve got to experience certain things together. This is a time where you want that connection to be at its best and at its peak and they’re finally peaking right now going into the Sweet 16.”
MUSSATTO: Can OU women's basketball can top South Carolina again in Sweet 16? The case for & against
When it all becomes too much, Vann relies on family. OU basketball is in her DNA as her father, Bryatt Vann, starred for the Sooners under Billy Tubbs in 1992 and 1993.
She credits a lot of her strides to his guidance. The two are always in the gym together and meet frequently for dinner to chat about the previous game. She also talks to her sister daily.
“He's basically been through, like, all of this — what I'm going through now,” Vann said. “So his advice is really helpful. He’s been walking me through all of this, what to expect and everything.”
For Skylar, it’s been surreal watching her sister play on the biggest stage in the toughest conference in the country. She watches as much as she can.
Her favorite moment of the season was Vann’s perseverance against Michigan State in the second round. Following a slow first half by her standards, Vann focused on setting up her teammates and finding the best shots in the second, finishing with 12 points, six assists and five rebounds in the win.
“I’ve been through college,” Skylar said, “and I know how hard it is to work through that mental shift and mental mindset of, ‘I didn't play good this half. I just need to stop playing, or I give up, or I'm not going to do good.’ There's two ways you can go. That was my favorite moment only because I'm seeing her grow so much as a player and also as a person.
“She looks very nonchalant when she plays, she looks like she’s not there, but she's one of the hardest workers I know, and she loves this game so deeply that she will do anything to win. This game against South Carolina is going to show that she's a fighter. Vann’s are fighters and that's what Zya truly is.”
More: OU women's basketball star Raegan Beers felt all the emotions leading Sooners to Sweet 16
You must be registered for see images attach
When Vann hears the praise from her coach, she deflects the attention.
“I just think of the people who have helped me improve and helped me get to where I am,” Vann said. “I couldn't be here without Jennie and my team. They push me to be my best every day.”
You won’t find Vann shouting orders or yelling at her teammates very often. But she holds them accountable by her actions on and off the floor.
Vann saw the greatness surrounding her before this season and knew she needed to elevate her game. One thing is for certain: she’ll be bringing that quiet, but lethal energy in the Sweet 16.
“She hasn't shied away from one moment,” Baranczyk said. “When you can see young people fall down, get up and go — the difference between a-year-ago Zya Vann and today's Zya Vann is completely different.”
Colton Sulley covers the Oklahoma Sooners for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Colton? He can be reached at [email protected] or on X/Twitter at @colton_sulley. Support Colton's work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com.
Oklahoma vs South Carolina
TIPOFF: 4 p.m. CT Saturday at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California (ESPN)
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Zya Vann's confidence fuels OU women's basketball in NCAA Tournament
Continue reading...
