Kansas Jayhawks women's basketball

Kansas Jayhawks women's basketball
2024–25 Kansas Jayhawks women's basketball team
UniversityUniversity of Kansas
First season1903; 121 years ago (1903) (club)
1968 (varsity)
All-time record865–696 (.554) (Varsity-only record)
Athletic directorTravis Goff
Head coachBrandon Schneider (10th season)
ConferenceBig 12
LocationLawrence, Kansas
ArenaAllen Fieldhouse
(capacity: 16,300)
NicknameJayhawks
ColorsCrimson and blue[1]
   
Uniforms
Home jersey
Team colours
Home
Away jersey
Team colours
Away
Alternate jersey
Team colours
Alternate
NCAA tournament Sweet Sixteen
1996, 1998, 2012, 2013
NCAA tournament second round
1987, 1988, 1994, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2012, 2013, 2022, 2024
NCAA tournament appearances
1987, 1988, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2012, 2013, 2022, 2024
AIAW tournament Sweet Sixteen
1980
AIAW tournament appearances
1979, 1980, 1981
Conference tournament champions
1979, 1980, 1981, 1987, 1988, 1993
Conference regular season champions
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

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Black-and-white team photo of the 1903 KU women's basketball team with the center-most girl holding a basketball with "1903" painted on it
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

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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

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Former WNBA players

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Conferences

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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

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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

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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 72–57
W 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 72–68
W 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 57–49
W 70–64
L 73–84
2013 12 First Round
Second Round
Sweet 16
(5) Colorado
(4) South Carolina
(1) Notre Dame
W 67–52
W 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

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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 79–64
W 75–59
W 78–69
W 75–72
L 71–75
2010 First round
Second round
Regional Semifinals
Prairie View A&M
Creighton
Illinois State
W 82–72
W 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 86–72
W 75–47
W 64–55
W 78–64
W 61–36
W 66–59

Year by year results

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[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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  1. ^ "Color | Brand Center". Retrieved May 19, 2017.
  2. ^ "Women's Debut to Basketball".
  3. ^ "2011-12 Kansas Women's Basketball Media Guide". Issuu. November 2011. Retrieved 2016-04-13.
  4. ^ "Women's Debut to Basketball".
  5. ^ a b "Media Guide" (PDF). University of Kansas. Retrieved 10 Aug 2013.
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