Auburn Tigers women's basketball

The Auburn Tigers women's basketball program is the intercollegiate women's basketball team that represents Auburn University. The school competes in the Southeastern Conference in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). The Tigers play their homes games at Auburn Arena in Auburn, Alabama on the university campus. The program began in 1971.

Auburn has won five SEC regular season championships and four SEC tournament championships. Auburn has appeared in the NCAA tournament 21 times, making it as far as the championship game three times in a row in 1988, 1989, and 1990. Auburn has produced eight WNBA draft picks, including DeWanna Bonner who was selected with the fifth overall pick, the highest in Auburn history. Eight Auburn players have been named All-Americans and Auburn has had 73 All-SEC selections. Four Auburn players have been named SEC Player of the Year: Vickie Orr in 1988, Carolyn Jones in 1990 and 1991, Lauretta Freeman in 1993, and DeWanna Bonner in 2009. Former head coaches Joe Ciampi and Nell Fortner have been selected as SEC Coach of the Year a total of four times.

History The Auburn women's basketball team has been consistently competitive both nationally and within the SEC. Despite playing in the same conference as perennial powerhouse Tennessee and other competitive programs such as LSU, Georgia, Kentucky and Vanderbilt, and more recently, South Carolina, Mississippi State and Texas A&M, Auburn has won five regular season SEC championships and four SEC tournament championships. Auburn has made 21 appearances in the NCAA women's basketball tournament, advancing to the Sweet 16 seven times and the Elite Eight six times. Auburn played in three consecutive National Championship games in 1988, 1989 and 1990, and won the Women's NIT in 2003.

When Coach Joe Ciampi announced his retirement after 25 years at the end of the 2003–2004 season, the resulting search snared the highly experienced, former Purdue and US National and Olympic team head coach, Nell Fortner. Fortner coached the team through the 2011–2012 season, including a 2009 SEC regular-season championship and a 30–4 record. The Tigers made two NCAA Tournament appearances in Fortner's eight-year tenure.

Fortner was replaced in 2012 by Terri Williams-Flournoy who had been the head coach at Georgetown University for eight seasons. Williams-Flournoy directed the Tigers to three NCAA Tournament appearances, a pair of 20-win seasons and two trips to the WNIT in her nine seasons.

Williams-Flournoy was relieved of her coaching duties following the 2020–21 season. On April 3, 2021, Johnnie Harris was named the program's seventh head coach.

Standout former Auburn players include: Mae Ola Bolton, Ruthie Bolton, Vickie Orr, Carolyn Jones, Chantel Tremitiere, Lauretta Freeman, Le'coe Willingham, DeWanna Bonner, Monique Morehouse, Blanche Alverson, Tyrese Tanner and Unique Thompson.

Players

Awards and honors

Retired jerseys 21 Carolyn Jones 1988–91 24 DeWanna Bonner 2005–09 25 Ruthie Bolton 1985–89 34 Becky Jackson 1980–84 50 Vickie Orr 1985–89

All-Americans Marianne Merritt 1979 HM, NSA Becky Jackson (3) 1981, 1983, 1984 AWSF, WBCA Martha Monk 1981 AWSF Vickie Orr (3) 1987, 1988, 1989 WBCA, USBWA Carolyn Jones (2) 1990, 1991 WBCA Lauretta Freeman 1993 WBCA DeWanna Bonner (2) 2008, 2009 HM, AP, WBCA, USBWA Whitney Boddie 2009 HM, AP, USBWA Unique Thompson 2020, 2021 HM, AP, USBWA

Other honors SEC Player of the Year Vickie Orr (1988) Carolyn Jones (1990, 1991) Lauretta Freeman (1993) DeWanna Bonner (2009) SEC Tournament MVP Becky Jackson (1981) Vickie Orr (1987) Carolyn Jones (1990) Laticia Morris (1997) SEC Freshman of the Year Mae Ola Bolton (1985) Kristen Mulligan (1993) SEC Scholar-Athlete of the Year Blanche Alverson (2012, 2013) Katie Frerking (2017)

Auburn in the WNBA

WNBA Draft picks Auburn has produced eight WNBA draft picks, including three in the inaugural 1997 draft. DeWanna Bonner holds the record for the highest draft pick from Auburn, selected 5th overall in the 2009 draft. 1997Assigned by leagueRuthie Bolton-HolifieldSacramento Monarchs318Chantel TremitiereSacramento MonarchsDevelopmental playerTara WilliamsPhoenix Mercury1999442Carolyn Jones-YoungNew York Liberty2000333Monique MorehouseCleveland Rockers2006342Marita PayneConnecticut Sun200915DeWanna BonnerPhoenix Mercury220Whitney BoddieSacramento Monarchs2021219Unique ThompsonIndiana Fever

Undrafted free agents In addition to its eight WNBA draft picks, Auburn has had two undrafted free agents that went on to have WNBA careers. Mandisa Stevenson (2004–2007) Le'coe Willingham (2004–2013)

Awards and honors Sixth Woman of the Year DeWanna Bonner (2009, 2010, 2011) All-Stars Ruthie Bolton (1999, 2001) DeWanna Bonner (2015, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2023)

Auburn in the Olympics 199219962000

Championships and postseason

SEC regular season championships Auburn has won five regular season Southeastern Conference championships in its history. 1981SEC26–75–2Joe Ciampi1987SEC31–28–1Joe Ciampi1988SEC32–39–0Joe Ciampi1989SEC32–29–0Joe Ciampi2009SEC30–412–2Nell Fortner

SEC Tournament Auburn has won the SEC tournament four times, all under Joe Ciampi. Auburn defeated rival Alabama in the 1981 tournament 85–71 to win their first ever SEC Tournament title in the second edition of the tournament. Six years later in 1987, Auburn routed Georgia by a score of 83–57 to win their second championship. After losing in the championship game to Tennessee twice in a row in the following years, Auburn defeated Tennessee in the 1990 championship game 78–77. Auburn won its most recent SEC Tournament championship in 1997, defeating Florida 52–47. Auburn has reached the SEC Tournament final four other times, falling to Tennessee in 1985, 1988, and 1989 and falling to Vanderbilt in 2009.

Four Auburn players have been selected as SEC Tournament MVP: Becky Jackson in 1981, Vickie Orr in 1987, Carolyn Jones in 1990, and Laticia Morris in 1997. Auburn has had 22 players selected to the SEC All-Tournament teams, including most recently DeWanna Bonner and Whitney Boddie in 2009.

Season-by-season record 1971–72 Aletha Bond 10–2 – 1972–73 Aletha Bond 14–3 – 1973–74 Susan Nunnelly 13–5 – 1974–75 Susan Nunnelly 13–8 – 1975–76 Susan Nunnelly 19–8 – 1976–77 Jan Pylant 12–8 – 1977–78 Jan Pylant 8–18 – 1978–79 Jan Pylant 9–18 – 1979–80 Joe Ciampi 17–13 – 1980–81 Joe Ciampi 26–7 – 1981–82 Joe Ciampi 24–5 – NCAA Tournament1982–83 Joe Ciampi 24–8 6–2 (T-2nd) NCAA Tournament1983–84 Joe Ciampi 19–10 4–4 (6th) 1984–85 Joe Ciampi 25–6 5–3 (3rd) NCAA Tournament1985–86 Joe Ciampi 24–6 6–3 (T-2nd) NCAA Sweet Sixteen1986–87 Joe Ciampi 31–2 8–1 (1st) NCAA Elite Eight1987–88 Joe Ciampi 32–3 9–0 (1st) NCAA Runner-Up1988–89 Joe Ciampi 32–2 9–0 (1st) NCAA Runner-Up1989–90 Joe Ciampi 28–7 7–2 (2nd) NCAA Runner-Up1990–91 Joe Ciampi 26–6 7–2 (2nd) NCAA Elite Eight1991–92 Joe Ciampi 17–12 4–7 (T-7th) 1992–93 Joe Ciampi 25–4 9–2 (T-2nd) NCAA Sweet Sixteen1993–94 Joe Ciampi 20–10 6–5 (6th) NCAA Second Round1994–95 Joe Ciampi 17–10 5–6 (8th) 1995–96 Joe Ciampi 23–9 6–5 (T-5th) NCAA Elite Eight1996–97 Joe Ciampi 22–10 5–7 (T-8th) NCAA second round1997–98 Joe Ciampi 16–11 4–10 (T-9th) 1998–99 Joe Ciampi 20–9 8–6 (4th) NCAA second round1999-00 Joe Ciampi 22–8 9–5 (4th) NCAA second round2000–01 Joe Ciampi 17–12 5–9 (T-8th) 2001–02 Joe Ciampi 16–13 3–11 (T-10th) 2002–03 Joe Ciampi 23–11 5–9 (8th) WNIT Champions2003–04 Joe Ciampi 22–9 9–5 (3rd) NCAA second round2004–05 Nell Fortner 16–13 6–8 (T-6th) 2005–06 Nell Fortner 14–15 4–10 (10th) 2006–07 Nell Fortner 21–13 6–8 (9th) WNIT Semifinals2007–08 Nell Fortner 20–12 7–7 (6th) NCAA first round2008–09 Nell Fortner 30–4 12–2 (1st) NCAA second round2009–10 Nell Fortner 15–16 5–11 (10th) 2010–11 Nell Fortner 16–16 8–8 (T-5th) WNIT Second Round2011–12 Nell Fortner 13–17 5–11 (9th) 2012–13 Terri Williams-Flournoy 19–15 5–11 (10th) WNIT Quarterfinals2013–14 Terri Williams-Flournoy 19–15 7–9 (T-6th) WNIT Third Round2014–15 Terri Williams-Flournoy 13–18 3–13 (13th) 2015–16 Terri Williams-Flournoy 20–13 8–8 (T-7th) NCAA Second Round2016–17 Terri Williams-Flournoy 17–15 7–9 (T-8th) NCAA First Round2017–18 Terri Williams-Flournoy 14–15 5–11 (10th) 2018–19 Terri Williams-Flournoy 22–10 9–7 (T-6th) NCAA First Round2019–20 Terri Williams-Flournoy 11–18 4–12 (T-12th) 2020–21 Terri Williams-Flournoy 5–19 0–15 (13th) 2021–22 Johnnie Harris 10–18 2–14 (14th) 2022–23 Johnnie Harris 16–15 5–11 (T-10th) WNIT Second Round2023–24 Johnnie Harris 22–12 8–8 (T-7th) NCAA First Four 2024–25 Johnnie Harris 12–18 3–13 (T-13th) 2025–26 Larry Vickers 15–17 3–13 (15th)

NCAA tournament results Auburn has appeared in the NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament 22 times. The Tigers have a record of 30–22. 1982 #2 First Round #7 Cheyney L 64–75 1983 #5 First RoundSweet Sixteen #4 Missouri#1 Louisiana Tech W 94–76L 54–81 1985 #3 First RoundSweet Sixteen #6 Memphis State#2 NE Louisiana W 82–64L 71–76 1986 #3 Second RoundSweet Sixteen #6 Southern Illinois#2 Ole Miss W 61–39L 55–56 1987 #1 Second RoundSweet SixteenElite Eight #8 Illinois#5 Old Dominion#2 Tennessee W 92–58W 77–61L 61–77 1988 #1 Second RoundSweet SixteenElite EightFinal FourTitle Game #8 Temple#4 Clemson#3 Ole Miss#2 Long Beach State#2 Louisiana Tech W 94–66W 68–65W 103–74W 68–55L 54–56 1989 #1 Second RoundSweet SixteenElite EightFinal FourTitle Game #9 Penn State#4 Georgia#2 Maryland#1 Louisiana Tech#1 Tennessee W 88–54W 71–60W 77–51W 76–71L 60–76 1990 #2 Second RoundSweet SixteenElite EightFinal FourTitle Game #7 Tennessee Tech#6 Vanderbilt#1 Washington#1 Louisiana Tech#1 Stanford W 73–54W 89–67W 76–50W 81–69L 81–88 1991 #3 Second RoundSweet SixteenElite Eight #11 Holy Cross#10 Vanderbilt#1 Tennessee W 84–58W 58–45L 65–69 1993 #3 Second RoundSweet Sixteen #11 Louisville#2 Iowa W 66–61L 50–63 1994 #9 First RoundSecond Round #8 Virginia Tech#1 Connecticut W 60–51L 59–81 1996 #6 First RoundSecond RoundSweet SixteenElite Eight #11 Hawaii#3 Colorado#2 Penn State#1 Stanford W 73–53W 68–61W 75–69L 57–71 1997 #7 First RoundSecond Round #10 Louisville#2 Louisiana Tech W 68–65L 48–74 1999 #5 First RoundSecond Round #12 Texas#4 Virginia Tech W 69–61L 61–76 2000 #7 First RoundSecond Round #10 SW Missouri State#2 Penn State W 78–74L 69–75 2004 #7 First RoundSecond Round #10 NC State#2 Connecticut W 79–59L 53–79 2008 #11 First Round #6 George Washington L 56–66 2009 #2 First RoundSecond Round #15 Lehigh#7 Rutgers W 85–49L 52–80 2016 #9 First RoundSecond Round #8 St. John's#1 Baylor W 68–57L 52–84 2017 #11 First Round #6 NC State L 48–62 2019 #10 First Round #7 BYU L 64–73 2024 #11 First Four #11 Arizona L 59–69

WNIT Source

The Tigers have participated in six WNIT tournaments, with an overall record of 13 – 5, including the 2003 WNIT championship. 2003FirstS. AlabamaW 77–53SecondFlorida StateW 68–57QuarterfinalsRichmondW 59–53SemifinalsCreightonW 73–62Championship BaylorW 64–632007Round 2UABW 74–60Round 3Virginia TechW 81–73QuarterfinalsKansas StateL 67–542011FirstTennessee TechW 68–54SecondToledoL 67–522013FirstUABW 80–57SecondWKUW 84–66ThirdTulaneW 72–52FourthDrexelL 56–432014Round 1FurmanW 78–64Round 2Old DominionW 82–59Round 3Mississippi StateL 59–542023Round 1TulaneW 73–58Round 2ClemsonL 56–55

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