Kentucky Wildcats women's basketball
Encyclopedia
The Kentucky Wildcats women's basketball team represent the University of Kentucky
in the Southeastern Conference
, which has historically been the most dominant conference in women's basketball
. However, despite reaching national rankings as high as #4, the team has never reached the national championship semifinals ("Final Four"). Through the end of the 2009–10 season
, the team's all-time varsity record (excluding non-varsity seasons prior to 1974) was 603–455, the team had won the SEC Women's Basketball Tournament
once (1982
), and appeared in the NCAA Tournament
seven times with a tournament record of 7-7.
The first University of Kentucky women's basketball team was organized in 1902, and competed for the first time on Feb. 21, 1903. However, in 1924, despite a perfect 10-0 season, the University Senate passed a bill to abolish women’s basketball in part because, according to state politicians, "basketball had proven to be a strenuous sport for boys and therefore was too strenuous for girls." After 50 years, women’s basketball was granted varsity status in 1974, and most of the official records maintained by the university only reflect games since that time. The team, coached by Sue Feamster, was given the nickname "Lady Kats", which continued to be used until May 1995.
Led by UK all-time leading scorer Valerie Still
, Patty Jo Hedges, and Lea Wise, the Lady Kats won the SEC Tournament in 1982. The following year, the same trio led the team to a #4 ranking in the country, the highest in the team's history.
The team is currently coached by Matthew Mitchell
.
; they also led the nation with an average attendance of 3,645 that season. Recently the team has also played occasional games in the 23,500 seat Rupp Arena
.
In January 2007, the university opened the Joe Craft Center
, a $30 million state-of-the-art basketball practice facility for both the men's and women's teams designed by Anna Frate and John Elliott.
University of Kentucky
The University of Kentucky, also known as UK, is a public co-educational university and is one of the state's two land-grant universities, located in Lexington, Kentucky...
in the Southeastern Conference
Southeastern Conference
The Southeastern Conference is an American college athletic conference that operates in the southeastern part of the United States. It is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama...
, which has historically been the most dominant conference in women's basketball
Women's basketball
Women's basketball is one of the few women's sports that developed in tandem with its men's counterpart. It became popular, spreading from the east coast of the United States to the west coast , in large part via women's colleges...
. However, despite reaching national rankings as high as #4, the team has never reached the national championship semifinals ("Final Four"). Through the end of the 2009–10 season
2009–10 Kentucky Wildcats women's basketball team
The 2009–10 Kentucky Wildcats women's basketball team represented the University of Kentucky in the 2009–10 NCAA Division I women's basketball season...
, the team's all-time varsity record (excluding non-varsity seasons prior to 1974) was 603–455, the team had won the SEC Women's Basketball Tournament
SEC Women's Basketball Tournament
The SEC Women's Basketball Tournament is the conference championship tournament in women's basketball for the Southeastern Conference . It is a single-elimination tournament and seeding is based on regular season records...
once (1982
1982 SEC Women's Basketball Tournament
The 1982 SEC Women's Basketball Tournament took place from February 25th through 28th, 1982 in Lexington, Kentucky.Kentucky won the tournament by beating Tennessee in the championship game.-Tournament:Asterisk denotes game ended in overtime....
), and appeared in the NCAA Tournament
NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Championship
The NCAA Women's Division I Championship is an annual college basketball tournament for women. Held each April, the Women's Championship was inaugurated in the 1981–82 season...
seven times with a tournament record of 7-7.
The first University of Kentucky women's basketball team was organized in 1902, and competed for the first time on Feb. 21, 1903. However, in 1924, despite a perfect 10-0 season, the University Senate passed a bill to abolish women’s basketball in part because, according to state politicians, "basketball had proven to be a strenuous sport for boys and therefore was too strenuous for girls." After 50 years, women’s basketball was granted varsity status in 1974, and most of the official records maintained by the university only reflect games since that time. The team, coached by Sue Feamster, was given the nickname "Lady Kats", which continued to be used until May 1995.
Led by UK all-time leading scorer Valerie Still
Valerie Still
Valerie Still is a former United States professional women's basketball player with the Washington Mystics of the WNBA.During her four years at the University of Kentucky, she scored more points than any other basketball player, male or female, with 2,763 points. Afterwards she went abroad, playing...
, Patty Jo Hedges, and Lea Wise, the Lady Kats won the SEC Tournament in 1982. The following year, the same trio led the team to a #4 ranking in the country, the highest in the team's history.
The team is currently coached by Matthew Mitchell
Matthew Mitchell
Matthew LaMont Mitchell is the current head coach for the University of Kentucky Kentucky Wildcats women's basketball team, also known as "UK Hoops".-Coaching:...
.
Facilities
Since the restoration of the program in 1974, the Kentucky Wildcats have played their home games in the 8,500 seat Memorial Coliseum, and their record attendance in that building is 10,622, set on February 5, 1983 against Old DominionOld Dominion
Old Dominion may refer to:*Old Dominion, nickname for the U.S. State of Virginia*The Old Dominion, a reference to the Colony of Virginia, which became the "Dominion of Virginia"*Old Dominion , former Amtrak passenger train...
; they also led the nation with an average attendance of 3,645 that season. Recently the team has also played occasional games in the 23,500 seat Rupp Arena
Rupp Arena
Rupp Arena is an arena located in downtown Lexington, Kentucky, U.S. Since its opening in 1976, it has been the centerpiece of Lexington Center, a convention and shopping facility owned by an arm of the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government, and serves as home court to the University of...
.
In January 2007, the university opened the Joe Craft Center
Joe Craft Center
The Joe Craft Center, opened in January 2007, is a basketball practice facility and athletics office building attached to Memorial Coliseum on the "Avenue of Champions" at the University of Kentucky in Lexington, Kentucky...
, a $30 million state-of-the-art basketball practice facility for both the men's and women's teams designed by Anna Frate and John Elliott.
Head coaches
- Jane Todd Watson (1903)
- C.P. St. John (1904 - ?)
- Thomson Bryant (? - 1907)
- C.W. Leaphart (1907-1908)
- Walter C. Fox (1908 - ?)
- John J. TigertJohn J. TigertJohn James Tigert, IV was an American university president, university professor and administrator, college sports coach and the U.S. Commissioner of Education. Tigert was a native of Tennessee and the son and grandson of Methodist bishops...
(? - 1915, 1916-1917) - William Tuttle (1915-1916)
- Jim Park (1917-1918)
- Andy Gill (1918-1919)
- Sarah Blanding (1919-1922)
- Happy ChandlerHappy ChandlerAlbert Benjamin "Happy" Chandler, Sr. was a politician from the US state of Kentucky. He represented the state in the U.S. Senate and served as its 44th and 49th governor. Aside from his political positions, he also served as the second Commissioner of Major League Baseball from 1945 to 1951 and...
(1922-1923) - Bart Peak (1923-1924)
- Sue Feamster (1974–76)
- Debbie Yow (1976–80)
- Terry Hall (1980–87)
- Sharon FanningSharon FanningSharon Fanning-Otis is the current head women's basketball coach at Mississippi State. In 10 years as the head coach of the Lady Bulldogs, she compiled a 170-125 record. Under her tenure, she has compiled 6 winning seasons, and 7 postseason appearances. She has led MSU to its first ever appearance...
(1987–95) - Bernadette Locke-Mattox (1995–2003)
- Mickie DeMossMickie DeMossMickie Faye DeMoss is an American college basketball coach and former player. She is the former women's head coach at the University of Florida and the University of Kentucky, and is currently an assistant coach at the University of Tennessee.-Early years:DeMoss was born in Delhi, Louisiana...
(2003–2007) - Matthew MitchellMatthew MitchellMatthew LaMont Mitchell is the current head coach for the University of Kentucky Kentucky Wildcats women's basketball team, also known as "UK Hoops".-Coaching:...
(2007–present)
Seasons
The following is a list of Kentucky Wildcats women's basketball seasons, with records and notable accomplishments.| Season | Overall Record | SECRecord | SECStanding | Head Coach | Accomplishments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1903 | 1-0 | n/a | n/a | Jane Todd Watson | |
| 1904 | 2-0 | n/a | n/a | C.P. St. John | |
| 1904–05 | unknown | n/a | n/a | unknown | |
| 1905–06 | 0-1 | n/a | n/a | Thomson Bryant | |
| 1906–07 | no games | n/a | n/a | Thomson Bryant | |
| 1907–08 | 3-0-1 | n/a | n/a | C.W. Leaphart | |
| 1908–09 | 4-1 | n/a | n/a | Walter C. Fox | |
| 1909–10 | 7-1 | n/a | n/a | unknown | |
| 1910–11 | unknown | n/a | n/a | unknown | |
| 1911–12 | 4-1 | n/a | n/a | John J. Tigert John J. Tigert John James Tigert, IV was an American university president, university professor and administrator, college sports coach and the U.S. Commissioner of Education. Tigert was a native of Tennessee and the son and grandson of Methodist bishops... |
|
| 1912–13 | 5-0 | n/a | n/a | John J. Tigert | "State Champions" |
| 1913–14 | 4-2 | n/a | n/a | John J. Tigert | |
| 1914–15 | 5-1 | n/a | n/a | John J. Tigert | |
| 1915–16 | 2-2 | n/a | n/a | William Tuttle | |
| 1916–17 | 5-0 | n/a | n/a | John J. Tigert | |
| 1917–18 | 1-4 | n/a | n/a | Jim Park | |
| 1918–19 | 2-0 | n/a | n/a | Andy Gill | |
| 1919–20 | 0-3-1 | n/a | n/a | Sarah Blanding | |
| 1920–21 | 1-7 | n/a | n/a | Sarah Blanding | |
| 1921–22 | 2-4 | n/a | n/a | Sarah Blanding | |
| 1922–23 | 7-3 | n/a | n/a | Happy Chandler Happy Chandler Albert Benjamin "Happy" Chandler, Sr. was a politician from the US state of Kentucky. He represented the state in the U.S. Senate and served as its 44th and 49th governor. Aside from his political positions, he also served as the second Commissioner of Major League Baseball from 1945 to 1951 and... |
|
| 1923–24 | 10-0 | n/a | n/a | Bart Peak | "Champions of the South" |
| 1971–72 | 10-3 | n/a | n/a | Sue Feamster | |
| 1972–73 | unknown | n/a | n/a | Sue Feamster | |
| 1973–74 | unknown | n/a | n/a | Sue Feamster | |
| 1974–75 | 16-9 | n/a | n/a | Sue Feamster | First season as a varsity sport |
| 1975–76 | 13-12 | n/a | n/a | Sue Feamster | |
| 1976–77 | 19-7 | n/a | n/a | Debbie Yow | |
| 1977–78 | 23-12 | n/a | n/a | Debbie Yow | |
| 1978–79 | 13-16 | n/a | n/a | Debbie Yow | |
| 1979–80 | 24-5 | n/a | n/a | Debbie Yow | Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW) Tournament First Round |
| 1980–81 | 25-6 | n/a | n/a | Terry Hall | AIAW Second Round |
| 1981–82 | 24-8 | n/a | n/a | Terry Hall | SEC Tournament Champions 1982 SEC Women's Basketball Tournament The 1982 SEC Women's Basketball Tournament took place from February 25th through 28th, 1982 in Lexington, Kentucky.Kentucky won the tournament by beating Tennessee in the championship game.-Tournament:Asterisk denotes game ended in overtime.... , NCAA Elite Eight 1982 NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Tournament The 1982 NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Tournament was the first NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament ever held. It featured 32 teams. Tennessee, Louisiana Tech, Cheyney, and Maryland met in the Final Four, held at the Norfolk Scope in Norfolk, Virginia and hosted by Old Dominion University,... (#2 seed) |
| 1982–83 | 23-5 | 6-2 | 2nd (East Div.) | Terry Hall | NCAA First Round 1983 NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Tournament The 1983 NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Tournament began on March 18 and concluded on April 3 with USC winning the title. The tournament consisted of 36 teams. The Final Four was held in Norfolk, Virginia and consisted of USC, Louisiana Tech, Old Dominion, and Georgia... (#3 seed) |
| 1983–84 | 15-13 | 2-6 | 3rd (East Div.) | Terry Hall | |
| 1984–85 | 16-12 | 3-5 | 4th (East Div.) | Terry Hall | |
| 1985–86 | 18-11 | 4-5 | 6th | Terry Hall | NCAA First Round 1986 NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Tournament The 1986 NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Tournament began on March 12 and ended on March 30. The tournament expanded to 40 teams from 32. The Final Four consisted of Texas, Tennessee, Western Kentucky, and USC, with Texas defeating Southern California, 97-81 in the championship game. Texas's... (#7 seed) |
| 1986–87 | 17-11 | 3-6 | 7th | Terry Hall | |
| 1987–88 | 14-15 | 0-9 | 10th | Sharon Fanning Sharon Fanning Sharon Fanning-Otis is the current head women's basketball coach at Mississippi State. In 10 years as the head coach of the Lady Bulldogs, she compiled a 170-125 record. Under her tenure, she has compiled 6 winning seasons, and 7 postseason appearances. She has led MSU to its first ever appearance... |
|
| 1988–89 | 12-16 | 3-6 | 8th | Sharon Fanning | |
| 1989–90 | 23-8 | 3-6 | 8th | Sharon Fanning | National Women’s Invitation Tournament Champions Women's National Invitation Tournament The Women's National Invitation Tournament , formerly the National Women's Invitation Tournament, is a college basketball tournament with a preseason and postseason version played every year... |
| 1990–91 | 20-9 | 4-5 | 5th | Sharon Fanning | NCAA First Round 1991 NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Tournament -West Regional - Las Vegas, NV:-East Regional - Philadelphia, PA:-Midwest Regional - Austin, TX:-Final Four - New Orleans, LA :-References:... (#9 seed) |
| 1991–92 | 16-14 | 5-6 | 6th | Sharon Fanning | |
| 1992–93 | 18-10 | 5-6 | 6th | Sharon Fanning | |
| 1993–94 | 17-11 | 5-6 | 7th | Sharon Fanning | |
| 1994–95 | 14-14 | 4-7 | 9th | Sharon Fanning | |
| 1995–96 | 8-19 | 2-9 | 12th | Bernadette Locke-Mattox | |
| 1996–97 | 8-19 | 2-10 | 10th | Bernadette Locke-Mattox | |
| 1997–98 | 13-15 | 5-9 | 8th | Bernadette Locke-Mattox | |
| 1998–99 | 21-11 | 7-7 | 7th | Bernadette Locke-Mattox | NCAA Second Round 1999 NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Tournament The 1999 NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Tournament began on March 12, 1999 and concluded on March 28, 1999 when Purdue won its first national championship in any women's sport. The Final Four was held at the San Jose Arena in San Jose, California on March 26 - March 28, 1999. Purdue defeated... (#6 seed) |
| 1999–00 | 15-14 | 5-9 | 9th | Bernadette Locke-Mattox | |
| 2000–01 | 6-12 | 2-12 | 12th | Bernadette Locke-Mattox | |
| 2001–02 | 9-19 | 1-13 | 12th | Bernadette Locke-Mattox | |
| 2002–03 | 11-16 | 4-10 | 9th | Bernadette Locke-Mattox | |
| 2003–04 | 11-17 | 3-11 | 11th | Mickie DeMoss Mickie DeMoss Mickie Faye DeMoss is an American college basketball coach and former player. She is the former women's head coach at the University of Florida and the University of Kentucky, and is currently an assistant coach at the University of Tennessee.-Early years:DeMoss was born in Delhi, Louisiana... |
|
| 2004–05 | 18-16 | 4-10 | 9th | Mickie DeMoss | Women's National Invitation Tournament (WNIT) semifinals Women's National Invitation Tournament The Women's National Invitation Tournament , formerly the National Women's Invitation Tournament, is a college basketball tournament with a preseason and postseason version played every year... |
| 2005–06 | 22-9 | 9-5 | 4th | Mickie DeMoss | NCAA Second Round 2006 NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Tournament -Albuquerque:-Bridgeport:-San Antonio:-Cleveland Regional:-Albuquerque Regional:-Bridgeport Regional:-San Antonio Regional:-Final Four – TD Banknorth Garden :... (#5 seed) |
| 2006–07 | 20-14 | 6-8 | 7th | Mickie DeMoss | WNIT 2007 Women's National Invitation Tournament The 2007 Women's National Invitation Tournament was a single-elimination tournament of 48 National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I teams that did not participate in the 2007 NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Tournament.... |
| 2007–08 | 17-16 | 8-6 | 5th | Matthew Mitchell Matthew Mitchell Matthew LaMont Mitchell is the current head coach for the University of Kentucky Kentucky Wildcats women's basketball team, also known as "UK Hoops".-Coaching:... |
WNIT quarterfinals 2008 Women's National Invitation Tournament The 2008 Women's National Invitation Tournament was a single-elimination tournament of 48 National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I teams that did not participate in the 2008 NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Tournament. The 40th annual tournament was played from March 19, 2008 to... |
| 2008–09 | 16-16 | 5-9 | 10th | Matthew Mitchell | WNIT second round 2009 Women's National Invitation Tournament The 2009 Women's National Invitation Tournament was a single-elimination tournament of 48 National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I teams that did not participate in the 2009 NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Tournament. It was won by South Florida. The 41st annual tournament was... |
| 2009–10 2009–10 Kentucky Wildcats women's basketball team The 2009–10 Kentucky Wildcats women's basketball team represented the University of Kentucky in the 2009–10 NCAA Division I women's basketball season... |
28-8 | 11-5 | 2nd | Matthew Mitchell | NCAA Elite Eight 2010 NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Tournament The 2010 NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Tournament started Saturday, March 20, 2010 and was completed on Tuesday, April 6 of the same year with University of Connecticut Huskies defending their title from the previous year by defeating Stanford, 53-47. The tournament bids were announced on... (#4 seed)
|
All-American players
- Valerie StillValerie StillValerie Still is a former United States professional women's basketball player with the Washington Mystics of the WNBA.During her four years at the University of Kentucky, she scored more points than any other basketball player, male or female, with 2,763 points. Afterwards she went abroad, playing...
, 1983 (Coaches; Street & Smith) - Victoria Dunlap, 2010 (AP; USBWA; Coaches')