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, in 2023. Despite the lack of success on the court, the Jayhawks have produced one Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer, Lynette Woodard.

History

In 1897, the University of Kansas commencement program featured an excerpt from a graduate named Lola Bell Brown. The excerpt explains that Brown was being included "for her work on the basketball court at Kansas", and "she helped bring basketball to KU for girls."Marsh, Curtis (2023). KU-phoria. University of Kansas Libraries, p. 119. Several female students asked Dr. Naismith if they could form a team upon witnessing his new game. It is reported that he responded with enthusiasm and support. Naismith would later coach the women's team for a single season.Marsh, Curtis (2023). KU-phoria. University of Kansas Libraries, p. 117. A week later, it was being played in physical education classes by both men and women. Six years later, in 1903, the University of Kansas fielded their first women's basketball team. 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. This continued for several decades until women's basketball became a varsity sport in 1968. Kansas first officially fielded a varsity women's basketball team during the 1968–1969 season, 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 Lynette Woodard, inducted as a player, also a former coach

Former WNBA players Angela Aycock, forward, Seattle Storm Tamecka Dixon, guard, Los Angeles Sparks Angel Goodrich, guard, Tulsa Shock 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 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. The Jayhawks have had six 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 % Marlene Mawson 1968–1971 19 16 N/A* Debbie Artman 1971–1972 9 8 0 0 0 — Sharon Drysdale 1972–1973 9 8 0 0 0 — Marian Washington 1973–2004 560 365 14 10 14 Bonnie Henrickson 2004–2015 186 171 2 4 2 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.

Postseason NCAA Division I The Jayhawks have appeared in the NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament fourteen times. Their record is 15–14.

1987 7 First RoundSecond Round (10) NE Louisiana(2) Georgia W 78–72L 51–82 1988 7 First RoundSecond Round (10) Middle Tennessee St.(2) Louisiana Tech W 81–75L 50–89 1992 9 First Round (8) Missouri St. L 59–75 1993 8 First Round (9) California L 47–62 1994 9 First RoundSecond Round (8) Stephen F. Austin(1) Penn State W 72–67L 68–85 1995 7 First Round (10) Wisconsin L 72–73 1996 4 First RoundSecond RoundSweet 16 (13) Middle Tennessee St.(5) Texas(1) Tennessee W 72–57W 70–77L 71–92 1997 3 First RoundSecond Round (14) Detroit(6) Vanderbilt W 81–67 L 44–51 1998 5 First RoundSecond RoundSweet 16 (12) Tulane(4) Iowa(9) Arkansas W 72–68W 62–58L 63–79 1999 9 First RoundSecond Round (8) Marquette(1) Purdue W 64–58L 41–55 2000 8 First Round (9) Vanderbilt L 69–71 2 OT 2012 11 First RoundSecond RoundSweet 16 (6) Nebraska(3) Delaware(2) Tennessee W 57–49W 70–64L 73–84 2013 12 First RoundSecond RoundSweet 16 (5) Colorado(4) South Carolina (1) Notre Dame W 67–52W 75–69L 63–93 2022 8 First RoundSecond Round (9) Georgia Tech(1) Stanford W 77–58L 65–91 2024 8 First RoundSecond Round (9) Michigan(1) USC W 81–72 OT L 55–73

AIAW Kansas reached the AIAW Women's Basketball Tournament three times. They had a record of 1–3. 1979 — First Round Louisiana Tech L 61–100 1980 — First RoundSecond Round Cheyney StateLouisiana Tech W 75–66L 73–81 1981 — Second Round UCLA L 71–73

WBIT

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 roundSecond round Northern IowaOle Miss W 59–49L 76–78 2008 Second roundThird round EvansvilleMichigan State W 82–60L 54–58 2009 Second roundThird roundQuarterfinalsSemifinalsChampionship CreightonArkansasNew MexicoIllinois StateSouth Florida W 79–64W 75–59W 78–69W 75–72L 71–75 2010 First roundSecond roundRegional Semifinals Prairie View A&MCreightonIllinois State W 82–72W 71–68L 51–71 2011 First roundSecond round Wichita StateDuquesne W 79–58L 63–80 2023 First roundSecond roundSuper 16Great 8Fab 4Championship Western KentuckyMissouriNebraskaArkansasWashingtonColumbia W 86–72W 75–47W 64–55W 78–64W 61–36W 66–59

Year by year results

|-style="background: #ffffdd;" | colspan="8" align="center" | Big Eight Conference

|-style="background: #ffffdd;" | colspan="8" align="center" | Big 12 Conference

References

External links