| Washington Huskies women's basketball | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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| University | University of Washington | ||||||||||
| Head coach | Tina Langley (4th season) | ||||||||||
| Conference | Big Ten | ||||||||||
| Location | Seattle, Washington | ||||||||||
| Arena | Hec Edmundson Pavilion (capacity: 10,000) | ||||||||||
| Nickname | Huskies | ||||||||||
| Student section | Dawg Pack | ||||||||||
| Colors | Purple and gold[1] | ||||||||||
| Uniforms | |||||||||||
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| NCAA tournament Final Four | |||||||||||
| 2016 | |||||||||||
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| AIAW tournament appearances | |||||||||||
| 1978 | |||||||||||
| Conference tournament champions | |||||||||||
| NorPac 1985 | |||||||||||
| Conference regular-season champions | |||||||||||
| 1985, 1986, 1988, 1990, 2001 | |||||||||||
TheWashington Huskies women's basketball team represents theUniversity of Washington inNCAA Division Icollege basketball competing in theBig Ten Conference. Their home games are played atAlaska Airlines Arena at Hec Edmundson Pavilion, located inSeattle.
Alaska Airlines Arena at Hec Edmundson Pavilion is the home for the Husky men's and women's basketball teams, volleyball team and gymnastics squad. Originally completed in 1927, Hec Edmundson Pavilion underwent a $40 million, 19-month renovation between March 1999 and November 2000 to reconfigure its interior. The pavilion's name was also changed; originally slated to be "Seafirst Arena at Hec Edmundson Pavilion" when the deal was finalized in 1998, it became "Bank of America Arena at Hec Edmundson Pavilion" at the reopening, as B of A had eliminated the Seafirst brand in 2000. The ten-year sponsorship with the bank expired after the2009–10 season and was not renewed; during the first half of the2010–11 basketball season the venue was sponsorless and once again known simply as "Hec Edmundson Pavilion."[2][3] On January 20, 2011, the university approved Seattle-basedAlaska Airlines as the new sponsor of Hec Ed.[4]
Prior to the formalisation of the contemporary Huskies team, women have been playing basketball at the University of Washington since as early as1896, similar to the timing when men began to play the sport.[5]
The modern women's basketball program began in 1974, with Christine Burkhart serving as coach. She led the Huskies to a .500 record in her only year as head coach. Kathie Neir was the coach for the next four years, with an overall record of 82–31, and a first place finish in the NWBL Coast Division. She was replaced by Pat Dobratz, who served for one year as an interim coach, with a 14–14 record. The Huskies would go on to have winning or .500 records every year from the inception of the program until the year 2000.[6]
Sue Kruszewski took over the coaching reins in 1980, and after leading the team to a 19–12 record, she was nominated for coach of the year honors. While she did not win the top position, she was one of 20 contenders for the honor. After her departure, Joyce Sake took over as head coach. In her second year, the team achieved a record of 26–2, winning the Norpac conference regular season with a perfect 11–0 record, as well as the conference tournament. The team was invited to their first ever appearance in the NCAA Tournament. The team earned their first AP ranking, finishing the 1985 season ranked 11th.[6]
In 1985,Chris Gobrecht took over as head coach, and would remain in that position for 11 years. The Huskies exceeded 20 victories in eight of the 11 years. The team won the NorPac regular season outright in 1986, and finished first or tied for first in the 1988 and 1990 seasons. The team earned bids to the NCAA Tournament in nine of the 11 seasons, reaching the Sweet Sixteen in 1988 and the quarterfinals in 1990. The team earned top 25 rankings in the Coaches and AP polls in six of the 11 years, reaching a final season ranking of third place in 1990.[6]
June Daugherty followed Gobrecht, also serving as head coach for 11 years. The Huskies had only one losing seasons in the 11-year period, exceeding 20 wins twice, once in 2001 when the team reached the NCAA quarterfinals. Tia Jackson replaced Daugherty, and remained for four years. Kevin McGuff was hired in 2011 and led the team to consecutive 20-win seasons, and two post-season WNIT bids.[6] After McGuff was hired by Ohio State, assistant coach Mike Neighbors was named head coach for the 2013–14 season. While McGuff was head coach, he persuadedAdia Barnes, with college experience at Arizona and professional experience with theHouston Comets,Seattle Storm,Minnesota Lynx, andSacramento Monarchs to become an assistant coach. She remained in that position under Neighbors until leaving for her alma mater—Arizona—in 2016. Neighbors left after the 2016–17 season to return to Arkansas, his alma mater.
Jody Wynn was named head coach on April 14, 2017 after serving as the head coach atLong Beach State for the previous eight seasons.[7]
| Season | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing | Postseason | Coaches' poll | AP poll | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Christine Burkhart(Independent)(1974–1975) | |||||||||
| 1974–75 | Christine Burkhart | 11–11 | – | NCWSA Regional Playoffs | |||||
| Christine Burkhart: | 11–11 | – | |||||||
| Kathy Neir(Independent, NWBL)(1975–1979) | |||||||||
| 1975–76 | Kathy Neir | 17–11 | – | NCWSA Area Playoffs | |||||
| 1976–77 | Kathy Neir | 22–4 | – | NCWSA Regional Playoffs | |||||
| 1977–78 | Kathy Neir | 26–5 | 12–1 | 1st (NWBL-Coast Division) | AIAW first round | ||||
| 1978–79 | Kathy Neir | 17–11 | 4–8 | 4th (NWBL-Coast Division) | |||||
| Kathy Neir: | 82–31 | 16–9 | |||||||
| Pat Dobratz(Independent, NWBL)(1979–1980) | |||||||||
| 1979–80 | Pat Dobratz | 14–14 | 5–8 | 3rd (NWBL-Coast Division) | |||||
| Pat Dobratz: | 14–14 | 5–8 | |||||||
| Sue Kruzewski(Independent, NWBL, NorPac)(1980–1983) | |||||||||
| 1980–81 | Sue Kruzewski | 19–12 | 6–5 | 3rd (NWBL-Coast Division) | AIAW Region Championships | ||||
| 1981–82 | Sue Kruzewski | 16–10 | 0–4 | 3rd (NWBL-Open Division) | |||||
| 1982–83 | Sue Kruzewski | 15–12 | 7–5 | 4th (NorPac) | |||||
| Sue Kruzewski: | 50–34 | 13–14 | |||||||
| Joyce Sake(NorPac)(1983–1985) | |||||||||
| 1983–84 | Joyce Sake | 17–8 | 8–4 | 4th | |||||
| 1984–85 | Joyce Sake | 26–2 | 11–0 | 1st# | NCAA First Round | 11 | |||
| Joyce Sake: | 43–10 | 19–4 | |||||||
| Chris Gobrecht(NorPac, Pac-10)(1985–1996) | |||||||||
| 1985–86 | Chris Gobrecht | 24–6 | 11–2 | 1st (NorPac) | NCAA Second Round (Play-In) | ||||
| Pacific-10 conference | |||||||||
| 1986–87 | Chris Gobrecht | 23–7 | 14–4 | 2nd (Pac-10) | NCAA Second Round (Play-In) | 18 | 20 | ||
| 1987–88 | Chris Gobrecht | 25–5 | 16–2 | 1st | NCAA Sweet Sixteen | 16 | 11 | ||
| 1988–89 | Chris Gobrecht | 23–10 | 15–3 | 2nd | NCAA Second Round (Play-In) | ||||
| 1989–90 | Chris Gobrecht | 28–3 | 17–1 | T-1st | NCAA Elite Eight | 7 | 3 | ||
| 1990–91 | Chris Gobrecht | 24–5 | 15–3 | 2nd | NCAA Sweet Sixteen | 13 | 12 | ||
| 1991–92 | Chris Gobrecht | 17–11 | 9–9 | 6th | |||||
| 1992–93 | Chris Gobrecht | 17–12 | 11–7 | 3rd | NCAA Second Round (Play-In) | ||||
| 1993–94 | Chris Gobrecht | 21–8 | 12–6 | 4th | NCAA Second Round | 21 | 18 | ||
| 1994–95 | Chris Gobrecht | 25–9 | 13–5 | 2nd | NCAA Sweet Sixteen | 13 | 14 | ||
| 1995–96 | Chris Gobrecht | 16–13 | 10–8 | T-3rd | |||||
| Chris Gobrecht: | 243–89 | 143–50 | |||||||
| June Daugherty(Pac-10)(1996–2007) | |||||||||
| 1996–97 | June Daugherty | 17–11 | 12–6 | T-4th | NCAA First Round | ||||
| 1997–98 | June Daugherty | 18–10 | 9–9 | 5th | NCAA First Round | ||||
| 1998–99 | June Daugherty | 16–13 | 11–7 | 5th | WNIT Third Round | ||||
| 1999–2000 | June Daugherty | 8–22 | 4–14 | 9th | |||||
| 2000–01 | June Daugherty | 22–10 | 12–6 | T-1st | NCAA Elite Eight | 14 | |||
| 2001–02 | June Daugherty | 19–12 | 12–6 | T-2nd | WNIT Quarterfinals | ||||
| 2002–03 | June Daugherty | 22–8 | 13–5 | T-2nd | NCAA First Round | ||||
| 2003–04 | June Daugherty | 18–13 | 9–9 | 6th | WNIT Third Round | ||||
| 2004–05 | June Daugherty | 14–16 | 9–9 | 7th | |||||
| 2005–06 | June Daugherty | 19–11 | 11–7 | T-4th | NCAA Second Round | ||||
| 2006–07 | June Daugherty | 18–13 | 11–7 | 4th | NCAA First Round | ||||
| June Daugherty: | 191–139 | 113–85 | |||||||
| Tia Jackson(Pac-10)(2007–2011) | |||||||||
| 2007–08 | Tia Jackson | 13–18 | 8–10 | 6th | |||||
| 2008–09 | Tia Jackson | 8–22 | 3–15 | 10th | |||||
| 2009–10 | Tia Jackson | 13–18 | 7–11 | T-6th | WBI Quarterfinals | ||||
| 2010–11 | Tia Jackson | 11–17 | 6–12 | 7th | |||||
| Tia Jackson: | 45–75 | 24–48 | |||||||
| Kevin McGuff(Pac-12)(2011–2013) | |||||||||
| 2011–12 | Kevin McGuff | 20–14 | 8–10 | 7th | WNIT Quarterfinals | ||||
| 2012–13 | Kevin McGuff | 21–12 | 11–8 | 5th | WNIT Second Round | ||||
| Kevin McGuff: | 41–26 | 19–18 | |||||||
| Mike Neighbors(Pac-12)(2013–2017) | |||||||||
| 2013–14 | Mike Neighbors | 20–14 | 10–8 | 6th | WNIT semifinals | ||||
| 2014–15 | Mike Neighbors | 23–10 | 11–7 | 5th | NCAA first round | ||||
| 2015–16 | Mike Neighbors | 26–11 | 11–7 | 5th | NCAA Final Four | 8 | RV | ||
| 2016–17 | Mike Neighbors | 29–6 | 15–3 | T-2nd | NCAA Sweet Sixteen | 11 | 12 | ||
| Mike Neighbors: | 98–41 | 47–25 | |||||||
| Jody Wynn(Pac-12)(2017–2021) | |||||||||
| 2017–18 | Jody Wynn | 7–23 | 1–17 | 12th | |||||
| 2018–19 | Jody Wynn | 11–21 | 2–15 | 11th | |||||
| 2019–20 | Jody Wynn | 13–16 | 5–13 | T-9th | |||||
| 2020–21 | Jody Wynn | 7–13 | 3–13 | 11th | |||||
| Jody Wynn: | 25–57 | 6–45 | |||||||
| Tina Langley(Pac-12)(2021–2025) | |||||||||
| 2021–22 | Tina Langley | 7–16 | 2–12 | 12th | |||||
| 2022–23 | Tina Langley | 19–15 | 7–11 | T-8th | |||||
| Tina Langley: | 26–31 | 9–23 | |||||||
| Total: | 858–523 (.621) | ||||||||
National champion Postseason invitational champion | |||||||||
The Huskies have appeared in theNCAA Division I women's basketball tournament 20 times. They have a combined record of 21–20.
| Year | Seed | Round | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | #3 | First Round | #6 UCLA | L 62–78 |
| 1986 | #7 | First Round Second Round | #10 North Texas State #2 Louisiana Tech | W 69–54 L 54–79 |
| 1987 | #8 | First Round Second Round | #9 New Mexico State #1 Long Beach State | W 86–73 L 57–72 |
| 1988 | #3 | Second Round Sweet Sixteen | #6 New Mexico State #2 Long Beach State | W 99–74 L 78–104 |
| 1989 | #5 | First Round Second Round | #12 Hawaii #4 Stephen F. Austin | W 87–79 L 63–73 |
| 1990 | #1 | Second Round Sweet Sixteen Elite Eight | #8 DePaul #5 South Carolina #2 Auburn | W 77–68 W 73–61 L 50–76 |
| 1991 | #3 | Second Round Sweet Sixteen | #6 Iowa #2 Stanford | W 70–53 L 47–73 |
| 1993 | #7 | First Round Second Round | #10 Montana State #2 Texas Tech | W 80–51 L 64–70 |
| 1994 | #8 | First Round Second Round | #9 Boise State #1 Purdue | W 89–61 L 59–86 |
| 1995 | #3 | First Round Second Round Sweet Sixteen | #14 Ohio #6 Arkansas #2 Texas Tech | W 73–57 W 54–50 L 52–67 |
| 1997 | #11 | First Round | #6 Vanderbilt | L 62–74 |
| 1998 | #13 | First Round | #4 Purdue | L 71–88 |
| 2001 | #6 | First Round Second Round Sweet Sixteen Elite Eight | #11 Old Dominion #3 Florida #2 Oklahoma #5 SW Missouri State | W 67–65 W 86–75 W 84–67 L 87–104 |
| 2003 | #9 | First Round | #8 Wisconsin–Green Bay | L 65–78 |
| 2006 | #9 | First Round Second Round | #8 Minnesota #1 LSU | W 73–69 L 49–72 |
| 2007 | #11 | First Round | #6 Iowa State | L 60–79 |
| 2015 | #6 | First Round | #11Miami (FL) | L 80–86 |
| 2016 | #7 | First Round Second Round Sweet Sixteen Elite Eight Final Four | #10Penn #2Maryland #3Kentucky #4Stanford #4Syracuse | W 65–53 W 74–65 W 85–72 W 85–76 L 59–80 |
| 2017 | #3 | First Round Second Round Sweet Sixteen | #14Montana State #6Oklahoma #2Mississippi State | W 91–63 W 108–82 L 64–75 |
| 2025 | #11 | First Four | #11Columbia | L 60–63 |
The Huskies made one appearance in theAIAW National Division I basketball tournament, with a combined record of 0–1.
| Year | Round | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | First Round | Stephen F. Austin | L 55–96 |
Active players initalics.
| Stat | Player | Career | Record | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Points | Kelsey Plum | 2013–2017 | 3,527 | |
| Rebounds | Chantel Osahor | 2013–2017 | 1,253 | |
| Steals | Leteia Hughley | 1982–1985 | 342 | |
| Assists | Giuliana Mendiola | 2001–2004 | 612 | |
| Field goals made | Kelsey Plum | 2013–2017 | 1,136 | |
| Field goal percentage | Karen Murray | 1980–1984 | .541 | |
| Three-pointers | Kelsey Plum | 2013–2017 | 343 | |
| Three-point percentage | Laura Moore | 1990–1993 | .424 | 113 games |
| Free throws made | Kelsey Plum | 2013–2017 | 1,136 | |
| Free throws percentage | Kelsey Plum | 2013–2017 | .888 | |
| Blocked shots | Talia Walton | 2012–2016 | 177 | 133 games |
| Stat | Player | Career | Record | Year | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Points | Kelsey Plum | 2013–2017 | 1,109 | 2017 | |
| Rebounds | Chantel Osahor | 2013–2017 | 519 | 2017 | |
| Assists | Giuliana Mendiola | 2001–2004 | 172 | 2004 | |
| Steals | Margie Nielsen | 102 | 1978 | ||
| Field goals made | Kelsey Plum | 2013–2017 | 379 | 2017 | |
| Field goal percentage | Karen Deden | 1987–1991 | .567 | 1989 | |
| Three-pointers | Kelsey Plum | 2013–2017 | 115 | 2017 | |
| Three-point percentage | Kayla Burt | 2002–2006 | .538 | 2003 | |
| Free throws made | Kelsey Plum | 2013–2017 | 274 | 2016 | |
| Free throws percentage | Kelsey Plum | 2013–2017 | .896 | 2015 | |
| Blocked shots | Liz Chicane | 2012–2016 | 74 | 1981 |
| Stat | Player | Career | Record | Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Points | Kelsey Plum | 2013–2017 | 57 | February 25, 2017 | vs. Utah |
| Rebounds | Chantel Osahor | 2013–2017 | 30 | January 22, 2017 | at Washington St. |
| Assists | Leteia Hughley | 1982–1985 | 13 | December 16, 1983 | |
| Steals | Julia Gray | 11 | November 24, 1998 | ||
| Blocked shots | Margie Nielsen | 9 | January 23, 1978 | vs. Alaska-Anchorage |
| Washington Huskies retired numbers | |||||
| No. | Player | Tenure | No. ret. | Ref. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | Kelsey Plum | 2013–2017 | January 18, 2025 | [11] | |
