THE ULTIMATE NEWS: Beatrice Culliton’s Journey of Excellence Continues at Oklahoma
NORMAN, Okla. — In the landscape of collegiate women’s basketball, where transfer portal movements often dominate headlines, University of Oklahoma senior Beatrice Culliton has taken a different path—one defined by consistency, community impact, and four years of unwavering commitment to the Sooners program.
The 6-foot-3 center from Overland Park, Kansas, who arrived at Oklahoma as a four-star prospect and top-100 recruit according to ESPN, has quietly built one of the most accomplished careers in recent Sooners history. And this week, her impact both on and off the court received prestigious recognition from the Southeastern Conference.
A Well-Deserved Honor
On February 25, 2026, Culliton was named to the SEC Women’s Basketball Community Service Team, an honor that celebrates student-athletes who go above and beyond in their communities . The announcement came just before Senior Night at Lloyd Noble Center, where Culliton was celebrated alongside fellow seniors prior to Oklahoma’s matchup with Arkansas.
Now in its 28th year for basketball, the SEC Community Service Team recognition places Culliton among an elite group of student-athletes across the conference who have demonstrated exceptional commitment to service. She represents Oklahoma alongside representatives from all 16 SEC institutions .
Making a Difference Beyond Basketball
What makes Culliton’s community service recognition particularly meaningful is the depth and sincerity of her off-court endeavors. A graduate student pursuing her MBA with a concentration in hospital administration, Culliton has been actively working toward her goal of a medical career while competing at the highest level of collegiate athletics .
Her service work has touched multiple facets of the Norman and Oklahoma City communities. Culliton has volunteered at Stellar Pediatric Urgent Care, supporting care for children and families, and at Griffin Memorial Hospital in Norman. She has also built connections with children with developmental disabilities through her work at the JD McCarty Center .
Addressing food insecurity has been another priority for the senior forward. She has volunteered her time at the OU Food Pantry and Norman Food & Shelter, helping ensure community members have access to essential resources. Additionally, Culliton and her teammates have made regular visits to veteran centers across the Oklahoma City metro, spending time with veterans and expressing gratitude for their service .
This commitment to service builds on an already impressive academic resume. Culliton is a two-time CSC Academic All-District selection (2024, 2025) and was named to the SEC Academic Honor Roll last season. She graduated in 2025 with a bachelor’s degree in multidisciplinary studies .
A Career of Steady Growth
On the court, Culliton’s four-year trajectory with the Sooners tells a story of development, durability, and dependable contribution. Thursday’s Senior Night celebration will mark her 125th career game—a testament to her remarkable availability having played in nearly every contest during her time in Norman .
Her freshman campaign in 2022-23 immediately signaled that Oklahoma had landed a special talent. Culliton earned Big 12 All-Freshman Team honors, becoming the first OU freshman center to receive that distinction since Courtney Paris—illustrious company for a young player finding her footing . She appeared in all 33 games that season, averaging 4.2 points and 3.0 rebounds while shooting efficiently from the field.
Perhaps most notably during that debut season, Culliton dished out 10 assists in a game against Texas Tech—an Oklahoma record for a post player that still stands as a testament to her versatility and basketball IQ .
As a sophomore in 2023-24, Culliton appeared in all 33 games with two starts, leading the Sooners in field goal percentage at 52.5 percent. She became the first OU sophomore to shoot over 50 percent with at least 50 field goal attempts since Liz Scott in 2020-21 . Her averages improved to 3.0 points and 3.8 rebounds per game while she continued to show playmaking ability with 1.0 assists per contest.
Her junior year in 2024-25 saw Culliton play in 34 games while continuing to develop her all-around game. She shot a career-high 57.4 percent from the field and collected 100-plus rebounds for the third consecutive season. Her performance against Auburn in February 2025—6 points and 8 rebounds—exemplified the steady interior presence she provides .
For her career, Culliton has amassed more than 300 points, 375 rebounds and 125 assists—numbers that reflect not statistical dominance but rather consistent, winning basketball .
Championship Pedigree
Long before she patrolled the paint for Oklahoma, Culliton was winning at an astonishing rate. At St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Overland Park, she helped lead her team to four Kansas 5A state championships, compiling an 80-8 record during her prep career .
A McDonald’s All-American nominee and three-time Kansas All-State selection, Culliton won the DiRenna Award as the best girls basketball player in the Kansas City area. She was named 5A Player of the Year by Sports in Kansas and was the only player in the state to average a double-double during the 2021 season .
Her senior year averages of 15.3 points and 8.9 rebounds capped a career that saw her score 1,227 points and set a school record with 730 rebounds. She was named Most Outstanding Player of the 2022 State Tournament, providing a fitting capstone to one of the most decorated prep careers in Kansas history .
Family Legacy and Future Aspirations
The athletic bloodlines run deep in the Culliton family. Her brothers, Brett and Cale McMakin, both played Division I football—Brett at Northern Iowa and Cale at Pittsburg State. And her grandmother once set an Oklahoma high school scoring record with 58 points in a game, suggesting that basketball excellence runs in the family .
Pronounced “CULL-uh-tun” and known to teammates simply as “B,” Culliton has always carried herself with a seriousness of purpose that extends beyond the court. Her choice of academic pursuits—first Health and Exercise Science as an undergraduate, now an MBA with hospital administration focus—points toward a future in medicine .
The Road Ahead
As Oklahoma prepares for the SEC Tournament beginning March 4, 2026, Culliton’s veteran presence will be invaluable for a Sooners team that has climbed back into the AP Top 10 . The team’s recent 100-93 victory over No. 21 Tennessee on February 22 demonstrated the firepower and resilience that could make them a dangerous tournament opponent .
The schedule ahead includes Arkansas on February 26, Missouri on March 1, then the SEC Tournament in early March—opportunities for Culliton to add to her legacy before postseason play begins .
The Ultimate Perspective
While other players may chase opportunities through the transfer portal, Culliton’s four-year commitment to Oklahoma represents something increasingly rare in modern college athletics: loyalty, continuity, and growth within a single program. Her journey from four-star freshman to senior leader and SEC Community Service Team honoree offers a reminder that success isn’t always measured in points per game or highlight reels.
Sometimes it’s measured in 125 games played, in volunteer hours at pediatric clinics and food pantries, in the respect of teammates and coaches, and in the quiet satisfaction of a path fully committed to and well traveled.
For Beatrice Culliton, that path has led through Norman, Oklahoma—not South Carolina—and the Sooners are better for it.
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Beatrice Culliton and the Oklahoma Sooners continue their 2025-26 season against Arkansas on February 26 at Lloyd Noble Center, followed by Senior Night celebrations before her 125th career game .
