College basketball team
Kansas Jayhawks women's basketball University University of Kansas First season 1903; 121 years ago (1903 ) (club) 1968 (varsity) All-time record 865–696 (.554) (Varsity-only record) Athletic director Travis Goff Head coach Brandon Schneider (10th season)Conference Big 12 Location Lawrence, Kansas Arena Allen Fieldhouse (capacity: 16,300)Nickname Jayhawks Colors Crimson and blue[ 1]
1996, 1998, 2012, 2013 1987, 1988, 1994, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2012, 2013, 2022, 2024 1987, 1988, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2012, 2013, 2022, 2024 1980 1979, 1980, 1981 1979, 1980, 1981, 1987, 1988, 1993 1987, 1992, 1996, 1997
The Kansas Jayhawks women's basketball team represents the University of Kansas and competes in the Big 12 Conference of NCAA Division I . The Jayhawks are coached by Brandon Schneider . The Jayhawks have failed to match the success of the men's team , only qualifying for 14 NCAA Tournaments and never making it past the Sweet Sixteen. They have, however, won one Women's NIT championship which they won in 2023. Despite the lack of success on the court, the Jayhawks have produced one Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer , Lynette Woodard
History
The 1903 KU women's basketball team
Kansas first fielded a women's basketball team in 1903. The 1903 team posted a 6-2 record. The team competed as a non-varsity independent squad. In 1912, female students at the University of Kansas launched the Women’s Athletic Association (WAA) with the assistance of physical education instructor Hazel Pratt. Under the WAA, KU women competed against other colleges and universities as a non-varsity club sport. [ 2]
Kansas first officially fielded a varsity women's basketball team during the 1968–1969 season,[ 3] though club level women's teams had been fielded as early as 1903. For 31 seasons (1973–2004) the women's team was coached by Marian Washington , who led the team to three Big Eight championships, 11 NCAA Tournament appearances and three AIAW tournament appearances. The team's best post-season result was appearing in the Sweet Sixteen, which they have done five times, most recently in 2013.
Notable players
The Jayhawks have produced one Hall of Fame player. As of April 2, 2023, Kansas has no players on WNBA rosters but has produced WNBA players in the past.
Hall of Famers
Angela Aycock , Forward, Seattle Storm
Tamecka Dixon , Guard, Los Angeles Sparks
Angel Goodrich , Guard, Tulsa Shock
Jaclyn Johnson , Forward, Orlando Miracle
Danielle McCray , Guard/Forward, Connecticut Sun
Lynn Pride , Guard/Forward, Minnesota Lynx
Charisse Sampson , Guard, Seattle Storm
Conferences
The Jayhawks and the rest of the Big 8, along with four former members of the defunct Southwest Conference, joined and created the Big 12 conference in 1996.
Coaches
Kansas first fielded a women's basketball team in 1903. The Jayhawks, at this time, were coached by the inventor of the game James Naismith . After the 1903 season, and until becoming a varsity team in 1968, the Jayhawks did not officially have a coach, and instead had "player-coaches" on their rosters. [ 4] The Jayhawks have had 6 coaches since they began Varsity play in 1968. Marian Washington is all-time leader for the program in years coached, wins, tournament appearances, tournament wins, and win percentage.
Coach
Years Coached
Wins
Losses
Win %
App.
Wins
Loss.
Win %
Marlene Mawson
1968–1971
19
16
.543
N/A*
Debbie Artman
1971–1972
9
8
.529
0
0
0
—
Sharon Drysdale
1972–1973
9
8
.529
0
0
0
—
Marian Washington
1973–2004
560
365
.605
14
10
14
.417
Bonnie Henrickson
2004–2015
186
171
.521
2
4
2
.667
Brandon Schneider
2015–present
107
136
.440
1
1
1
.500
* Women's college post-season tournaments did not begin until 1969, with a CIAW invitational tournament. Kansas appeared in the 1971 CIAW post-season qualification tournament with a record of 2-2.[ 5] : 141
NCAA/AIAW Tournament history
The Jayhawks have appeared in 17 NCAA/AIAW Tournaments. Their combined record is 13–16.
Year
Seed
Round
Rival
Score
1979
—
First Round
Louisiana Tech
L 61–100
1980
—
First Round Second Round
Cheyney State Louisiana Tech
W 75–66 L 73–81
1981
—
Second Round
UCLA
L 71–73
1987
7
First Round Second Round
(10) NE Louisiana (2) Georgia
W 78–72 L 51–82
1988
7
First Round Second Round
(10) Middle Tennessee St. (2) Louisiana Tech
W 81–75 L 50–89
1992
9
First Round
(8) Missouri St.
L 59–75
1993
8
First Round
(9) California
L 47–62
1994
9
First Round Second Round
(8) Stephen F. Austin (1) Penn State
W 72–67 L 68–85
1995
7
First Round
(10) Wisconsin
L 72–73
1996
4
First Round Second Round Sweet 16
(13) Middle Tennessee St. (5) Texas (1) Tennessee
W 72–57W 70–77 L 71–92
1997
3
First Round Second Round
(14) Detroit (6) Vanderbilt
W 81–67 L 44–51
1998
5
First Round Second Round Sweet 16
(12) Tulane (4) Iowa (9) Arkansas
W 72–68W 62–58 L 63–79
1999
9
First Round Second Round
(8) Marquette (1) Purdue
W 64–58 L 41–55
2000
8
First Round
(9) Vanderbilt
L 69–71 2 OT
2012
11
First Round Second Round Sweet 16
(6) Nebraska (3) Delaware (2) Tennessee
W 57–49W 70–64 L 73–84
2013
12
First Round Second Round Sweet 16
(5) Colorado (4) South Carolina (1) Notre Dame
W 67–52W 75–69 L 63–93
2022
8
First Round Second Round
(9) Georgia Tech (1) Stanford
W 77–58 L 65–91
Women's NIT
The Jayhawks have appeared in six NIT tournaments. Their combined record is 15–5. They won the 2023 Tournament.
Year
Round
Rival
Score
2006
First round Second round
Northern Iowa Ole Miss
W 59–49 L 76–78
2008
Second round Third round
Evansville Michigan State
W 82–60 L 54–58
2009
Second round Third round Quarterfinals Semifinals Championship
Creighton Arkansas New Mexico Illinois State South Florida
W 79–64W 75–59W 78–69W 75–72 L 71–75
2010
First round Second round Regional Semifinals
Prairie View A&M Creighton Illinois State
W 82–72W 71–68 L 51–71
2011
First round Second round
Wichita State Duquesne
W 79–58 L 63–80
2023
First round Second round Super 16 Great 8 Fab 4 Championship
Western Kentucky Missouri Nebraska Arkansas Washington Columbia
W 86–72W 75–47W 64–55W 78–64W 61–36W 66–59
Year by year results
[ 5]
Season
Team
Overall
Conference
Standing
Postseason
Coaches' poll
AP poll
Marlene Mawson (CIAW) (1968–1971)
1968–69
Marlene Mawson
5–4
–
1969–70
Marlene Mawson
7–4
–
1970–71
Marlene Mawson
7–8
–
CIAW Tenth Place
Marlene Mawson:
19–16
–
Debbie Artman (Independent) (1971–1972)
1971–72
Debbie Artman
9–8
–
Debbie Artman:
9–8
–
Sharon Drysdale (Independent) (1972–1973)
1972–73
Sharon Drysdale
9–8
–
Sharon Drysdale:
9–8
–
Marion Washington (Independent, Big 8, Big 12) (1973–2004)
1973–74
Marion Washington
11–8
–
1974–75
Marion Washington
7–17
–
1975–76
Marion Washington
13–14
–
1976–77
Marion Washington
11–15
–
1977–78
Marion Washington
22–11
–
NWIT Sixth Place
1978–79
Marion Washington
30–8
–
AIAW Sectional
14
1979–80
Marion Washington
29–8
–
AIAW Sectional
11
1980–81
Marion Washington
27–5
–
AIAW Sectional
10
1981–82
Marion Washington
16–14
–
Big Eight Conference
1982–83
Marion Washington
13–15
9–5
(Big 8) 3rd
1983–84
Marion Washington
11–16
7–7
5th
1984–85
Marion Washington
19–10
9–5
3rd
1985–86
Marion Washington
18–10
9–5
T–2nd
1986–87
Marion Washington
20–13
9–5
T–1st#
NCAA Second Round (Play-in)
1987–88
Marion Washington
22–10
8–6
T–3rd
NCAA Second Round (Play-in)
1988–89
Marion Washington
13–14
5–9
T–6th
1989–90
Marion Washington
20–9
9–5
T–4th
1990–91
Marion Washington
20–13
7–7
5th
NWIT Third Place
1991–92
Marion Washington
25–6
12–2
1st
NCAA First Round
25
17
1992–93
Marion Washington
21–9
9–5
T–3rd
NCAA First Round
24
1993–94
Marion Washington
22–6
11–3
2nd
NCAA Second Round
17
15
1994–95
Marion Washington
20–11
8–6
3rd
NCAA First Round
23
23
1995–96
Marion Washington
22–10
11–3
1st
NCAA Sweet Sixteen
15
20
Big 12 Conference
1996–97
Marion Washington
25–6
14–2
1st (Big 12)
NCAA Second Round
16
11
1997–98
Marion Washington
23–9
11–5
T–3rd
NCAA Sweet Sixteen
22
1998–99
Marion Washington
23–10
11–5
3rd
NCAA Second Round
1999–2000
Marion Washington
20–10
11–5
4th
NCAA First Round
2000–01
Marion Washington
12–17
5–11
9th
2001–02
Marion Washington
5–25
0–16
12th
2002–03
Marion Washington
11–18
3–13
T–9th
2003–04
Marion Washington
9–18
2–12
T–11th
Marion Washington:
560–365
180–142
Lynette Woodward (Big 12) (2004)
2004
Lynette Woodward
0–3
0–2
Lynette Woodward:
0–3
0–2
Bonnie Henrickson (Big 12) (2004–2015)
2004–05
Bonnie Henrickson
12–16
5–11
8th
2005–06
Bonnie Henrickson
17–13
5–11
10th
WNIT First Round (Play-in)
2006–07
Bonnie Henrickson
11–20
4–11
T–11th
2007–08
Bonnie Henrickson
17–16
4–12
T–10th
WNIT Second Round (bye)
2008–09
Bonnie Henrickson
22–14
6–10
T–7th
WNIT Finals
2009–10
Bonnie Henrickson
17–16
5–11
T–8th
WNIT Third Round
2010–11
Bonnie Henrickson
21–13
6–10
T–8th
WNIT Second Round
2011–12
Bonnie Henrickson
21–13
8–10
T–6th
NCAA Sweet Sixteen
25
2012–13
Bonnie Henrickson
20–14
8–10
7th
NCAA Sweet Sixteen
2013–14
Bonnie Henrickson
13–19
5–13
T–8th
2014–15
Bonnie Henrickson
15–17
6–12
9th
Bonnie Henrickson:
186–171
62–121
Brandon Schneider (Big 12) (2015–present)
2015–16
Brandon Schneider
6–25
0–18
10th
2016–17
Brandon Schneider
8–22
2–16
10th
2017–18
Brandon Schneider
12–18
3–15
9th
2018–19
Brandon Schneider
13–18
2–16
10th
2019–20
Brandon Schneider
15–14
4–14
10th
2020–21
Brandon Schneider
7–18
3–15
T-9th
2021–22
Brandon Schneider
21–10
11–7
5th
NCAA Second Round
2022–23
Brandon Schneider
25–11
9–9
7th
WNIT Champions
2023–24
Brandon Schneider
20–13
11–7
7th
NCAA Second Round
RV
RV
Brandon Schneider:
127–149
45–117
Total:
910–718
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
References
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