Arizona Wildcats women's basketball

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.

Arizona Wildcats women's basketball
2026–27 Arizona Wildcats women's basketball team
University	University of Arizona
First season	1972 (1972)
Head coach	Becky Burke (1st season)
Location	Tucson, Arizona
Arena	McKale Center (capacity: 14,545)
Conference	Big 12
Nickname	Wildcats
Colors	Cardinal and navy
All-time record	730–792–0 (.480)
NCAA Division I tournament runner-up
2021
Other NCAA Division I tournament results Final Four 2021 Elite Eight 2021 Sweet Sixteen 1998, 2021 Appearances 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
NWIT champions
1996
WNIT champions
2019
Uniforms
Home Away

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. 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. 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.

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.

Becky Burke took over as the head coach at Arizona on April 14, 2025.

Season-by-season results

Sources:

Record table

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:		169–114 (.597)	78–81 (.491)
Becky Burke (Big 12 Conference) (2025–present)
2025–26	Becky Burke	12–18	3–15	15th
Becky Burke:		12–18 (.400)	3–15 (.167)
Total:		730–792 (.480)	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.

Head coaches

Name	Years	Seasons	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	27	.526
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	114	.597
Becky Burke	2025–present	1	12	18	.400
All-Time		54	730	792	.480

2026–27 roster

2026–27 Arizona Wildcats women's basketball team
Players	Coaches
Pos. # Name Height Year Previous school Hometown G 3 Sumayah Sugapong 5 ft 7 in (1.7 m) Sr UC San Diego San Diego, CA G 5 Molly Ladwing 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) So Skutt Catholic Omaha, NE G -- Aliyahna Morris 5 ft 5 in (1.65 m) So California Rancho Cucamonga, CA F/C —- Gerda Raulušaityte 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) Sr USC Varėna, Lithuania G -- Breanna Williams 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) RS So Maryland Billings, MT F -- Anastasiia Semenova 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) RS Sr Boston University St. Petersburg, Russia G —- Arynn Finley 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) Fr Etiwanda HS Rancho Cucamonga, CA G —- Jasleen Green 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) Fr Grandview Prep Ocala, FL G/F —- Makayla Presser-Palmer 5 ft 11 in (1.8 m) Fr Northwestern High School East Springfield, PA F —- Callie Hinder 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) Fr Phoenix PPH Prep (AZ) Sydney, Australia G -- Priyanka Ponnam 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) Fr Blair Academy Pennington, NJ G -- Karolina Ulan 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) Fr VBW Gdynia Warsaw, Poland	Head coach Becky Burke (Louisville) Assistant coach(es) Todd Starkey (Montreat) Julie Hairgrove (Arizona) James Ewing (Mercyhurst) Jenna Knudson (Embry-Riddle) Devan Newman (Louisville) Legend (C) Team captain (S) Suspended (I) Ineligible (W) Walk-on Injured Current redshirt Roster Last update: April 28, 2026

2025–26 coaching staff

Name	Position	Seasons at Arizona
Becky Burke	Head coach	2nd
Todd Starkey	Associate head coach	1st
James Ewing	Assistant coach	2nd
Julie Brase-Hairgrove	Assistant coach	2nd
Jenna Knudson	Assistant coach	2nd
Devan Newman	Assistant coach	1st
Reference:

Rivalries

Postseason appearances

NCAA tournament results

The Wildcats have appeared in the NCAA Tournament eleven times. Their combined record is 14–11.

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

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

Players and coaches

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):

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.

See also

• Arizona Wildcats men's basketball

External links

• Official website