The Northwestern Wildcats women's basketball team is the intercollegiate women's basketball program representing Northwestern University. The school competes in the Big Ten Conference in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). The Wildcats play home basketball games at Welsh-Ryan Arena on the university campus in Evanston, Illinois, but played the 2017–18 season at Beardsley Gym on the nearby campus of Evanston Township High School during renovations to Welsh–Ryan Arena.

History

Early years (1975–1984) The Wildcats began play in women's basketball in 1975, with Mary DiStanislao as the first head coach, who coached for five seasons, with the final two resulting in appearances in the AIAW Tournament. In 1980, Annette Lynch took over as head coach, leading the team to postseason appearances (AIAW and NCAA) in her first two seasons, with the latter (1981) being the first season in the Big Ten Conference.

Don Perrelli era (1985–1999) In 1984, Don Perrelli became head coach of the Wildcats. In his 15-year tenure, he led the team to 5 appearances in the NCAA Tournament, a Big Ten title in 1990 (with a 24–5 record, 15–3 conference record), and a NWIT appearance. Perrelli retired after the 1998–99 season.

Decline (1999–2008) June Olkowski took over, coaching Northwestern for five seasons, but she was fired after finishing 10th or worse each time, never winning more than three conference games. Beth Combs was hired to coach the Wildcats in 2004, but she was fired after four seasons, highlighted with winning only 7 conference games in 4 years and never finishing higher than 10th place.

Joe McKeown era (2008–2026) Joe McKeown was hired for the 2008 season. After a 10th-place finish in his first season, they finished tied for 8th in the conference (good enough to qualify for the WNIT) the following season, their highest finish since the 1998 season. After appearing in the WNIT twice in the following four seasons, the Wildcats returned to the NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Tournament in 2015, their first appearance since 1997, in a season where they had their highest finish in the conference (1994) since 1996. McKeown retired following the 2025–26 season, after 40 years as a head coach.

Carla Berube era (2026–present) On March 25, 2026, Carla Berube was named the seventh head coach in program history.

All-Time Statistical Leaders Career leaders Points scored: 2,307 (Anucha Browne – 1982–85) Assists: 892 (Nancy Kennelly – 1989–93) Rebounds: 1183 (Nia Coffey – 2013–17) Steals: 236 (Moira Kennelly – 1991–94) Blocks: 357 (Amy Jaeschke – 2007–2011)

Single season leaders Points scored: 855 (Anucha Browne – 1985) Assists: 252 (Nancy Kennelly – 1991 and 1993) Rebounds: 404 (Pallas Kunaiyi-Akpannah – 2018–19) Steals: 95 (Ashley Deary – 2014–15) Blocks: 106 (Amy Jaeschke – 2009–10)

Single game leaders Points scored: 45 (Anucha Browne vs. St. John's – 1984) Assists: 16 (Nancy Kennelly vs. Eastern Illinois – 1993) Rebounds: 26 (Julie Calahan vs. Indiana – 1981) Steals: 11 (Moira Kennelly vs. UW-Milwaukee – 1993) Blocks: 10 (Amy Jaeschke vs. Chicago State – 2010)

Big Ten Medal of Honor 1982 – Patience Vanderbush 1985 – Anucha Browne 1992 – Michele Savage 1993 – Nancy Kennelly 1997 – Michele Ratay 1999 – Megan Chawansky

Coaching history Coach Years Record ConferenceRecord ConferenceTitles Mary DiStanislao 1975–1980 75–42 0–0 Annette Lynch 1980–1984 89–30 32–15 Don Perrelli 1984–1999 251–181 135–126 1 June Olkowski 1999–2004 31–108 7–73 Beth Combs 2004–2008 24–95 7–59 Joe McKeown 2008–2025 233-186 93–128 1 Totals 694–642 275–401 2

Postseason

NCAA Division I Women's Basketball tournament The Wildcats have appeared in the NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament eight times. They have a record of 4–7. 1982 First Round North Carolina State L 73–71 1987 First RoundSecond Round Kansas StateLouisiana Tech W 62–61 (OT)L 82–60 1990 First Round South Carolina L 76–67 1991 First RoundSecond Round Washington StateArkansas W 82–62L 105–68 1993 First RoundSecond Round Georgia TechTennessee W 90–62L 89–66 1997 First Round George Washington L 61–46 2015 First Round Arkansas L 57–55 2021 First RoundSecond Round UCFLouisville W 62–51L 62–53

NIT results The Wildcats have appeared in the Women's National Invitation Tournament (WNIT) five times, having a combined record of 10–5. They also appeared in the National Women's Invitational Tournament (the precursor to the WNIT, with 8 teams instead of the traditional 64 the WNIT has) once, having a record of 2–1. 1996 QuarterfinalsSemifinalsFinals Illinois StateLouisiana StateArizona W 93–71W 79–75L 79–63 2010 First RoundSecond RoundThird Round DuquesneSt. BonaventureMichigan W 79–72W 66–62L 65–44 2011 First RoundSecond Round Creighton Alabama W 89–63L 72–70 2014 First RoundSecond RoundThird Round Ball StateIUPUIIndiana W 69–55 W 88–52L 66–65 2016 First Round San Diego L 69–55 2019 First RoundSecond RoundThird RoundQuarterfinalsSemifinalsFinals DaytonToledoWest VirginiaOhioJames MadisonArizona W 74–51 W 54–47 W 56–54 W 61–58 W 74–69 L 56–42

AIAW Women's Basketball tournament The Wildcats appeared in the AIAW women's basketball tournament (the precursor to the modern NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Championship) three times (the first being in a 16 team tournament and the latter two being in a 24 team tournament) before it was discontinued in 1982. They compiled a record of 1–3. They received a bye in 1980. 1979 First RoundQuarterfinals Southern Connecticut StateLouisiana Tech W 67–61L 88–52 1980 Second Round South Carolina L 64–61 1981 First Round Stephen F. Austin L 88–67

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