So, if you are a basketball fan and looking for the best women’s basketball colleges, you should consider one of these colleges discussed in this post.
Even if you are considering these NCAA basketball colleges, it is also important to keep in mind the majors and degrees that these women’s basketball colleges offer.
How can I increase my chances of getting into the WNBA?
For future basketball stars, attending one of the leading women’s basketball colleges greatly increases the chances of getting into the WNBA. In addition, other students who attend these schools enjoy watching and cheering for the best team.
The NCAA represents more than 350 women’s basketball teams in Division I, which competes for the national championship during March Madness. All three departments have nearly 1,100 school teams and more than 100 conferences, including 32 conferences in Division I.
How to participate in the NCAA National Tournament
To participate in the NCAA National Tournament, 32 of the 64 teams receive a place by winning their conference tournament. The remaining 32 teams receive seats at common rates – rates voted for by members of the NCAA Selection Committee based on the team’s results during the season. The NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Tournament was held for the first time since the 1981-82 regular season.
Our rating of the best women’s basketball colleges is based on several objective factors, including the overall quality of the school and the athletic competitiveness of the school. We avoid subjective indicators because they do not give a clear picture when determining how one school is compared to another. So, even if a school has a great team, it will not have a proper place if it is also considered a college or university of low quality.
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Best women’s basketball colleges 2023
1. Marquette University
The Marquette University women’s basketball team has competed since the 1975-76 season, during which they finished with an overall record of 12-4. More than four decades later, the Golden Eagles remain a well-oiled team car. Marquette speaks at the Great Eastern Conference. For the last two years in a row (2018 and 2019), they have been named champions of the regular season of the conference and even won the Big East Conference only in 2017. The Golden Eagles also competed in the NCAA tournament a total of 12 times, and in 2018 and 2019 (only two out of six times) reached the second round.
2. Mississippi State University
The Mississippi University Women’s Basketball Team is competing in the competitive Southeast Conference in Division I of the NCAA. Led by head coach Vic Schaefer, who is currently coaching his 7th season, the Bulldogs have competed in 11 NCAA tournaments, including every year since 2015. Women took second place in tournaments in 2017 and 2018. In 2017, Mississippi blew up the away basketball world when they completed the 111 winning streak of the University of Connecticut during the NCAA Final Four.
3. North Carolina State University
The North Carolina State University women’s basketball team has always been competitive, but in recent years the team has really established itself as a force to be reckoned with. This is largely due to the leadership of Wes Moore, who took over as head coach in 2013. Since then, the women of the wolf group have performed four times in NCAA tournaments, the last time in 2019. They have reached Sweet Sixteen for the last two years in a row.
4. Ohio State University
Ohio State University is well known for its sports teams, and the Ohio Women’s Basketball Team is no exception. The Buckeyes compete as part of the super-competitive Big Ten and have won 12 Big Ten titles – more than any other school in the conference. In addition, the team participated in an impressive 24 NCAA tournaments, the last time in 2018. Many successful basketball players started as Bakai, including Katie Smith, Jantel Lavender, Jessica Davenport and Samantha Prahalis, and these are just a few.
5. Quinnipiac University
One of the best women’s basketball colleges, Quinnipiac University is home to a women’s basketball team known as the Bobcats. The women of Quinnipiac have competed in Division I since 1998, first in the Northeast Conference and now in the Metro-Atlantic Sports Conference (MAAC). The Bobcats have played in three NCAA tournaments, the last of which took place in 2017, when they reached Sweet Sixteen. However, Quinnipiac has enjoyed great success at MAAC, and has been named the regular season champion of the conference every year since 2014.
6. University of Connecticut
Even those who have little knowledge of women’s basketball college know that the University of Connecticut is full force. The Huskies are constantly competing for the NCAA Division I national championship and have even won the national title 11 times. This is more than any other women’s basketball program in the country! Due to this success, UConn is considered a direction in the WNBA and in the world of coaching. Interestingly, of the six American women who won the Triple Crown Plus One, the NCAA national title, the WNBA title, the World Cup, and the Olympic gold medal, four are graduates of the University of Connecticut women’s basketball program.
7. University of Maryland, College Park
University of Maryland women’s basketball team is participating in the Big Ten conference. Since 1982, the Maryland Terrapins have played a whopping 27 games in NCAA tournaments, including every year since 2011. The women made it to the Final Four five times and were even named champions of the tournament in 2006. A number of major industries call this college the best for women’s basketball. their alma mater. These include Christy Toliver, Alyssa Thomas, Tianna Hawkins and Crystal Langhorn, and these are just a few.
8. University of Notre Dame
The women’s basketball team of the University of Notre Dame is another major center for the university, which is known worldwide for its elite sports programs. The fighting Irish have participated in the NCAA tournament 25 times and have been named champions twice, most recently in 2018. Notre Dame’s women’s basketball program regularly features players of the year, and Maffet McGraw has been named coach of the year nearly 20 times at the university.
9. DePaul University
The women’s basketball team at DePaul University has been led by head coach Doug Bruno for 30 seasons! During this time, the Blue Demons have played 24 times in the NCAA tournament, including every year since 2003. Of those 24 performances, the women’s basketball team reached Sweet Sixteen four times, the last time in 2016. In addition, they are a major force in the Big East Conference and have been named champions of the regular season of the conference five times.
10. Duke University
Duke University’s women’s basketball team has been a strong team since the 1990s. The Blue Devils have won countless major victories over the years, including eight conference tournaments and 12 regular season championship titles. They have participated in 24 NCAA tournaments, 17 times in the Sweet Sixteen, 11 times in the Elite Eight and four times. They twice finished second in the NCAA tournament. Some of Duke’s famous alumni include Misty Bass, Alana Byrd, Lindsay Harding and Crystal Thomas, and these are just a few.
11. Florida State University
The women’s basketball team at the University of Florida was led by head coach Sue Semrau for 22 seasons, and they enjoyed the success that can only come with such stability. Seminoles competing in the Atlantic Coast Conference have participated in 18 NCAA tournaments. They reached Elite Eight three times, the last time in 2017. Over the years, this best women’s basketball college has sent 15 of its players to the WNBA Draft, including Natasha Howard, Brittany Miller, Sierra Bravard and Jacinta Monroe, and these are just a few.
12. Gonzaga University
Gonzaga University is known as a great basketball school, and its women’s basketball team is no exception and that is why it is one of the best women’s basketball colleges. The Bulldogs compete in Division I of the West Coast Conference, where they have been a force to be reckoned with since the first season in 1987. Indeed, they were named champions of the regular season of the conference back in 1988 – a feat they did repeated 14 more times over the years! Of Gonzaga’s 11 appearances in the NCAA, he advanced to Round 32 six times, Sweet Sixteen four times and Elite Eight once.
13. Iowa State University
Iowa State University is home to the Cyclones women’s basketball team. As part of the Big 12 conference, Iowa competes with a number of major schools. Nevertheless, the team consistently manages to become one of the best colleges for women’s basketball. Since its inception, the Cyclones have played 18 games in NCAA tournaments and moved five times and twice to Sweet Sixteen and Elite Eight, respectively.
14. University of South Carolina
The women’s basketball team of the University of South Carolina has long been a powerful center in the world of student sports. Gamecocks have been named champions of the SEC regular season four times since 2014, most recently in 2017. They have also won the SEC Championship four times, most recently in 2018. women have participated in NCAA tournaments 16 times, including annually since 2012. They reached the Final Four twice and won the entire tournament in 2017.
15. University of Tennessee
University of Tennessee is undoubtedly one of the best women’s basketball colleges and largest power institutions for women’s university sports. Under the leadership of the legendary Pat Summit, the Vols have won great victories for more than four decades. They have been named champions of the regular season of the conference a whopping 18 times, most recently in 2015. The women have also competed in every NCAA tournament since 1982, and they have won an incredible eight times (they have also been second five times). Many success stories have come from this amazing team from the best women’s basketball college, including players such as Kara Lawson, Candice Parker and Nikki McCray.
16. University of Texas at Austin
The women’s basketball team at the University of Texas at Austin has long been a powerful force in the world of sports. As part of the conference, the Big 12 Longhorns twice won the title of champions of the regular season of the conference. The women have also played a whopping 31 games in the NCAA tournament, including every year since 2015. Many Longhorn alumni continued to play in the Olympics and / or the WNBA, including Britten Raven, Carla Cortijo and Imani Boyet, to name just a few.
17. Vanderbilt University
The women’s basketball team Commodores of Vanderbilt University represents a prestigious university in the Southeast Conference. The team has won six SEC titles, the last of which was in 2009. With former WNBA coach Stephanie White training, Commodores have also played 27 games in NCAA tournaments, reaching Sweet Sixteen 15 times, Elite Eight five times and the final four once. Some of Vanderbilt’s most successful alumni include Jens Ann Rhodes, Jennifer Risper, Christina Wirth and Chantelle Anderson, and these are just a few.