Completed Event: Women's Basketball at #23 Alabama on February 15, 2026 , Win , 79, to, 71
Final
Women's Basketball
79
at #23 Alabama
71
University of Oklahoma Athletics
OU Adds Olajuwon to No. 6 Class
November 10, 2005 | Women's Basketball
NORMAN, Okla. -- On the second day of the early signing period, the Oklahoma women's basketball recruiting class improved dramatically with the addition of 6-3 center Abi (pronounced Abee) Olajuwon. Olajuwon, who is ranked as high as No. 22 nationally, signed a national letter of intent on Thursday morning.
The addition of Olajuwon improved the Sooners' class from a No. 9 national ranking to No. 6, according to the Blue Star Report.
OU head coach Sherri Coale has signed a potential starting five in point guard Jenna Plumley, shooting guard Rose Hammond, small forward Nyeshia Stevenson, power forward Amanda Thompson and Olajuwon. Additionally the Sooners could have a dominating trio of post players when Olajuwon hits the floor with Ashley (6-3) and Courtney Paris (6-4).
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“Abi is going to be one of those kids who literally gets better right before your very eyes,” said Coale. “She obviously has great size, excellent hands and is a very physical, punishing type of player. What many people don't know about her is that she loves the intricacies of the game. She is a sponge for education. Couple her willingness to learn with her tremendous skill set and she should have a very special collegiate career.”
Olajuwon, who is the daughter of NBA legend and Houston graduate Hakeem Olajuwon, averaged 15.9 points and 14.4 rebounds as a junior at Marlborough School. She has led Marlborough to three consecutive state titles, while garnering All-California Interscholastic Federation honors the last two seasons.
Olajuwon and fellow OU signee Amanda Thompson teamed up last summer to lead the USA Blue squad to a gold medal at the USA Basketball Youth Development Festival. Prior to her USA experience, Olajuwon landed on the national map when she was named a USA Today Sophomore All-American.
“I am very honored to have been recruited by many of the top coaches and universities in the country,” said Olajuwon at a press conference this morning. “I would like to thank each one of them for their time, consideration, and support throughout this process. It has been very difficult for me to make a decision when there were so many excellent programs to choose between. Ultimately, I chose the University of Oklahoma because it offered all of the elements that were important to me as a student athlete. I am also looking forward to being teammates again with my good friends, Ashley and Courtney Paris.”
With the addition of the five signees, OU is projected to a have a 14-player roster for the 2006-07 season.
The Sooners tip off the regular season this Friday at 7 p.m. when they host Wisconsin Milwaukee in the opening round of the Preseason WNIT. If OU wins, it will host the winner of Louisiana-Lafayette and SMU on Sunday at 2 p.m. Adult tickets are $10 for the reserved level and $8 for general admission. The cost for children K-12 is $5, while OU students with valid identification will be admitted free.
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