Arizona Wildcats women's basketball

Arizona Wildcats women's basketball
2025–26 Arizona Wildcats women's basketball team
UniversityUniversity of Arizona
First season1972 (1972)
All-time record718–728–0 (.497)
Head coachBecky Burke (1st season)
ConferenceBig 12
LocationTucson, Arizona
ArenaMcKale Center
(capacity: 14,545)
NicknameWildcats
ColorsCardinal and navy[1]
   
Uniforms
Home
Away
NCAA tournament runner-up
2021
Other NCAA tournament results
Final Four2021
Elite Eight2021
Sweet Sixteen1998, 2021
Appearances1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
NWIT champions
1996
WNIT champions
2019

The Arizona Wildcats women's basketball program is the official women's basketball program at the University of Arizona in Tucson, Arizona. Basketball is one of eleven women's sports at the University of Arizona. The team is a Division I member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and the Big 12 athletic conference. The team's home venue is the McKale Center, which seats 14,545 fans. The official team colors are cardinal red and navy blue. The Wildcats have qualified for eight NCAA Tournaments. On August 4, 2023, Arizona announced it would join the Big 12 Conference along with Arizona State, Colorado, and Utah beginning in the 2024-25 academic year.[2]

For most of its history, the women’s basketball program has been playing in the shadow of its men’s counterpart, leading to many losing seasons. However, in recent years, the women’s team has been improving their success in winning, mostly due to coaching regime and talent, and captured the Women’s National Invitational Tournament (WNIT) championship in 2019. They made the Final Four for the first time in 2021 and defeated UConn to qualify for the National Championship game. They would lose to Stanford in the National Championship.

Program history

Female students at the University of Arizona first requested a women's basketball team in 1912, but were denied. Women played "inter-class" games for the first time in 1921. The juniors won. The following year, the school organized games with players from sororities and dormitories. Intercollegiate competition began in 1923, and a "Varsity" team played Arizona State University. This system persisted until 1971, when the UA joined the Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW) as a charter member.

The team was a member of the Intermountain Conference.[3] The University of Arizona Athletic Department cites the first official season of women's basketball at the University of Arizona as the 1972–73 season, following the Title IX federal legislation that requires state-supported institutions to offer equal opportunity to men's and women's programs. The team finished their first season with a winning 8–4 record. In 1979, the University of Arizona, along with Arizona State University and five schools in southern California joined to form the Western Collegiate Athletic Association.

The team became a member of the NCAA in 1981, when the NCAA absorbed the AIAW. In 1985, the school joined the Pacific-West Conference, which became the Pac-10 the following season and the Pac-12 in 2011.[4] As of the outset of the 2015–16 season, the all-time team record was 537–642. The Wildcats were runners-up at the Pac-10 Conference championship tournament in 2003 and 2004, marking their most successful conference finishes. The team made appearances in the NCAA Tournament in 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2021 and in the Women's National Invitational Tournament in 1996, 2001, 2011, and 2019, while winning it all in 1996 and 2019.[5]

In 2021, the team beat UConn in the Final Four of the NCAA Women’s Basketball championship. They lost the championship game against Stanford 53–54. [6]

Season-by-season results

Sources:[7][8]

Statistics overview
Season Team Overall Conference Standing Postseason
Lois Sheldahl (Intermountain Athletic Conference) (1972–1974)
1972–73 Lois Sheldahl 8–4
1973–74 Lois Sheldahl 11–4
Lois Sheldahl: 19–8 (.704)
Nancy Trego (Intermountain Athletic Conference) (1974–1978)
1974–75 Nancy Trego 12–4 9–2 T-2nd
1975–76 Nancy Trego 6–8 6–7
1976–77 Nancy Trego 3–13 3–11
1977–78 Nancy Trego 4–13 3–10
Nancy Trego: 25–38 (.397) 21–30 (.412)
Lori Woodman (Intermountain Athletic Conference) (1978–1979)
1978–79 Lori Woodman 6–18 5–8 T-8th
Lori Woodman: 6–18 (.250) 5–8 (.385)
Lori Woodman (WCAA) (1979–1980)
1979–80 Lori Woodman 9–17 1–11 7th
Lori Woodman: 9–17 (.346) 1–11 (.083)
Judy LeWinter (WCAA) (1980–1985)
1980–81 Judy LeWinter 2–21 1–11 7th
1981-82 Judy LeWinter 10–21 0–12 7th
1982-83 Judy LeWinter 10–17 2–12 T-7th
1983-84 Judy LeWinter 8–20 1–13 T-7th
1984-85 Judy LeWinter 7–21 1–13 8th
Judy LeWinter: 37–100 (.270) 5–61 (.076)
Wendy Larry (PacWest) (1985–1986)
1985–86 Wendy Larry 19–9 4–4 T-2nd
Wendy Larry: 19–9 (.679) 4–4 (.500)
Wendy Larry (Pac-10) (1986–1987)
1986–87 Wendy Larry 11–18 4–14 T-8th
Wendy Larry: 11–18 (.379) 4–14 (.222)
June Olkowski (Pac-10) (1987–1991)
1987–88 June Olkowski 5–23 2–16 10th
1988–89 June Olkowski 11–17 6–12 T-8th
1989–90 June Olkowski 12–17 5–13 T-8th
1990–91 June Olkowski 6–25 1–17 10th
June Olkowski: 34–82 (.293) 14–58 (.194)
Joan Bonvicini (Pac-10) (1991–2008)
1991–92 Joan Bonvicini 9–19 3–15 10th
1992–93 Joan Bonvicini 13–14 7–11 8th
1993–94 Joan Bonvicini 15–12 8–10 7th
1994–95 Joan Bonvicini 11–19 6–12 7th
1995–96 Joan Bonvicini 22–8 10–8 T-3rd
1996–97 Joan Bonvicini 23–8 12–6 T-4th NCAA Division I Round of 32
1997–98 Joan Bonvicini 23–7 14–4 T-2nd NCAA Division I Sweet 16
1998–99 Joan Bonvicini 18–11 12–6 4th NCAA Division I Round of 32
1999-00 Joan Bonvicini 25–7 13–5 T-2nd NCAA Division I Round of 32
2000–01 Joan Bonvicini 20–12 9–9 5th
2001–02 Joan Bonvicini 14–14 10–8 T-6th
2002–03 Joan Bonvicini 21–8 12–4 T-2nd NCAA Division I First Round
2003–04 Joan Bonvicini 24–9 14–4 T-1st NCAA Division I First Round
2004–05 Joan Bonvicini 20–12 11–7 5th NCAA Division I Round of 32
2005–06 Joan Bonvicini 8–22 3–15 9th
2006–07 Joan Bonvicini 11–21 4–14 10th
2007–08 Joan Bonvicini 10–20 4–14 T-8th
Joan Bonvicini: 287–223 (.563) 152–152 (.500)
Niya Butts (Pac-10/Pac-12) (2008–2016)
2008–09 Niya Butts 12–19 4–14 T-8th
2009–10 Niya Butts 14–17 6–12 8th
2010–11 Niya Butts 21–12 10–8 4th WNIT First Round
2011–12 Niya Butts 15–17 3–15 12th
2012–13 Niya Butts 12–18 4–14 T-10th
2013–14 Niya Butts 5–25 1–12 12th
2014–15 Niya Butts 10–20 3–15 T-11th
2015–16 Niya Butts 13–19 3–15 11th
Niya Butts: 102–147 (.410) 34–105 (.245)
Adia Barnes (Pac-12 Conference) (2016–2024)
2016–17 Adia Barnes 14–16 5–13 T-9th
2017–18 Adia Barnes 6–24 2–16 11th
2018–19 Adia Barnes 24–13 7–11 8th WNIT champions
2019–20 Adia Barnes 24–7 12–6 4th Postseason not held
2020–21 Adia Barnes 21–6 13–4 3rd NCAA Runner-Up
2021–22 Adia Barnes 21–8 10–6 4th NCAA Division I Round of 32
2022–23 Adia Barnes 22–10 11–7 4th NCAA Division I Round of 32
2023–24 Adia Barnes 18–15 8–10 7th NCAA First Round
Adia Barnes (Big 12 Conference) (2024–2025)
2024–25 Adia Barnes 19–14 10–8 8th
Adia Barnes: 169–113 (.599) 78–81 (.491)
Becky Burke (Big 12 Conference) (2025–present)
2025–26 Becky Burke
Becky Burke: 0–0 (–) 0–0 (–)
Total: 718–772 (.482) 378–587 (.392)

      National champion         Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion         Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion       Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

Playing abroad

The Wildcats have played in Australia, France, Puerto Rico, and Italy.[3]

Head coaches

Name Years Seasons Games Won Lost Pct.
Lois Sheldahl 1972–1974 2 19 8 .704
Frankie Porter 1974–1978 4 25 38 .397
Lori Woodman 1978–1989 2 15 35 .300
Judy LeWinter 1980–1985 5 37 100 .270
Wendy Larry 1985–1987 2 30 17 .638
June Olkowski 1987–1991 4 34 82 .293
Joan Bonvicini 1991–2008 17 287 223 .563
Niya Butts 2008–2016 8 102 147 .410
Adia Barnes 2016–2025 9 169 113 .599
Becky Burke 2025–present
All-Time 53 718 728 .497

Current roster

2025–26 Arizona Wildcats women's basketball team
Players Coaches
Pos. # Name Height Year Previous school Hometown
G 0 Mickayla Perdue 5 ft 7 in (1.7 m) GS Cleveland State Springfield, OH
G 1 Kamryn Kitchen 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) So Virginia Charlotte, NC
G 3 Sumayah Sugapong 5 ft 7 in (1.7 m) Jr UC San Diego San Diego, CA
G 4 Noelani Cornfield 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m) GS Buffalo Gowanda, NY
G 5 Molly Ladwig 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) Fr Skutt Catholic HS Blair, NE
G 8 Mireia Jurado 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) Fr Segle XXI Avinyó, Spain
F 10 Freddie Wallace 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) Sr Kansas Lincoln, NE
G 11 Tanyuel Welch 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) RS Jr Memphis Indianapolis, IN
F 12 Montaya Dew 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) RS Jr Centennial Las Vegas, NV
F 13 Nora Francois 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) GS New Orleans Minneapolis, MN
C 20 Achol Magot 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) So Texas Tech Tucson, AZ
F 21 Ogheneruona Miracle 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) Fr White HS (TX) Delta State, Nigeria
F 33 Daniah Trammell 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) Fr Winton Woods HS Cincinnati, OH
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
  • Ashley Odom (Lamar)
  • James Ewing (Toledo)
  • Julie Brase-Hairgrove (Arizona)
  • Jenna Knudson (Embry-Riddle)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • (W) Walk-on

Roster
Last update: April 29, 2025

2025-26 Coaching Staff

Name Position Seasons at Arizona
Becky Burke Head coach 1st
Ashley Odom Associate head coach 1st
James Ewing Assistant coach 1st
Julie Brase-Hairgrove Assistant coach 1st
Jenna Knudson Assistant coach 1st
Reference:[9]

Rivalries

Arizona State

Postseason appearances

Conference Championships

Conference Tournament Championships

NCAA tournament results

The Wildcats have appeared in the NCAA Tournament eleven times. Their combined record is 13–10.

Year Seed Round Opponent Result
1997 No. 7 First Round
Second Round		 No. 10 Western Kentucky
No. 2 Georgia		 W 76−54
L 74−80
1998 No. 3 First Round
Second Round
Sweet Sixteen		 No. 14 Santa Clara
No. 6 Virginia
No. 2 UConn		 W 75−63
W 94−77
L 57−74
1999 No. 6 First Round
Second Round		 No. 11 Florida
No. 3 Rutgers		 W 87−84 (OT)
L 47−90
2000 No. 8 First Round
Second Round		 No. 9 Kent State
No. 1 Tennessee		 W 73−61
L 60−75
2003 No. 6 First Round No. 11 Notre Dame L 47−59
2004 No. 9 First Round No. 8 Michigan State L 60−72
2005 No. 9 First Round
Second Round		 No. 8 Oklahoma
No. 1 LSU		 W 72−69
L 43−76
2021 No. 3 First Round
Second Round
Sweet Sixteen
Elite Eight
Final Four
National Championship		 No. 14 Stony Brook
No. 11 BYU
No. 2 Texas A&M
No. 4 Indiana
No. 1 UConn
No. 1 Stanford		 W 79–44
W 52–46
W 74–59
W 66–53
W 69–59
L 53–54
2022 No. 4 First Round
Second Round		 No. 13 UNLV
No. 5 North Carolina		 W 72–67
L 45–63
2023 No. 7 First Round
Second Round		 No. 10 West Virginia
No. 2 Maryland		 W 75–62
L 64–77
2024 No. 11 First Four
First round		 No. 11 Auburn
No. 6 Syracuse		 W 69–59
L 69-74

WNIT results

Source[10]

The Wildcats have appeared In the Women's National Invitation Tournament three times. The combined record is 7 – 2.

Year Round Opponent Result
2001 First Pepperdine W 85–65
Second New Mexico L 75–62
2011 First Utah State L 103–95
2019 Round 1 Idaho State W 66–56
Round 2 Pacific W 64–48
Round 3 Idaho W 68–60
Quarterfinals Wyoming W 67–45
Semifinals TCU W 59–53
Championship Northwestern W 56–42

WBIT results

The Wildcats have appeared In the Women's Basketball Invitation Tournament first time. The combined record is 0 – 1.

Year Round Opponent Result
2025 First Northern Arizona L 71–69

All-time statistical leaders

Notable players and coaches

Wildcats drafted to the WNBA

Current WNBA players

Wildcats in the Olympics

Wildcats in international competition

The following Arizona Wildcats women's basketball players and coaches have represented their country in basketball in international competition (excluding Olympics):

Current WNBA coaches

Current WNBA executives

Current NCAA coaches

Retired jerseys

National honors and accomplishments

The individual honors, awards, and accomplishments listed in the succeeding subsections are aggregated by player in the following table. Players with only all-conference honors (other than conference player of the year), lower than first-team All-America honors, or later than second-round draft positions are not included.

Attendances

See also

References

  1. ^ "Colors | University of Arizona Brand Resources". Retrieved September 9, 2022.
  2. ^ Robbins, Robert C. (August 4, 2023). "University of Arizona Will Join the Big 12 Conference in 2024-25". University of Arizona Athletics.
  3. ^ a b "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-03-12. Retrieved March 11, 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  4. ^ "Pac-10 changing name to Pac-12 with new adds". ESPN.com. 27 July 2010.
  5. ^ "2015–16 Quick Facts/General Information" (PDF). University of Arizona Wildcats, Women’s Basketball. Retrieved April 3, 2021.
  6. ^ McCarriston, Shanna (April 3, 2021). "2021 NCAA Women's Final Four: No. 3 Arizona shocks No. 1 UConn as huge underdog, advances to title game". CBS. Retrieved April 3, 2021.
  7. ^ "2022-23 Arizona Wildcats Women's Basketball Media Guide" (PDF). University of Arizona. Retrieved 24 Nov 2022.
  8. ^ "Women's Basketball Standings". pac-12.com. Archived from the original on June 12, 2020. Retrieved 2022-11-24.
  9. ^ "Arizona Wildcats Women's Basketball Coaching Staff". arizonawildcats.com. University of Arizona Wildcats Athletics. Retrieved 29 April 2025.
  10. ^ "Archived Fields (PDF) - WNIT Pre and Post Tournament" (PDF). womensnit.com. Retrieved 2023-04-18.


This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.