1988–89 Tennessee Lady Volunteers basketball team

The 1988–89 Tennessee Lady Volunteers basketball team represented the University of Tennessee as a member of the Southeastern Conference during the 1988–89 women's college basketball season. Coached by Pat Summitt, the Lady Volunteers finished 35–2, ranked No. 1 in both major polls, and won their second of three national championships in a 5-year span. The Lady Vols started the season ranked No. 1 and never fell below the No. 3 ranking.

1988–89 Tennessee Lady Volunteers basketball
NCAA tournament National champions SEC Tournament champions
Conference	Southeastern Conference
Ranking
Coaches	No. 1
AP	No. 1
Record	35–2 (8–1 SEC)
Head coach	Pat Summitt (15th season)
Assistant coaches	Mickie DeMoss Holly Warlick
Home arena	Thompson-Boling Arena
Seasons ← 1987–88 1989–90 →

1988–89 SEC women's basketball standings

v t e	Conf.							Overall
Team	W		L		PCT			W		L		PCT
No. 2 Auburn	9	–	0		1.000			32	–	2		.941
No. 1 Tennessee †	8	–	1		.889			35	–	2		.946
No. 10 Georgia	6	–	3		.667			23	–	7		.767
Vanderbilt	5	–	4		.556			21	–	8		.724
LSU	5	–	4		.556			19	–	11		.633
Ole Miss	4	–	5		.444			23	–	8		.742
Mississippi State	3	–	6		.333			12	–	16		.429
Kentucky	3	–	6		.333			12	–	16		.429
Florida	1	–	8		.111			15	–	14		.517
Alabama	1	–	8		.111			14	–	15		.483
† 1989 SEC tournament winner Rankings from AP poll

Roster

1988–89 Tennessee Lady Volunteers women's basketball team
Players	Coaches
Pos. # Name Height Year Previous school Hometown G 11 Dena Head 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) Fr Salem Canton, Michigan F/C 24 Carla McGhee 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) Jr   Peoria, Illinois F 30 Bridgette Gordon 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) Sr DeLand DeLand, Florida C 32 Daedra Charles 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) So Saint Martin de Porres Detroit, Michigan G 33 Tonya Edwards 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) Jr Flint Northwestern Flint, Michigan	Head coach Pat Summitt Assistant coach(es) Mickie DeMoss Holly Warlick Legend (C) Team captain (S) Suspended (I) Ineligible (W) Walk-on Injured Current redshirt Roster

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Schedule and results

Date time, TV	Rank#	Opponent#	Result	Record	Site city, state
Regular season
Nov 27, 1988*	No. 1	vs. No. 6 Louisiana Tech Hawaii Wahine Classic	W 76–74 OT	3–0	(450) Honolulu, Hawaii
Jan 6, 1989	No. 1	at No. 3 Auburn	L 59–67[2]	11–1 (0–1)	Eaves Memorial Coliseum (7,150) Auburn, Alabama
Jan 31, 1989*	No. 2	at No. 11 Texas	L 67–69	18–2	Frank Erwin Center  Austin, Texas
SEC tournament
March 4, 1989*	(2) No. 2	vs. (10) Alabama Quarterfinals	W 89–61	28–2	Albany Civic Center  Albany, Georgia
March 5, 1989*	(2) No. 2	vs. (3) No. 11 Ole Miss Semifinals	W 82–60	29–2	Albany Civic Center  Albany, Georgia
March 6, 1989*	(2) No. 2	vs. (1) No. 1 Auburn Championship game	W 66–51	30–2	Albany Civic Center  Albany, Georgia
NCAA tournament
March 18, 1989*	(1 E) No. 1	vs. (9 E) La Salle Second round	W 91–61	31–2	Thompson–Boling Arena  Knoxville, Tennessee
March 23, 1989*	(1 E) No. 1	vs. (4 E) No. 15 Virginia Regional Semifinal – Sweet Sixteen	W 80–47	32–2	E. A. Diddle Arena  Bowling Green, Kentucky
March 25, 1989*	(1 E) No. 1	vs. (2 E) No. 7 Long Beach State Regional Final – Elite Eight	W 94–80	33–2	E. A. Diddle Arena  Bowling Green, Kentucky
March 31, 1989*	(1 E) No. 1	vs. (1 W) No. 5 Maryland National Semifinal – Final Four	W 77–65[3]	34–2	Tacoma Dome  Tacoma, Washington
April 2, 1989*	(1 E) No. 1	vs. (1 MW) No. 2 Auburn National Championship	W 76–60[4]	35–2	Tacoma Dome  Tacoma, Washington
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses. ME=Mideast.

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Rankings

Main article: 1988–89 NCAA Division I women's basketball rankings

Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking

	Week
Poll	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	Final
AP	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	2	2	2	2	3	3	2	2	2	1	Not released
Coaches	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	2	2	2	2	3	3	2	2	1	1	1