# Kansas Jayhawks women's basketball

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 which they won 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." Several female students asked Dr. Naismith if they could form a team upon witnessing his new game. It's reported that he responded with enthusiasm and support. Naismith would later coach the women's team for a single season. 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
* Jaclyn Johnson, Forward, Orlando Miracle
* 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, at this time, 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 6 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 % | App. | Wins | Loss. | Win % |
| Marlene Mawson | 1968–1971 | 19 | 16 | .543 | N/A* | N/A* | N/A* | N/A* |
| Debbie Artman | 1971–1972 | 9 | 8 | .529 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Sharon Drysdale | 1972–1973 | 9 | 8 | .529 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Marian Washington | 1973–2004 | 560 | 365 | .605 | 14 | 10 | 14 | .417 |
| Bonnie Henrickson | 2004–2015 | 186 | 171 | .521 | 2 | 4 | 2 | .667 |
| 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.$^{:141}$

## NCAA/AIAW Tournament history

The Jayhawks have appeared in 17 NCAA/AIAW Tournaments. Their combined record is 13–16.
| Year | Seed | Round | Rival | Score |
| 1979 | — | First Round | Louisiana Tech | L 61–100 |
| 1980 | — | First Round Second Round | Cheyney State Louisiana Tech | W 75–66 L 73–81 |
| 1981 | — | Second Round | UCLA | L 71–73 |
| 1987 | 7 | First Round Second Round | (10) NE Louisiana (2) Georgia | W 78–72 L 51–82 |
| 1988 | 7 | First Round Second Round | (10) Middle Tennessee St. (2) Louisiana Tech | W 81–75 L 50–89 |
| 1992 | 9 | First Round | (8) Missouri St. | L 59–75 |
| 1993 | 8 | First Round | (9) California | L 47–62 |
| 1994 | 9 | First Round Second Round | (8) Stephen F. Austin (1) Penn State | W 72–67 L 68–85 |
| 1995 | 7 | First Round | (10) Wisconsin | L 72–73 |
| 1996 | 4 | First Round Second Round Sweet 16 | (13) Middle Tennessee St. (5) Texas (1) Tennessee | W 72–57 W 70–77 L 71–92 |
| 1997 | 3 | First Round Second Round | (14) Detroit (6) Vanderbilt | W 81–67 L 44–51 |
| 1998 | 5 | First Round Second Round Sweet 16 | (12) Tulane (4) Iowa (9) Arkansas | W 72–68 W 62–58 L 63–79 |
| 1999 | 9 | First Round Second Round | (8) Marquette (1) Purdue | W 64–58 L 41–55 |
| 2000 | 8 | First Round | (9) Vanderbilt | L 69–71 $^{2OT}$ |
| 2012 | 11 | First Round Second Round Sweet 16 | (6) Nebraska (3) Delaware (2) Tennessee | W 57–49 W 70–64 L 73–84 |
| 2013 | 12 | First Round Second Round Sweet 16 | (5) Colorado (4) South Carolina (1) Notre Dame | W 67–52 W 75–69 L 63–93 |
| 2022 | 8 | First Round Second Round | (9) Georgia Tech (1) Stanford | W 77–58 L 65–91 |

## 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 round Second round | Northern Iowa Ole Miss | W 59–49 L 76–78 |
| 2008 | Second round Third round | Evansville Michigan State | W 82–60 L 54–58 |
| 2009 | Second round Third round Quarterfinals Semifinals Championship | Creighton Arkansas New Mexico Illinois State South Florida | W 79–64 W 75–59 W 78–69 W 75–72 L 71–75 |
| 2010 | First round Second round Regional Semifinals | Prairie View A&M Creighton Illinois State | W 82–72 W 71–68 L 51–71 |
| 2011 | First round Second round | Wichita State Duquesne | W 79–58 L 63–80 |
| 2023 | First round Second round Super 16 Great 8 Fab 4 Championship | Western Kentucky Missouri Nebraska Arkansas Washington Columbia | W 86–72 W 75–47 W 64–55 W 78–64 W 61–36 W 66–59 |

## Year by year results

| Season | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing | Postseason | Coaches' poll | AP poll |
| Marlene Mawson (CIAW) (1968–1971) ||||||||
| 1968–69 | Marlene Mawson | 5–4 | – | | | | |
| 1969–70 | Marlene Mawson | 7–4 | – | | | | |
| 1970–71 | Marlene Mawson | 7–8 | – | | CIAW Tenth Place | | |
| Marlene Mawson: | Marlene Mawson: | 19–16 | – | | | | |
| Debbie Artman (Independent) (1971–1972) ||||||||
| 1971–72 | Debbie Artman | 9–8 | – | | | | |
| Debbie Artman: | Debbie Artman: | 9–8 | – | | | | |
| Sharon Drysdale (Independent) (1972–1973) ||||||||
| 1972–73 | Sharon Drysdale | 9–8 | – | | | | |
| Sharon Drysdale: | Sharon Drysdale: | 9–8 | – | | | | |
| Marion Washington (Independent, Big 8, Big 12) (1973–2004) ||||||||
| 1973–74 | Marion Washington | 11–8 | – | | | | |
| 1974–75 | Marion Washington | 7–17 | – | | | | |
| 1975–76 | Marion Washington | 13–14 | – | | | | |
| 1976–77 | Marion Washington | 11–15 | – | | | | |
| 1977–78 | Marion Washington | 22–11 | – | | NWIT Sixth Place | | |
| 1978–79 | Marion Washington | 30–8 | – | | AIAW Sectional | | 14 |
| 1979–80 | Marion Washington | 29–8 | – | | AIAW Sectional | | 11 |
| 1980–81 | Marion Washington | 27–5 | – | | AIAW Sectional | | 10 |
| 1981–82 | Marion Washington | 16–14 | – | | | | |
| Big Eight Conference ||||||||
| 1982–83 | Marion Washington | 13–15 | 9–5 | (Big 8) 3rd | | | |
| 1983–84 | Marion Washington | 11–16 | 7–7 | 5th | | | |
| 1984–85 | Marion Washington | 19–10 | 9–5 | 3rd | | | |
| 1985–86 | Marion Washington | 18–10 | 9–5 | T–2nd | | | |
| 1986–87 | Marion Washington | 20–13 | 9–5 | T–1st# | NCAA Second Round (Play-in) | | |
| 1987–88 | Marion Washington | 22–10 | 8–6 | T–3rd | NCAA Second Round (Play-in) | | |
| 1988–89 | Marion Washington | 13–14 | 5–9 | T–6th | | | |
| 1989–90 | Marion Washington | 20–9 | 9–5 | T–4th | | | |
| 1990–91 | Marion Washington | 20–13 | 7–7 | 5th | NWIT Third Place | | |
| 1991–92 | Marion Washington | 25–6 | 12–2 | 1st | NCAA First Round | 25 | 17 |
| 1992–93 | Marion Washington | 21–9 | 9–5 | T–3rd | NCAA First Round | | 24 |
| 1993–94 | Marion Washington | 22–6 | 11–3 | 2nd | NCAA Second Round | 17 | 15 |
| 1994–95 | Marion Washington | 20–11 | 8–6 | 3rd | NCAA First Round | 23 | 23 |
| 1995–96 | Marion Washington | 22–10 | 11–3 | 1st | NCAA Sweet Sixteen | 15 | 20 |
| Big 12 Conference ||||||||
| 1996–97 | Marion Washington | 25–6 | 14–2 | 1st (Big 12) | NCAA Second Round | 16 | 11 |
| 1997–98 | Marion Washington | 23–9 | 11–5 | T–3rd | NCAA Sweet Sixteen | 22 | |
| 1998–99 | Marion Washington | 23–10 | 11–5 | 3rd | NCAA Second Round | | |
| 1999–2000 | Marion Washington | 20–10 | 11–5 | 4th | NCAA First Round | | |
| 2000–01 | Marion Washington | 12–17 | 5–11 | 9th | | | |
| 2001–02 | Marion Washington | 5–25 | 0–16 | 12th | | | |
| 2002–03 | Marion Washington | 11–18 | 3–13 | T–9th | | | |
| 2003–04 | Marion Washington | 9–18 | 2–12 | T–11th | | | |
| Marion Washington: | Marion Washington: | 560–365 | 180–142 | | | | |
| Lynette Woodward (Big 12) (2004) ||||||||
| 2004 | Lynette Woodward | 0–3 | 0–2 | | | | |
| Lynette Woodward: | Lynette Woodward: | 0–3 | 0–2 | | | | |
| Bonnie Henrickson (Big 12) (2004–2015) ||||||||
| 2004–05 | Bonnie Henrickson | 12–16 | 5–11 | 8th | | | |
| 2005–06 | Bonnie Henrickson | 17–13 | 5–11 | 10th | WNIT First Round (Play-in) | | |
| 2006–07 | Bonnie Henrickson | 11–20 | 4–11 | T–11th | | | |
| 2007–08 | Bonnie Henrickson | 17–16 | 4–12 | T–10th | WNIT Second Round (bye) | | |
| 2008–09 | Bonnie Henrickson | 22–14 | 6–10 | T–7th | WNIT Finals | | |
| 2009–10 | Bonnie Henrickson | 17–16 | 5–11 | T–8th | WNIT Third Round | | |
| 2010–11 | Bonnie Henrickson | 21–13 | 6–10 | T–8th | WNIT Second Round | | |
| 2011–12 | Bonnie Henrickson | 21–13 | 8–10 | T–6th | NCAA Sweet Sixteen | 25 | |
| 2012–13 | Bonnie Henrickson | 20–14 | 8–10 | 7th | NCAA Sweet Sixteen | | |
| 2013–14 | Bonnie Henrickson | 13–19 | 5–13 | T–8th | | | |
| 2014–15 | Bonnie Henrickson | 15–17 | 6–12 | 9th | | | |
| Bonnie Henrickson: | Bonnie Henrickson: | 186–171 | 62–121 | | | | |
| Brandon Schneider (Big 12) (2015–present) ||||||||
| 2015–16 | Brandon Schneider | 6–25 | 0–18 | 10th | | | |
| 2016–17 | Brandon Schneider | 8–22 | 2–16 | 10th | | | |
| 2017–18 | Brandon Schneider | 12–18 | 3–15 | 9th | | | |
| 2018–19 | Brandon Schneider | 13–18 | 2–16 | 10th | | | |
| 2019–20 | Brandon Schneider | 15–14 | 4–14 | 10th | | | |
| 2020–21 | Brandon Schneider | 7–18 | 3–15 | T-9th | | | |
| 2021–22 | Brandon Schneider | 21–10 | 11–7 | 5th | NCAA Second Round | | |
| 2022–23 | Brandon Schneider | 25–11 | 9–9 | 7th | WNIT Champions | | |
| 2023–24 | Brandon Schneider | 20–13 | 11–7 | 7th | NCAA Second Round | RV | RV |
| Brandon Schneider: | Brandon Schneider: | 127–149 | 45–117 | | | | |
| Total: | Total: | 910–718 | | | | | |
| National champion   Postseason invitational champion   Conference regular season champion   Conference regular season and conference tournament champion  Division regular season champion  Division regular season and conference tournament champion  Conference tournament champion ||||||||