The West Virginia Mountaineers women's basketball team represents West Virginia University in NCAA Division I college basketball competition. They are a member of the Big 12 Conference. West Virginia has earned twelve bids to the NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament. In 2017, they won the Big 12 Tournament, despite finishing sixth in the regular season.

History The first women's basketball team was started in 1973, as a result of the Title IX mandates. The first coach was Kittie Blakemore, who was asked to create a schedule against ten local teams. The first year, the team played 14 games, winning four. The team improved the next year, winning 13 of their 17 games. Blakemore would remain as head coach for 19 seasons, leading the team to a conference tournament championship in the A10 in 1989, and a first-place finish in the regular season in her final season, 1992. In 2014, the team finished as the Big 12 regular season champions. West Virginia's other Big 12 title came by way of winning the 2017 and the 2026 Big 12 Conference women's basketball tournaments.

Notable figures Yelena Leuchanka Cathy Parson Olayinka Sanni Georgeann Wells

Head coaches Kittie Blakemore (1973–1992) Bill Fiske (1984–1987) Scott Harrelson (1987–1996) Susan Walvius (1996–1998) Alexis Basil (1998–2001) Mike Carey (2001–2022) Dawn Plitzuweit (2022–2023) Mark Kellogg (2023-Present)

Current roster

School records Source

Career leaders Points Scored: Cathy Parson 2,115 (1980-83) Rebounds: Olivia Bradley 1,484 (1982-85) Assists: Yolanda Paige 902 (2002-05) Steals: Talisha Hargis 355(1995-98) Games Played: Teana Muldrow 143(2014-18) Games Started: Aysa Bussie 138 (2010-12) (2014) Double-Doubles: Olivia Bradley 71(1982-85) 30-point Games: Rosemary Kosiorek (89-92), Meg Bulger (04-07), Talisha Hargis (95-98) 3 tied with 6 3-pointers: Kate Bulger 302 (2001-04)

Single-season leaders Points Scored: Rosemary Kosiorek (730, 1992) Rebounds: Olivia Bradley, (458, 1985) Assists: Yolanda Paige (297, 2005) Steals: Jenny Hillen (114, 1989) Double-Doubles: Georgeann Wells (22, 1986) 30-point Games: Meg Bulger (5, 2005)

National Rankings

West Virginia University has finished the season ranked 9 times.

YearOverall RecordConference RecordFinal Ranking 1991-92 24-6 12-6A-10 AP Poll #14 Coaches #11 2007-08 25–8 12-4Big East AP Poll #17 Coaches #20 2009-10 29–6 13-3Big East AP Poll #10 Coaches #16 2013-14 30–5 14-2Big 12 AP Poll #7 Coaches #7 2015-16 25-10 12-6Big 12 AP Poll #25 Coaches #23 2016-17 23-10 8-10Big 12 AP Poll #20 Coaches #22 2020-21 22-7 13-5Big 12 AP Poll #20 Coaches #17 2023-24 25-8 12-6Big 12 AP Poll #25 Coaches #24 2024-25 25-8 13-5Big 12 AP Poll #21 Coaches #21 Source:

Year by year results Source

|-style="background: #ffffdd;" | colspan="8" align="center" | Atlantic 10 Conference

|-style="background: #ffffdd;" | colspan="8" align="center" | Big East Conference (1979–2012)

|-style="background: #ffffdd;" | colspan="8" align="center" | Big 12 Conference (2012–present)

NCAA tournament results West Virginia has reached the NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament 17 times. They have a record of 14–18. 1989 #12 First RoundSecond Round #5 Western Kentucky#4 Virginia W 66−57L 68–81 1992 #4 Second RoundSweet Sixteen #5 Clemson#1 Virginia W 73−72L 83–103 2004 #11 First Round #6 Ohio State L 67–73 2007 #11 First RoundSecond Round #6 Xavier#3 LSU W 65−52L 43–49 2008 #5 First RoundSecond Round #12 New Mexico#4 Vanderbilt W 61−60L 46–64 2010 #3 First RoundSecond Round #14 Lamar#11 San Diego State W 58−43L 55–64 2011 #9 First RoundSecond Round #8 Houston#1 Baylor W 78−73L 68–82 2012 #8 First RoundSecond Round #9 Texas#1 Stanford W 68−55L 55–72 2013 #11 First Round #6 Delaware L 53–66 2014 #2 First RoundSecond Round #15 Albany#7 LSU W 76−61L 67–76 2016 #6 First RoundSecond Round #11 Princeton#3 Ohio State W 74−65L 81–88 2017 #6 First RoundSecond Round #11 Elon#3 Maryland W 75−62L 56–83 2021 #4 First RoundSecond Round #13 Lehigh#5 Georgia Tech W 77−53L 56–73 2023 #10 First Round #7 Arizona L 62–75 2024 #8 First RoundSecond Round #9 Princeton#1 Iowa W 63−53L 54-64 2025 #6 First RoundSecond Round #11 Columbia#3 North Carolina W 78-59L 47-58 2026 #4 First RoundSecond Round #13 Miami (OH)#5 Kentucky W 82–54L 73-74

See also West Virginia Mountaineers men's basketball

References

External links