GREAT NEWS: Oklahoma Sooners Women’s Basketball Star Lexy Keys Rejects Jaw-Dropping $5.4 Million NIL Offers to Stay with the Sooners
In an era where college athletes are often swayed by massive NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) deals and million-dollar offers from rival programs, Lexy Keys, star guard for the Oklahoma Sooners women’s basketball team, has delivered a powerful and emotional message to the college sports world — loyalty still matters.
Keys reportedly turned down a staggering $5.4 million in NIL deals offered by multiple powerhouse programs, choosing instead to remain in Norman and finish what she started with the Sooners. The offers, which included massive endorsements, apparel deals, and incentives tied to transferring, would have made her one of the highest-paid female college athletes in the nation.
Instead, Lexy chose heart over hype.
> “Money can’t buy team chemistry, coaching trust, or the love I have for this school,” Keys said in a heartfelt statement. “Oklahoma believed in me before the spotlight — I’m staying because this is family.”
The decision is being celebrated across Sooner Nation and beyond, with fans, teammates, and coaches praising Keys not only for her talent on the court but for her maturity, leadership, and unwavering commitment to the culture that Head Coach Jennie Baranczyk has built.
Baranczyk, who’s led the resurgence of Oklahoma women’s basketball, expressed deep gratitude for Keys’ decision:
> “Lexy is the heartbeat of this team. She plays with grit, selflessness, and fire. Her loyalty speaks volumes, and it inspires every player who walks into our locker room.”
Keys, a dynamic two-way guard known for her clutch shooting, court vision, and relentless defense, has been instrumental in Oklahoma’s climb back into national prominence. Last season, she averaged double-digit points, led the team in steals, and was named to the All-Big 12 Defensive Team. More than her stats, though, it’s her leadership and composure under pressure that set her apart.
NIL opportunities have changed the college sports landscape — allowing athletes to finally benefit financially from their own brands. But Lexy’s decision reminds the sports world that, for some athletes, legacy, loyalty, and purpose still mean more than money.
The response across the NCAA has been electric. National commentators, including ESPN’s Holly Rowe and Jay Bilas, took to social media to praise Lexy’s stand:
> “Lexy Keys just reminded us all why we fell in love with college basketball in the first place,” Rowe wrote.
For Oklahoma, this is more than just retaining a star player — it’s a statement. The Sooners are building not just with talent but with character, unity, and belief. Keys’ decision is expected to have ripple effects across the Big 12 and the national landscape, possibly inspiring other top players to rethink transfer plans driven by NIL offers.
As the new season approaches, expectations for Oklahoma are sky-high — and now, with Lexy Keys leading the charge, they have every reason to dream big.
In a world driven by dollars, Lexy Keys chose heart — and that might
be the most valuable move of all.
