Each season, there are certain games that get special attention. For No. 19 Ohio State women’s basketball, the No. 8 Maryland Terrapins are one of those games, and the Buckeyes get to do it twice in the regular season.
Head coach Brenda Frese’s Terps and head coach Kevin McGuff’s Buckeyes have historic matchups over the last few seasons, including near buzzer beaters, rebounding motivation and even a middle finger.
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On Sunday, the rivalry based completely on basketball ability adds the first of two 2025-26 regular season chapters when the Buckeyes travel to College Park, Maryland.
This year’s edition of the Terrapins is different than last season, due to injuries and transfers in and out of the program. To learn more about it all, Land-Grant Holy Land reached out to fellow SB Nation site Testudo Times. Beat writer Max Schaeffer discussed key absences, who remains for Sunday and if Maryland fans truly see Ohio State as a rival.
That and more in the Visiting Locker Room.
Land-Grant Holy Land: It seemed like guard Bri McDaniel was going to return for the second half of the season but opted to redshirt for this season. What do the Terrapins miss not having McDaniel on the team?
Testudo Times: I am slightly biased as somebody who just absolutely loves McDaniel’s game and toughness, but in my mind a 100% healthy version of her as a senior would be the best player on this (very talented) team. So they miss a relentless two way-player, a downhill scorer and tenacious defender as well as emotional leader, although I think she still provides leadership while hurt.
LGHL: With McDaniel and Smikle’s absences, Duke transfer guard Oluchi Okananwa slid into the roster and has seemingly taken control. What does Okananwa bring to the court?
TT: For those who haven’t been following the Terps closely, it’s important to note that Maryland didn’t just lose McDaniel and Smikle for the season, they also lost Lea Bartelme an international freshman PG who looked poised for an amazing year. For good measure reserve guard Ava McKennie tore her acl as well bringing the total to 4 season-ending knee injuries for the team’s guards.
All that said, Oluchi Okananwa has almost singlehandedly been trying to fill the void of all four. She possesses a lot of the same traits I lauded in McDaniel above, and is able to do so much on both ends because of her elite burst and speed. For my money she’s the fastest player in the conference if not the country and is able to play under control for the most part. Slowing her down, should be priority No. 1 for the Buckeyes if they want to compete.
LGHL: Coach Frese has a lot of trust in freshman Addi Mack. What has Mack shown in her freshman season that earns her that trust?
TT: In certain senses the injuries have left Frese no choice, but to put trust in Mack. That being said, Frese was already high on her when the team was healthy and Mack is a quintessential Maryland guard in a lot of ways. She’s undersized, but very tough and great at getting to the rim. Frese has repeatedly mentioned how she was way under-recruited out of high school where she was a professional scorer, breaking local records in Minnesota. Mack is also a fan-favorite who always gets Xfinity rocking when she starts to get hot offensively.
LGHL: Last season, I came to College Park to see the Buckeyes and Terps play and it was one of the more active crowds that I have seen. I heard one fan yelling to the Maryland coaches which Ohio State player had four fouls and to make them foul out. It just felt like there was an energy in the building. Is that the norm for Maryland fans or is there a true rivalry between these two sides that the fans feel?
TT: I think it’s two-fold in that Maryland has a passionate and consistent fanbase and fans definitely show up when they feel they have a chance to play one of the better teams in the conference. I do feel like there’s a growing rivalry between these two teams and I could certainly feel the intensity at Xfinity during last year’s matchup.
The whole McMahon middle finger situation definitely added fuel to the fire and I’d say Maryland’s fans can be a bit petty and will likely be holding on to that heading into this year. For what its worth students will be on break for this game, so there shouldn’t be a big student presence in the building.
