Two young women wear Oklahoma City Thunder jersey-shirts as they step into Paycom Center. — Spears Business students Makenna Fulsom (left) and Alana Costa are members of the Oklahoma City Thunder's O'City Crew. (Courtesy of Flicks From Jimmy)

Rolling Thunder: OSU students stay on the move between classes, NBA dance crew

Wednesday, June 4, 2025

Media Contact: Hallie Hart | Communications Coordinator | 405-744-1050 | hallie.hart@okstate.edu

After finishing class for the day, Makenna Fulsom hurried to meet Alana Costa.

Oklahoma State University’s campus grew quieter as a spring afternoon faded into evening, but these Spears School of Business students were just starting the busiest part of their weekday schedule.

It was time to hit the road together.

About an hour from Stillwater, upbeat music reverberated throughout Paycom Center while the Oklahoma City Thunder stormed onto the court.

As the Thunder gained widespread attention en route to the NBA Finals, people also noticed the electric home atmosphere.

Costa and Fulsom play a part in creating that energy. They’re members of the O’City Crew, the Thunder’s coed dance team.

“It’s cool to be something that people don’t expect,” Fulsom said.

In a group of 15 dancers, Costa and Fulsom are the only full-time college students.

“Alana and Makenna have had a remarkable experience as students and dancers for the OKC Thunder,” said Jennifer Harris, their academic advisor in the Chesapeake Energy Business Student Success Center. “It’s a unique situation compared to the other dancers who work professional jobs in a 9-5 type of setting. Most jobs work within the confines of start and end times. With school and classes, there are outside-of-class responsibilities: homework, projects, group work, study, etc., that put additional pressure and constraints on their schedules.”

A young woman with long, brown hair dances at an Oklahoma City Thunder game. — Makenna Fulsom dances at an Oklahoma City Thunder game. (Courtesy of Flicks From Jimmy)

Each student is also pursuing two majors. Costa, a junior from Dallas, is studying international business and marketing. Fulsom, a sophomore from Russellville, Arkansas, is majoring in international business and management.

During the past school year, the friends carpooled to Oklahoma City, splitting driving duties and gas expenses throughout the week. They stopped at Sonic for jalapeño chili cheese tots and tea. Then, it was time for O’City Crew practice, which is typically set for 7-9 p.m. Monday-Thursday but often lasts longer.

Thunder games add extra commitments, including weekends.

Fulsom and Costa choose this fast-paced lifestyle because dancing for the O’City Crew isn’t a random hobby.

It doubles as a passion and a step in their career plan.

“We both want to have our own dance studio and live in California,” Costa said.

Fulsom echoed: “That’s the ultimate goal.”

To get there, the students are combining business classes with real-world dance experience. Fulsom and Costa said their professors have taught them how a business operates, how to promote it and how to market yourself — all relevant topics for someone striving to open a dance studio.

O’City Crew has a marketing side, too.

When they’re not hyping up the crowd with hip-hop dance routines, O’City Crew members act as Thunder ambassadors alongside the Thunder Girls, the all-female dance team. The O’City Crew greets fans, takes photos and appears at community events.

A young woman with curly, brown hair smiles as she steps onto the court at Paycom Center. Lights shine around her. — Alana Costa enjoys representing the Oklahoma City Thunder as a dancer and ambassador. (Courtesy of Flicks From Jimmy)

As Costa and Fulsom welcome guests into Paycom Center, they’re bringing the Spears Business “Power of Personal” motto to Oklahoma City.

“Our role is to make everyone who walks through the door feel seen,” Costa said.

The crowds are growing. Fans love to witness historic success, and the Thunder won 68 regular-season games for the first time before reaching the NBA Finals that start Thursday against the Indiana Pacers. Costa and Fulsom weren’t Thunder fans before coming to Oklahoma, but they’re immersed in the community now, hoping to end the season with NBA championship rings.

The beginning of the top-seeded Thunder’s playoff push coincided with spring finals at OSU. It can be tricky to fit everything on the calendar, but Spears Business offers flexibility. Fulsom and Costa said their professors provide support, wishing the dancers luck at their games and making extra credit assignments available.

This makes their advisor’s job easier, too.

“Because of the unique schedules that Alana and Makenna have, professors have been very helpful and accommodating to them both in a way that allows them to take advantage of this unique, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity while completing their education and maintaining the integrity of their education and classwork,” Harris said. “Alana and Makenna work proactively with their professors to make sure communication is clear and their work is completed with minimal disruption.”

As dancers, Fulsom and Costa know how to stay balanced.

And each student knows she’s not alone.

With so much in common, Costa and Fulsom interact like they have been friends since childhood, but it’s a coincidence. They didn’t meet until college.

Costa auditioned for O’City Crew alone as a sophomore, the youngest dancer and only college student to make the cut. Some students in her place would have been nervous.

“I really enjoyed it,” Costa said.

She had more fun when Fulsom joined a year later.

Fulsom recognized Costa because they had been involved with OSU Hip Hop Dance Crew at different times. This time, they were teammates on a professional stage.

O’City Crew has a big/little mentorship program, and it only made sense for Costa’s “little” to be a fellow OSU student who understands her schedule.

“She’s going to be my friend forever,” Costa said. “It’s good having a friend to go through it with now.”