The Oklahoma Sooners were left to bite the dust this weekend. Their gymnastics team was unseated after taking a hard SEC title loss from LSU. This meant that for the first time since 2014, OU was not the No. 1 team heading into the postseason. While that unleashed a wrath of reactions, something has added to the fire now. But amidst all the slander, a player’s mother is boldly defending the team against this uncalled-for reaction. How?

Well, the NCAA women’s gymnastics postseason begins now. What was next in line after the SEC finals? Well, the selection show took place on March 24, where championship teams, 12 all-around competitors, and 64 individual event specialists, all of whom are not on a qualifying team, will be announced. Usually, teams get together and screen this event together. Unfortunately, the Sooners team did not help host a selection show watch party for the gymnasts to enjoy this moment together. Shocking, right?

Well, the NCAA Championships added a YouTube video of the 2025 gymnastics selection show where most of the teams staging a watch party were shown. But Oklahoma Gymnastics? They were absent. And referring to the same, the host said with a chuckle, “And they [Oklahoma Sooners] don’t have a watch party because they’re training. They are getting ready to get back on the top of that podium because they want it bad.”  Well, did the SEC loss strike them so hard? All that when they did get at least a share of the title?

Well, this is something a fan couldn’t digest. They reacted with a comment on X, ““Oklahoma doesn’t have a watch party bc they’re training” well okay I mean an hour wouldn’t kill y’all😭.” Sounds pretty unbelievable, right? What harm could an hour-long break do? But here’s the twist. That’s when Oklahoma Gymnastics’ star, Lily Pederson’s mother, Monica Pederson, intervened and clapped back at the fan. She explained, “It was a joke guys, they weren’t training. Calm down.” 

Monica Pederson even wrote, “They weren’t training, most were still in class.” Well, so why did the host mention that they were training? Per Perderson’s comment, “It was clearly said as a joke.” She even added that she could assure us that they weren’t in training. While these clouds continue to loom over the reason, one thing is sure, and that is: the Sooners didn’t host the watch party this year. However, they weren’t alone.

Turns out the University of Florida skipped the selection show watch party too. Despite finishing third behind OU on the SEC tally this year, they took this step, and once again, the reason remains unknown. Yet, they did clinch their 24th NCAA regional bid after they were announced as the No.# 1 seed for the Tuscaloosa Regional. As for Oklahoma’s gymnastics team, they were announced as the #2 overall seed for the NCAA Championships and #1 for the Seattle Regional. But are they ready to close the SEC chapter yet?

Oklahoma Gymnastics’ brutal SEC loss

Saturday night, at the Legacy Arena, the LSU came out on top. They posted a score of 198.200, while the Oklahoma women’s gymnastics team came up to a maximum of 197.925, bagging silver instead. Yes, they were an entire 0.275 points behind. But the most shocking aspect? They were the #1 team in the nation. But a strong finish from LSU on the vault pushed them to the corner. LSU scored 49.525 on the vault but Oklahoma managed to score 49.425.

Speaking of this season itself, OSU has gone head-to-head against LSU three times. And LSU has won 2 of those meets. This had seemed nearly unbelievable before Saturday, so much that LSU coach Jay Clarke even said, “Oklahoma should be No. 1. They’ve been the most consistent team from start to finish.” Maybe this is the reason behind them not attending the selection show. They want to reinstate their reputation. What do you think?