2021–22 NCAA Division I women's basketball season
American women's college basketball season From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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The 2021–22 NCAA Division I women's basketball season began on November 9, 2021. The regular season ended on March 6, 2022, with the 2022 NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament beginning on March 18, and ending with the championship game at the Target Center in Minneapolis on April 3.
| 2021–22 NCAA Division I women's basketball season | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Preseason AP No. 1 | South Carolina |
| Regular season | November 9, 2021 – March 6, 2022 |
| NCAA Tournament | 2022 |
| Tournament dates | March 18 – April 3, 2022 |
| National Championship | Target Center Minneapolis, Minnesota |
| NCAA Champions | South Carolina |
| Other champions | South Dakota State (WNIT) Saint Mary's (WBI) |
| Player of the Year (Naismith, Wooden) | Aliyah Boston, South Carolina (Naismith, Wade, Wooden) |
The following rule changes were recommended by the NCAA Basketball Rules Committee and approved by the Playing Rules Oversight Panel for the 2021–22 season:[1]
- The three-point line was moved to the FIBA standard of 6.75 meters (22 ft 2 in) (6.6 meters (21 ft 8 in) in the corners), matching the distance used in NCAA men's basketball[2] since 2019–20 in Division I and 2020–21 in Divisions II and III.
- Live statistics may be transmitted to the bench area for coaching purposes.
- In an experimental rule, conferences could apply for an NCAA waiver to allow transmission of live video feeds to the bench in conference games. This was still prohibited during nonconference games. (Previously, only preloaded video had been allowed in the bench area.)
- The following adjustments were made to reply review rules:
- Officials can use replay to review any out-of-bounds play, regardless of the number of players involved. Previously, only deflections involving two players could be reviewed.
- Coaches may request review of the result of a play involving the restricted area or lower defensive box at any time in the game. Previously, this play could only be reviewed by officials in the last two minutes of the game (or at the same time in an overtime period). An unsuccessful coach-initiated review results in that team losing a timeout.
- Officials can now use replay to determine whether a basket should count when a player commits a foul away from the ball. Coaches may request this review at any time (at the cost of a timeout if the review is unsuccessful); officials can initiate a review on their own only in the last two minutes of the game (or overtime period).
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Two of the most significant developments impacting the 2021–22 season took place before the end of the 2020–21 school year, with one occurring before the start of the 2020–21 basketball season.
- On October 14, 2020, the NCAA announced that all student-athletes in winter sports during the 2020–21 school year, including men's and women's basketball, would receive an extra year of athletic eligibility.[3]
- On April 15, 2021, the NCAA Division I Council adopted legislation that extended the so-called "one-time transfer exception" to all D-I sports, with the Division I Board of Directors ratifying this on April 28. This allows student-athletes in baseball, men's and women's basketball, football, and men's ice hockey to transfer one time without having to sit out a year, placing them under the same transfer regulations that previously applied to all other D-I sports.[4][5]
Other news:
- May 6, 2021 – The University of Hartford's governing board voted to begin the process of transitioning the school's athletic program from Division I to NCAA Division III. The plan calls for the following steps:[6][7]
- January 2022: Formal request for reclassification with the NCAA.
- 2022–23: No athletic scholarships will be awarded to incoming students.
- 2023–24: Become a provisional member in a D-III conference to be determined; transition remaining students off athletic scholarships by the end of that school year.
- 2024–25: Become a full member of the aforementioned D-III conference.
- 2025–26: Full D-III membership.
- July 21 – The Houston Chronicle reported that Oklahoma and Texas had approached the Southeastern Conference about the possibility of joining that league, and that an announcement could come in early August. The SEC and both schools refused comment on this report, but did not issue definitive denials.[8][9]
- July 26 – Oklahoma and Texas notified the Big 12 Conference that the two schools do not wish to extend their grant of television rights beyond the 2024–25 athletic year and intend to leave the conference.[10][11][12]
- July 27 – Oklahoma and Texas reached out to the SEC about acceptance into the conference in 2025.[13][14]
- July 28 – The Big 12 sent a cease-and-desist letter to ESPN, accusing the network of tortious interference by working with other conferences attempting to lure Big 12 members in a bid to ease Oklahoma's and Texas' exits for the SEC. The network denied the allegations.[15]
- July 29 – The presidents and chancellors of the 14 current SEC members voted unanimously to extend invitations to Oklahoma and Texas, effective in 2025.[16]
- July 30 – Oklahoma and Texas formally accepted the SEC's invitations.[17]
- August 3 – An independent review commissioned by the NCAA and conducted by the law firm Kaplan Hecker & Fink following the controversy that erupted on social media over the disparities in amenities between the Division I men's and women's basketball tournaments was issued. Among the recommendations:[18]
- The men's and women's Final Fours should be a combined event held at a single site.
- The "March Madness" branding, previously used only for the men's tournament, should be extended to the women's tournament. The NCAA had already announced that it would do so before the report was issued.
- The women's tournament field should be expanded to 68 teams to match the men's tournament.
- Media rights for the women's tournament, currently bundled with rights for more than two dozen other NCAA championships and sold separately from the men's tournament, should be decoupled from those other championships once the current contract for those championships expires.
- If possible, the NCAA's current contract with CBS and Turner to broadcast the men's tournament, which gives said media companies control of sponsorships for all NCAA championship events—even those broadcast by other entities—should be renegotiated in order to make it easier for companies to sponsor NCAA championships other than the men's tournament.
- The current system by which a significant amount of revenue from the men's tournament is returned to Division I members should be extended to the women's tournament.
- September 3
- Multiple media outlets reported that the Big 12 was on the verge of inviting four schools—American Athletic Conference members Cincinnati, Houston, and UCF, plus BYU, a West Coast Conference member and an FBS independent in football. All four schools were reportedly preparing membership applications, and their future entrance could be approved as early as the next scheduled meeting of Big 12 presidents on September 10. The entry timeline was uncertain at the time of the report, but would most likely be in 2024.[19][20]
- Baylor announced that basketball, soccer, and volleyball, the last three Baylor women's sports still using the "Lady Bears" nickname, would drop "Lady" effective immediately. The soccer and volleyball teams had changed their social media accounts to reflect this change several days earlier.[21][22]
- September 10 – BYU, Cincinnati, Houston, and UCF were officially announced as incoming Big 12 members no later than 2024–25.[23]
- October 18 – Yahoo Sports reported that The American was preparing to receive applications from six of the 14 members of Conference USA—Charlotte, Florida Atlantic, North Texas, Rice, UAB, and UTSA.[24]
- October 19 – ESPN reported that all six C-USA members named in Yahoo Sports' report had submitted applications to The American, and that each would receive a formal letter by the end of that week (October 22) detailing the terms of expansion.[25]
- October 21 – The six aforementioned C-USA members were announced as incoming members of The American at a date to be determined.[26]
- October 22 – The Action Network reported that C-USA member Southern Miss had accepted an invitation to join the Sun Belt Conference in 2023, though no formal announcement had then been made. The report added that the Sun Belt was preparing to add two other C-USA members, Marshall and Old Dominion, as well as FCS program James Madison. At the time, some formal announcements of new members were expected on October 25, but a Marshall announcement was likely to wait until after the school announced its new president on October 28. The report also indicated that the Sun Belt would expel its two full non-football members, Little Rock and UT Arlington, after the 2022–23 season.[27]
- October 26 – Southern Miss was officially announced as a Sun Belt member, effective no later than July 2023.[28] In other Sun Belt realignment news, it was reported that Old Dominion's arrival would be announced later that week, and that James Madison's board had scheduled an emergency meeting on October 29 (presumably to discuss a Sun Belt invitation).[29]
- October 27 – Old Dominion was officially announced as a Sun Belt member, also effective no later than July 2023. This marked ODU's return to that conference after an absence of more than 30 years.[30]
- October 30 – The day after both the Sun Belt Conference and Marshall issued tweets indicating that the Thundering Herd had accepted a Sun Belt invitation,[31] this move was officially announced.[32]
- November 5 – Conference USA, which had nine of its schools depart to other conferences, announced that ASUN Conference members Jacksonville State and Liberty and Western Athletic Conference members New Mexico State and Sam Houston would join C-USA no later than July 2023.[33]
- November 6 – James Madison made its move to the Sun Belt official, initially effective no later than July 2023.[34]
- November 12
- The WAC announced that Incarnate Word would join from the Southland Conference in July 2022.[35]
- Utah governor Spencer Cox signed a bill passed by the Utah State Legislature that changed the name of Dixie State University to Utah Tech University, effective in the 2022–23 school year. The nickname of Trailblazers was not affected.[36][37]
- November 16
- The Atlantic 10 Conference announced that Loyola Chicago would join from the Missouri Valley Conference after the 2021–22 season.[38]
- CBS Sports reported that the MVC had entered into talks with three schools regarding future membership—Summit League member Kansas City, Ohio Valley Conference member Murray State, and non-football Sun Belt member UT Arlington. The report indicated that the latter two schools were seen as the strongest candidates, but all three were likely to receive invitations in the coming months.[39]
- November 17 – The NCAA announced that the women's tournament would expand from 64 to 68 teams, effective with the 2022 tournament. This was another recommendation made in the August 2021 gender equity report. For the 2022 tournament only, the four extra games, held using the same format as the existing men's First Four, will be held on campuses of teams seeded in the top 16. From 2023 on, the women's First Four will be held at a neutral site to be determined.[40]
- December 9 – The other Sun Belt member without a football program, Little Rock, announced that it would join the Ohio Valley Conference on July 1, 2022.[41]
- January 7, 2022 – Murray State was announced as a new member of the MVC, effective July 1.[42]
- January 21 – UT Arlington announced it would return to the WAC, in which it had been a member in the 2012–13 school year, effective July 1.[43]
- January 25 – The Colonial Athletic Association announced that it would add three members effective that July—Big South Conference member Hampton, Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference member Monmouth, and Stony Brook, a full member of the America East Conference whose football team was already a member of the legally separate entity of CAA Football.[44]
- January 26 – UIC was announced as a new member of the MVC, effective July 1.[45]
- February 2 – The Sun Belt and James Madison both reported the latter's entry to the conference would be on July 1, rather than 2023.[46]
- February 7 – The University of Southern Indiana, then a member of the Division II Great Lakes Valley Conference, announced that it would begin a transition to Division I in 2022–23, with a D-I conference affiliation to be announced in the coming days.[47] A committee report issued in January indicated three leagues believed to be the ASUN Conference, Horizon League, and Ohio Valley Conference were possible landing spots.[48]
- February 9 – Southern Indiana was announced as a new member of the OVC, effective July 1.[49]
- February 11 – Marshall, Old Dominion, and Southern Miss, which were initially announced as moving from C-USA to the Sun Belt no later than 2023, jointly announced that they intended to leave C-USA later in July. All three schools claimed that in December 2021, they had notified C-USA of their intent to leave C-USA after the 2021–22 school year, but that C-USA did not attempt to negotiate a resolution to this issue. C-USA had stated in late January that it expected the three departing schools to remain in the conference through 2022–23.[50]
- February 22 – The CAA announced that North Carolina A&T would join from the Big South Conference in non-football sports on July 1. (The NCA&T football team remained as a Big South affiliate for the 2022 season and is to join CAA Football in 2023.)[51]
- February 23
- Marshall sued C-USA in a local court in an attempt to make its planned move to the Sun Belt Conference in July.[52]
- The OVC announced the entry of another Division II upgrader, Lindenwood, also in July.[53]
- March 1 – While not directly related to basketball, the Sun Belt Conference's release of its 2022 football schedule notably included all three schools set to move from C-USA (Marshall, Old Dominion, Southern Miss). The SBC release did not mention the ongoing dispute between C-USA and the three schools, or the prospect of those schools being unable to join for the 2022–23 school year.[54]
- March 29
- Conference USA, Marshall, Old Dominion, and Southern Miss issued a joint statement that all parties had reached a settlement that allowed the three schools to join the Sun Belt Conference in July 2022.[55]
- The America East Conference announced that Bryant would join from the Northeast Conference on July 1, 2022.[56]
- April 5 – The Northeast Conference announced the addition of then-current Division II member Stonehill, effective July 1, 2022.[57]
- May 2 – Mount St. Mary's announced it would join the Metro Atlantic beginning July 1, 2022.[58]
- May 6 – Queens University of Charlotte, a member of the Division II South Atlantic Conference, announced it would join the ASUN on July 1, 2022.[59]
Milestones and records
- January 16 and 20 – Caitlin Clark of Iowa recorded consecutive 30-point triple-doubles against Nebraska and Minnesota, becoming the first NCAA Division I player of either sex to accomplish this feat. Clark was also the first women's player in Big Ten Conference history to record consecutive triple-doubles regardless of scoring total.[60]
- January 23 – Ayoka Lee of Kansas State broke the Division I women's single-game scoring record with 61 points in a 94–65 Wildcat win over No. 14 Oklahoma.[61]
- February 8 – Villanova defeated UConn 72–69 in Hartford, Connecticut. This was the first regular-season conference loss for the Huskies since a loss to Notre Dame in March 2013, in the final season for both teams as members of the original Big East Conference. UConn's conference winning streak ended at 145 games in regular-season play, a Division I women's record, and 169 when including conference tournament games (with the latter streak starting after UConn lost to Notre Dame in the 2013 Big East tournament final).[62]
- February 28 – Macee Williams of IUPUI was named Horizon League player of the year for the fourth straight season, making her only the fourth D-I women's player[63] to be a four-time conference player of the year.[64]
- March 18 – In the first round of the NCAA tournament, overall top seed South Carolina defeated Howard 79–21, with Howard's total being a new record for lowest team score in any D-I women's tournament game. The Gamecocks also led the Bison 44–4 at halftime, with Howard's score also being the lowest in a half in tournament history.[65]
- Fresno State's Haley Cavinder ended the season with a new D-I single-season record for free throw percentage at 97.3%.[66]
- Caitlin Clark also ended the season as the first woman to lead Division I in per-game scoring and assists in the same season.[67]
- Iowa also became the first D-I men's or women's program with the national leaders in scoring, assists, and field goal percentage in the same season, with Monika Czinano leading in the last statistic.[68]
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Eleven schools joined new conferences for the 2021–22 season, including St. Thomas that is transitioning directly from NCAA Division III.
New arenas
- This is the first season for High Point at the 4,500-seat Qubein Center (full name: Nido and Mariana Qubein Arena and Conference Center). The new arena was originally intended to open for the 2020–21 season,[69] but was delayed due to COVID-19 issues.[70] The facility officially opened on the weekend of September 24–26;[71] the first women's game was an exhibition against Division II Mount Olive on November 5, 2021, the day after High Point's men played an exhibition at the new arena against the same school.[72][73] The regular-season opener was a men's and women's doubleheader against nearby Elon on November 9.[74]
- This is the first season for Idaho at the new 4,200-seat Idaho Central Credit Union Arena. The first women's game in the new arena was an exhibition against NAIA member Whitman on November 7, won 64–50 by the Vandals.[75] The first women's regular-season game was on November 14 when the Vandals lost 66–46 to San Diego.[76]
Arena of new D-I team
- St. Thomas plays at its existing on-campus facility, Schoenecker Arena (capacity 1,800).
Arenas closing
The following D-I programs planned to open new arenas for the 2022–23 season. All will move within their current campuses unless otherwise indicated.
- Alabama A&M will leave Elmore Gymnasium for the new Alabama A&M Events Center; the venue is scheduled to open in July 2022.[77]
- Austin Peay planned to leave the on-campus Winfield Dunn Center for the new F&M Bank Arena in downtown Clarksville, Tennessee.[78] However, construction delays led to this move being put off until 2023–24.[79]
- Georgia State will leave GSU Sports Arena for a facility tentatively named Georgia State Arena.
- Texas will leave the Frank Erwin Center, which will be demolished to accommodate an expansion of the university's medical school, for the Moody Center.
- Vermont will leave Patrick Gymnasium for the Tarrant Event Center.
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Pre-season polls
The top 25 from the AP and USA Today Coaches Polls.
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Regular season top 10 matchups
Rankings reflect the AP poll Top 25.
- November 9
- No. 1 South Carolina defeated No. 5 NC State, 66–57 (Reynolds Coliseum, Raleigh, North Carolina)
- November 21
- No. 3 Maryland defeated No. 6 Baylor, 79–76 (Xfinity Center, College Park, Maryland)
- No. 1 South Carolina defeated No. 9 Oregon, 80–63 (Battle 4 Atlantis, Paradise Island, Nassau, Bahamas)
- November 22
- No. 1 South Carolina defeated No. 2 UConn, 73–57 (Battle 4 Atlantis, Paradise Island, Nassau, Bahamas)
- November 25
- November 27
- No. 7 Stanford defeated No. 2 Maryland, 86–67 (Baha Mar Hoops, Baha Mar Convention Center, Nassau, Bahamas)
- December 2
- No. 2 NC State defeated No. 6 Indiana, 66–58 (Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall, Bloomington, Indiana)
- December 12
- No. 1 South Carolina defeated No. 8 Maryland, 66–59 (Colonial Life Arena, Columbia, South Carolina)
- December 18
- No. 3 Stanford defeated No. 7 Tennessee, 74–63 (Thompson–Boling Arena, Knoxville, Tennessee)
- December 19
- No. 6 Louisville defeated No. 7 UConn, 69–64 (Mohegan Sun Arena, Uncasville, Connecticut)
- December 21
- No. 1 South Carolina defeated No. 2 Stanford, 65–61 (Colonial Life Arena, Columbia, South Carolina)
- January 2
- No. 8 Indiana defeated No. 6 Maryland, 70–63OT (Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall, Bloomington, Indiana)
- January 20
- No. 4 NC State defeated No. 3 Louisville, 68–59 (Reynolds Coliseum, Raleigh, North Carolina)
- January 30
- No. 2 Stanford defeated No. 8 Arizona, 75–69 (Maples Pavilion, Stanford, California)
- January 31
- No. 6 Michigan defeated No. 5 Indiana, 65–50 (Crisler Center, Ann Arbor, Michigan)
- February 6
- No. 10 UConn defeated No. 7 Tennessee, 75–56 (XL Center, Hartford, Connecticut)
- February 28
- No. 5 Baylor defeated No. 8 Iowa State, 87–62 (Hilton Coliseum, Ames, Iowa)
- March 12
- No. 7 Texas defeated No. 10 Iowa State, 82–73OT (2022 Big 12 women's basketball tournament, Municipal Auditorium, Kansas City, Missouri)
- March 13
- No. 7 Texas defeated No. 4 Baylor, 67–58 (2022 Big 12 Women's Basketball Tournament, Municipal Auditorium, Kansas City, Missouri)
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Early season tournaments
The inaugural women's Battle 4 Atlantis will take place from November 20–22 and will include Buffalo, Minnesota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, South Florida, Syracuse and UConn.
| Name | Dates | Location | No. teams | Champion |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Preseason WNIT | November | Bramlage Coliseum (Manhattan, KS) Reynolds Coliseum (Raleigh, NC) |
8 | None[80] |
| Battle 4 Atlantis | November 20–22 | Imperial Arena (Nassau, Bahamas) | 8 | South Carolina |
| Baha Mar Hoops Pink Flamingo | November 25–27 | Baha Mar Convention Center (Nassau, Bahamas) | 7 | Indiana |
| Cancún Challenge | November 25–27 | Moon Palace Golf & Spa Resort (Cancún, MX) | 10 | Baylor (Mayan) UCF (Riviera) |
| Paradise Jam tournament | November 25–27 | Sports and Fitness Center (Saint Thomas, VI) | 8 | Arizona (Island) Texas A&M (Reef) |
| Daytona Beach Invitational | November 25–27 | Ocean Center (Daytona Beach, FL) | 10 | |
| St Pete Showcase | November 25–27 | McArthur Center (St. Petersburg, FL) | 4 | Purdue |
| South Point Thanksgiving Shootout | November 25–27 | South Point Arena (Las Vegas, NV) | 7 | |
| San Juan Shootout | November 26–27 | Coliseo Roberto Clemente (San Juan, PR) | 10 | |
| Goombay Splash | November 25–28 | Gateway Christian Academy (Bimini, Bahamas) | 3 | |
| Gulf Coast Showcase | November 26–28 | Hertz Arena (Estero, FL) | 8 | Iowa State |
| Holiday Hoops Classic | December 20–21 | South Point Arena (Las Vegas, NV) | 6 | |
| West Palm Beach Invitational | December 20–22 | Student Life Center (West Palm Beach, FL) | 10 | |
| Southland Basketball Tip-Off | January 3–5 | Leonard E. Merrell Center (Katy, TX) | 8 | Canceled due to COVID-19 protocols in multiple programs |
Upsets
An upset is a victory by an underdog team. In the context of NCAA Division I women's basketball, this generally constitutes an unranked team defeating a team currently ranked in the top 25. This list will highlight those upsets of ranked teams by unranked teams as well as upsets of No. 1 teams. Rankings are from the AP poll. Bold type indicates winning teams in "true road games"—i.e., those played on an opponent's home court (including secondary homes).
| Winner | Score | Loser | Date | Tournament/event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Auburn | 58–51 | No. 18 Georgia Tech | November 21, 2021 | |
| BYU | 61–54 | No. 17 Florida State | November 25, 2021 | St. Pete Showcase |
| Missouri State | 76–68 | No. 24 Virginia Tech | November 26, 2021 | San Juan Shootout |
| Kent State | 75–69 | No. 19 UCLA | November 26, 2021 | Gulf Coast Showcase |
| Purdue | 66–61 | No. 17 Florida State | November 27, 2021 | St. Pete Showcase |
| South Dakota State | 76–66 | No. 19 UCLA | November 27, 2021 | Gulf Coast Showcase |
| BYU | 58–57 | No. 22 West Virginia | November 27, 2021 | St. Pete Showcase |
| Notre Dame | 64–62 | No. 16 Oregon State | November 27, 2021 | Daytona Beach Invitational |
| UC Davis | 64–57 | No. 18 Oregon | December 1, 2021 | |
| Princeton | 58–55 | No. 22 Florida Gulf Coast | December 1, 2021 | |
| Syracuse | 97–91 | No. 18 Ohio State | December 1, 2021 | ACC–Big Ten Women's Challenge |
| UT Arlington | 61–56 | No. 13 South Florida | December 2, 2021 | |
| Duke | 79–64 | No. 9 Iowa | December 2, 2021 | ACC–Big Ten Women's Challenge |
| LSU | 69–60 | No. 14 Iowa State | December 2, 2021 | Big 12/SEC Women's Challenge |
| Georgia Tech | 55–54 | No. 20 Georgia | December 5, 2021 | Rivalry |
| DePaul | 94–85 | No. 14 Kentucky | December 9, 2021 | |
| Georgia Tech | 57–44 | No. 3 UConn | December 9, 2021 | |
| Oklahoma | 99–91OT | No. 16 BYU | December 10, 2021 | |
| TCU | 87–75 | No. 18 Texas A&M | December 12, 2021 | |
| Villanova | 56–52 | No. 23 Oregon State | December 12, 2021 | |
| Ole Miss | 61–53 | No. 18 South Florida | December 21, 2021 | West Palm Beach Invitational |
| IUPUI | 74–73 | No. 15 Iowa | December 21, 2021 | |
| Virginia Tech | 77–55 | No. 15 Duke | December 30, 2021 | |
| Kansas State | 68–59 | No. 10 Baylor | January 2, 2022 | |
| Nebraska | 79–58 | No. 8 Michigan | January 4, 2022 | |
| Texas Tech | 74–61 | No. 9 Texas | January 5, 2022 | |
| Northwestern | 77–69 | No. 22 Iowa | January 6, 2022 | |
| Florida | 97–892OT | No. 25 Texas A&M | January 9, 2022 | |
| USC | 76–67 | No. 4 Arizona | January 9, 2022 | |
| Kansas | 70–66OT | No. 13 Texas | January 12, 2022 | |
| Virginia Tech | 65–54 | No. 16 Duke | January 13, 2022 | |
| Texas Tech | 64–45 | No. 25 Kansas State | January 15, 2022 | |
| Oregon | 68–66OT | No. 7 Arizona | January 15, 2022 | |
| Miami (FL) | 46–45 | No. 15 Georgia Tech | January 16, 2022 | |
| UCF | 67–51 | No. 24 South Florida | January 16, 2022 | Rivalry |
| Oregon | 72–59 | No. 9 UConn | January 17, 2022 | |
| Oregon State | 69–66OT | No. 22 Colorado | January 17, 2022 | |
| Ohio State | 95–89 | No. 12 Maryland | January 20, 2022 | |
| Boston College | 73–71 | No. 19 Notre Dame | January 20, 2022 | Rivalry |
| Florida | 77–52 | No. 23 Kentucky | January 20, 2022 | |
| Arizona State | 57–52OT | No. 22 Colorado | January 21, 2022 | |
| Ole Miss | 63–54 | No. 23 Kentucky | January 23, 2022 | |
| Kansas State | 94–65 | No. 14 Oklahoma | January 23, 2022 | |
| Florida | 74–73 | No. 11 LSU | January 23, 2022 | |
| North Carolina | 78–62 | No. 21 Duke | January 27, 2022 | Rivalry |
| Auburn | 71–61 | No. 4 Tennessee | January 27, 2022 | |
| Arkansas | 90–76 | No. 12 LSU | January 27, 2022 | |
| Florida | 84–59 | No. 7 Tennessee | February 3, 2022 | |
| Portland | 75–64 | No. 16 BYU | February 3, 2022 | |
| Florida | 54–51 | No. 14 Georgia | February 6, 2022 | |
| Florida State | 70–65 | No. 20 Notre Dame | February 6, 2022 | |
| Arizona State | 55–49 | No. 19 Oregon | February 6, 2022 | |
| Villanova | 72–69 | No. 8 UConn | February 9, 2022 | |
| Michigan State | 63–57 | No. 4 Michigan | February 10, 2022 | Rivalry |
| Virginia Tech | 73–63 | No. 11 Georgia Tech | February 10, 2022 | |
| Arizona State | 81–77 | No. 6 Arizona | February 11, 2022 | Rivalry |
| Stetson | 58–55 | No. 22 Florida Gulf Coast | February 12, 2022 | |
| Virginia | 58–55 | No. 23 North Carolina | February 13, 2022 | Rivalry |
| Northwestern | 71–692OT | No. 4 Michigan | February 13, 2022 | |
| Oregon State | 68–62 | No. 24 Oregon | February 13, 2022 | Rivalry |
| Nebraska | 72–55 | No. 5 Indiana | February 14, 2022 | |
| Texas Tech | 97–87 | No. 15 Oklahoma | February 16, 2022 | |
| Alabama | 74–64 | No. 12 Tennessee | February 17, 2022 | |
| Auburn | 65–60 | No. 21 Georgia | February 20, 2022 | |
| Miami (FL) | 51–39 | No. 16 Georgia Tech | February 20, 2022 | |
| Washington State | 72–67 | No. 8 Arizona | February 20, 2022 | |
| Colorado | 86–83 | No. 25 Oregon | February 23, 2022 | |
| Vanderbilt | 63–59 | No. 15 Florida | February 24, 2022 | |
| Florida State | 65–63OT | No. 22 Georgia Tech | February 24, 2022 | |
| UCLA | 64–46 | No. 12 Arizona | February 24, 2022 | |
| Missouri | 78–73 | No. 15 Florida | February 27, 2022 | |
| Colorado | 45–43 | No. 14 Arizona | March 3, 2022 | Pac-12 tournament |
| Alabama | 74–62 | No. 25 Georgia | March 3, 2022 | SEC tournament |
| Ole Miss | 70–60 | No. 23 Florida | March 4, 2022 | SEC tournament |
| Miami (FL) | 61–59 | No. 4 Louisville | March 4, 2022 | ACC tournament |
| Kentucky | 78–63 | No. 6 LSU | March 4, 2022 | SEC tournament |
| Nebraska | 76–73 | No. 10 Michigan | March 4, 2022 | Big Ten tournament |
| Kentucky | 83–74 | No. 18 Tennessee | March 5, 2022 | SEC tournament/Rivalry |
| Kansas | 73–67 | No. 19 Oklahoma | March 5, 2022 | |
| Miami (FL) | 57–54 | No. 20 Notre Dame | March 5, 2022 | ACC tournament |
| Kentucky | 64–62 | No. 1 South Carolina | March 6, 2022 | SEC tournament |
| Gonzaga | 71–59 | No. 15 BYU | March 8, 2022 | WCC tournament |
In addition to the above listed upsets in which an unranked team defeated a ranked team, there have been five[citation needed] non-Division I teams to defeat a Division I team so far this season. Bold type indicates winning teams in "true road games"—i.e., those played on an opponent's home court (including secondary homes).
| Winner | Score | Loser | Date | Tournament/event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coker (Division II) | 51–44 | Winthrop | November 24, 2021 | |
| UNC Pembroke (Division II) | 65–45 | Winthrop | November 27, 2021 | |
| Belmont Abbey (Division II) | 56–48 | Charleston Southern | November 29, 2021 | |
| Freed–Hardeman (NAIA) | 71–62 | North Alabama | November 29, 2021 | |
| Texas A&M International (Division II) | 68–55 | Florida A&M | December 11, 2021 |
Conference winners and tournaments
Each of the 32 Division I athletic conferences will end its regular season with a single-elimination tournament. The team with the best regular-season record in each conference receives the number one seed in each tournament, with tiebreakers used as needed in the case of ties for the top seeding. Unless otherwise noted, the winners of these tournaments will receive automatic invitations to the 2022 NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament.
Statistical leaders
Includes postseason games. Division I record in bold.
| Points per game | Rebounds per game | Assists per game | Steals per game | |||||||||||
| Player | School | PPG | Player | School | RPG | Player | School | APG | Player | School | SPG | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Caitlin Clark | Iowa | 27.0 | Aneesah Morrow | DePaul | 13.8 | Caitlin Clark | Iowa | 8.0 | Veronica Burton | Northwestern | 4.03 | |||
| Maddy Siegrist | Villanova | 25.3 | Aijha Blackwell | Missouri | 13.0 | Olivia Miles | Notre Dame | 7.4 | Angel Parker | Niagara | 4.00 | |||
| Jasmine Dickey | Delaware | 25.3 | Jada Dapaa | Saint Francis (PA) | 12.6 | Emily Ryan | Iowa State | 7.1 | Jordyn Cambridge | Vanderbilt | 3.91 | |||
| Dyaisha Fair | Buffalo | 23.4 | Josie Williams | Utah Valley | 12.4 | Lauren Park-Lane | Seton Hall | 7.0 | Camille Downs | Norfolk State | 3.34 | |||
| Cierra Hooks | Ohio | 22.3 | Aliyah Boston | South Carolina | 12.4 | McKenna Hofschild | Colorado State | 6.5 | Mackenzie DeWees | Quinnipiac | 3.31 | |||
| Blocked shots per game | Field goal percentage | Three-point field goal percentage | Free throw percentage | |||||||||||
| Player | School | BPG | Player | School | FG% | Player | School | 3FG% | Player | School | FT% | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lucy Cochrane | Portland | 3.93 | Monika Czinano | Iowa | 67.89 | Tess Amundsen | Cal State Northridge | 49.12 | Haley Cavinder | Fresno State | 97.32 | |||
| Brooke Flowers | Saint Louis | 3.52 | Celena Taborn | Butler | 67.51 | Taylor Mikesell | Ohio State | 47.50 | Kacie Borowicz | North Dakota | 95.71 | |||
| Tamari Key | Tennessee | 3.50 | Mya Berkman | Liberty | 66.27 | Hayley Frank | Missouri | 46.24 | Taylor Robertson | Oklahoma | 92.80 | |||
| Taiyanna Jackson | Kansas | 3.06 | Isnelle Natabou | Sacramento State | 64.31 | Kayla Spruill | La Salle | 45.93 | Rachel McLimore | IUPUI | 92.59 | |||
| Nancy Mulkey | Washington | 3.00 | Macee Williams | IUPUI | 63.77 | Kendall Spray | Florida Gulf Coast | 45.58 | Hannah Simental | Northern Iowa | 90.60 | |||
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NCAA tournament
Tournament upsets
For this list, an "upset" is defined as a win by a team seeded 5 or more spots below its defeated opponent.
| Date | Winner | Score | Loser | Region | Round |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March 18 | Florida Gulf Coast (#12) | 84–81 | Virginia Tech (#5) | Spokane | First Round |
| March 19 | Princeton (#11) | 69–62 | Kentucky (#6) | Bridgeport | First Round |
| March 19 | Villanova (#11) | 61–57 | BYU (#6) | Wichita | First Round |
| March 19 | Belmont (#12) | 73–702OT | Oregon (#5) | Wichita | First Round |
| March 20 | Creighton (#10) | 64–62 | Iowa (#2) | Greensboro | Second Round |
| March 20 | South Dakota (#10) | 61–47 | Baylor (#2) | Wichita | Second Round |
| March 25 | Creighton (#10) | 76–68 | Iowa State (#3) | Greensboro | Sweet 16 |
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All-America teams
The NCAA has never recognized a consensus All-America team in women's basketball. This differs from the practice in men's basketball, in which the NCAA uses a combination of selections by the Associated Press (AP), the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC), the Sporting News, and the United States Basketball Writers Association (USBWA) to determine a consensus All-America team. The selection of a consensus team is possible because all four organizations select at least a first and second team, with only the USBWA not selecting a third team.
Before the 2017–18 season, it was impossible for a consensus women's All-America team to be determined because the AP had been the only body that divided its women's selections into separate teams. The USBWA first named separate teams in 2017–18. The women's counterpart to the NABC, the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA), continues the USBWA's former practice of selecting a single 10-member (plus ties) team. The NCAA does not recognize Sporting News as an All-America selector in women's basketball.
Major player of the year awards
- Wooden Award: Aliyah Boston, South Carolina[116]
- Naismith Award: Aliyah Boston, South Carolina[117]
- Associated Press Player of the Year: Aliyah Boston, South Carolina[118]
- Wade Trophy: Aliyah Boston, South Carolina[119]
- Ann Meyers Drysdale Women's Player of the Year (USBWA): Aliyah Boston, South Carolina[120]
- ESPN.com National Player of the Year:
Major freshman of the year awards
- Tamika Catchings Award (USBWA): Aneesah Morrow, DePaul[121]
- WBCA Freshman of the Year: Aneesah Morrow, DePaul[122]
- ESPN.com Freshman of the Year:
Major coach of the year awards
- Associated Press Coach of the Year: Kim Mulkey, LSU[123]
- Naismith College Coach of the Year: Dawn Staley, South Carolina[117]
- USBWA National Coach of the Year: Dawn Staley, South Carolina[124]
- WBCA National Coach of the Year: Dawn Staley, South Carolina[125]
- ESPN.com Coach of the Year:
- WBCA Assistant Coach of the Year: Kate Paye, Stanford[126]
Other major awards
- Naismith Starting Five:[127]
- Nancy Lieberman Award (top point guard): Caitlin Clark, Iowa
- Ann Meyers Drysdale Award (top shooting guard): Christyn Williams, UConn
- Cheryl Miller Award (top small forward): Ashley Joens, Iowa State
- Katrina McClain Award (top power forward): NaLyssa Smith, Baylor
- Lisa Leslie Award (top center): Aliyah Boston, South Carolina
- WBCA Defensive Player of the Year: Veronica Burton, Northwestern[128]
- Naismith Women's Defensive Player of the Year: Aliyah Boston, South Carolina[117]
- Becky Hammon Mid-Major Player of the Year Award: Kierstan Bell, Florida Gulf Coast[129]
- Senior CLASS Award (top senior on and off the court): Lexie Hull, Stanford[130]
- Maggie Dixon Award (top rookie head coach): Kelly Rae Finley, Florida[131]
- Academic All-American of the Year (top scholar-athlete): Aliyah Boston, South Carolina[132]
- Elite 90 Award (top GPA among upperclass players at Final Four): Lexie Hull, Stanford[133]
- Pat Summitt Most Courageous Award: Kendall Currence, Northeastern[134]
| Team | Former coach |
Interim coach |
New coach |
Reason |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| American | Megan Gebbia | Tiffany Coll | Gebbia left American on May 26, 2022 after 9 seasons for the Wake Forest head coaching job.[135] Longtime Eagles associate head coach Coll was promoted to the head coaching position on June 7.[136] | |
| Arizona State | Charli Turner Thorne | Natasha Adair | Turner Thorne announced on March 3, 2022 that she would retire after her 25th season at Arizona State.[137] Delaware head coach Adair was hired by the Sun Devils on March 27.[138] | |
| Arkansas State | Matt Daniel | Destinee Rogers | Daniel resigned nine games into his third season at Arkansas State on December 13, 2021. The following day, the Red Wolves named associate head coach Rogers the interim head coach for the rest of the season.[139][140] After the season, the team named Rogers as the permanent replacement.[141] | |
| Bradley | Andrea Gorski | Kate Popovec | Gorski announced her retirement on March 22, 2022 after six seasons at Bradley.[142] Northwestern associate head coach and recruiting coordinator Popovec was hired by the Braves on April 6.[143] | |
| Buffalo | Felisha Legette-Jack | Becky Burke | Legette-Jack left Buffalo on March 26, 2022 after 10 seasons for the head coaching job at her alma mater Syracuse.[144] The Bulls hired USC Upstate head coach Burke as her replacement on April 6.[145] | |
| Butler | Kurt Godlevske | Austin Parkinson | Butler parted ways with Godlevske on March 22, 2022 after seven seasons and a 91–144 record, including a combined 4–44 the last two seasons.[146] The Bulldogs hired IUPUI head coach Parkinson on April 8.[147] | |
| BYU | Jeff Judkins | Amber Whiting | Judkins announced his retirement on April 14, 2022 after 21 seasons at BYU, leaving as the program's winningest head coach with 456 wins.[148] Whiting, a former BYU player who was serving as head coach at Burley High School in Idaho, was hired by the Cougars on May 18.[149] | |
| Cal Poly | Faith Mimnaugh | Shanele Stires | Mimnaugh announced her retirement on March 9, 2022 after 25 seasons at Cal Poly, leaving as the program's winningest head coach with 338 wins.[150] Stires, head coach at D2 Cal State East Bay the past 6 seasons, was hired by the Mustangs on April 14.[151] | |
| Cal State Northridge | Lindsey Foster | Carlene Mitchell | Foster announced her resignation on July 27, 2021 due to family reasons.[152] Mitchell's interim tag was removed on March 16, 2022[153] | |
| Chattanooga | Katie Burrows | Shawn Poppie | Burrows stepped down as head coach of her alma mater on March 9, 2022 after four seasons and a 46–68 overall record.[154] Virginia Tech associate head coach Poppie was hired on March 30.[155] | |
| Chicago State | Tiffany Sardin | Andrea Williams | Sardin resigned from Chicago State on May 8, 2022 after 2 seasons.[156] Andrea Williams, head coach at Division II Fort Valley State, was hired by the Cougars on July 1.[157] | |
| Coastal Carolina | Jaida Williams | Kevin Pederson | Coastal Carolina parted ways with Williams on March 18, 2022 after nine seasons and a 129–127 record.[158] On April 12, the Chanticleers hired Pederson from DII Lander University as their new head coach.[159] | |
| Coppin State | Laura Harper | Jermaine Woods | Harper left Coppin State on April 20, 2022 after 2 seasons for the Towson head coaching position.[160] After a month-long search, the Eagles promoted associate head coach Woods on May 26.[161] | |
| Dayton | Shauna Green | Tamika Williams-Jeter | Green left Dayton on March 21, 2022 after six seasons for the Illinois head coaching job.[162] The Flyers hired Williams from D-III Wittenberg University as their new coach on March 26.[163] | |
| Delaware | Natasha Adair | Sarah Jenkins | Adair left Delaware after five seasons for the Arizona State job on March 27, 2022.[138] Penn State assistant Jenkins, who was an assistant with the Blue Hens from 2017–2021, was hired on April 3.[164] | |
| Detroit Mercy | AnnMarie Gilbert | LaTanya Collins | Kate Achter | Detroit Mercy announced on June 15, 2021 that Gilbert had left the program after an abbreviated debut season that was cut short when the parents of every player on the team sent a letter to the university administration alleging rampant mental and physical abuse by Gilbert. Although UDM initially retained Gilbert after an internal investigation, all 14 players on the 2020–21 roster left the program. Titans assistant Collins was named interim head coach for the 2021–22 season.[165][166] On April 27, 2022, the school hired former Loyola Chicago head coach Kate Achter as the permanent replacement.[167] |
| Fairfield | Joe Frager | Carly Thibault-DuDonis | Frager announced on October 19, 2021 that he will retire at the end of the season, his 15th as Fairfield head coach.[168] Minnesota associate head coach Thibault-DuDonis was hired by the Stags on April 11, 2022.[169] | |
| Florida | Cameron Newbauer | Kelly Rae Finley | Newbauer, citing personal reasons, announced his resignation from Florida on July 16, 2021 after four seasons. Assistant coach Finley was initially named interim head coach of the Gators for the 2021–22 season.[170] In late September 2021, Florida's student newspaper, The Independent Florida Alligator, reported accusations by multiple players that Newbauer had a long pattern of verbal abuse, physical intimidation, and racist remarks.[171] On February 27, 2022, Florida removed the interim tag from Finley and officially named her head coach.[172] | |
| Florida State | Sue Semrau | Brooke Wyckoff | Semrau announced her retirement from Florida State on March 21, 2022 after 24 seasons. Under Semrau, the Seminoles won 470 games, had 14 20–win seasons, and made the NCAA tournament 16 times.[173] Associate head coach Wyckoff, who served as the Seminoles' interim head coach when Semrau took a leave of absence during the 2020–21 season, was promoted on March 29.[174] | |
| Fordham | Stephanie Gaitley | Candice Green | Bridgette Mitchell | Gaitley resigned from Fordham on July 1, 2022 after 11 seasons.[175] A week later, assistant coach Green was named interim head coach of the Rams for the 2022–23 season.[176] After the season ended, the school hired Northeastern head coach Mitchell on April 7.[177] |
| Georgia | Joni Taylor | Katie Abrahamson-Henderson | Taylor left Georgia after seven seasons for the Texas A&M job on March 23, 2022.[178] UCF head coach Katie Abrahamson-Henderson, who played two seasons with the Lady Bulldogs from 1986–88 before transferring to Iowa, was hired on March 26.[179] | |
| Harvard | Kathy Delaney-Smith | Carrie Moore | Delaney-Smith announced on November 5, 2021 that she would retire after the 2021–22 season, her 40th year at Harvard.[180] The Crimson hired Michigan assistant Moore as her replacement on April 5.[181] | |
| Illinois | Nancy Fahey | Shauna Green | Fahey announced her retirement on March 4, 2022 after 36 seasons overall and five seasons at Illinois.[182] The Illini hired Dayton head coach Green on March 21.[162] | |
| IUPUI | Austin Parkinson | Kate Bruce | Parkinson left IUPUI on April 8, 2022 after 12 seasons for the Butler head coaching job.[147] On May 12, the Jaguars hired Kate Bruce, head coach at Division II Walsh University, as their new head coach.[183] | |
| Kansas City | Jacie Hoyt | Dionnah Jackson-Durrett | Hoyt left Kansas City after five seasons for the Oklahoma State job on March 20, 2022.[184] Texas associate head coach Jackson-Durrett was hired by the Roos on March 30.[185] | |
| Lehigh | Sue Troyan | Addie Micir | After 27 seasons leading the Lehigh women's team, Troyan announced on April 27, 2022 that she will transition into a senior leadership role within the Athletics department and will be succeeded by Mountain Hawks associate head coach Micir.[186] | |
| Longwood | Rebecca Tillett | Erika Lang-Montgomery | Tillett left Longwood on April 12, 2022 after 4 seasons for the head coaching job at Saint Louis.[187] Florida assistant coach Lang-Montgomery was hired by the Lancers to replace her on April 28.[188] | |
| Loyola Chicago | Kate Achter | Allison Guth | Loyola announced on March 24, 2022 that Achter's contract would not be renewed, ending her six-year tenure with a 67–110 record.[189] The Ramblers hired Yale head coach Guth on April 8.[190] | |
| Mississippi State | Nikki McCray-Penson | Doug Novak | Sam Purcell | McCray-Penson announced on October 12, 2021 that she was stepping down as head coach after one season at Mississippi State due to health concerns. Assistant Coach Novak, who had been hired by the Bulldogs in August, was named interim head coach for the season.[191] Louisville assistant Purcell was hired as the permanent replacement on March 12, 2022.[192] |
| Mississippi Valley State | Ashley Walker-Johnson | Kimberly Anderson | Anderson was hired to replace Walker-Johnson on May 3, 2022, following 7 seasons as head coach at D-II Lane College.[193] | |
| Missouri State | Amaka Agugua-Hamilton | Beth Cunningham | Agugua-Hamilton left Missouri State on March 21, 2022 after three seasons to take the head coaching job at Virginia.[194] Duke assistant coach Cunningham was hired by the Lady Bears on March 30.[195] | |
| New Mexico State | Brooke Atkinson | Jody Adams-Birch | New Mexico State announced on March 15, 2022 that Atkinson's contract will not be renewed after five seasons, finishing with a 75–68 record.[196] Southern Illinois assistant coach Adams-Birch, who previously served as head coach at Murray State and Wichita State, was hired by the Aggies on March 31.[197] | |
| Oklahoma State | Jim Littell | Jacie Hoyt | Oklahoma State announced on March 7, 2022 that Littell will not return next season after 10 seasons as head coach.[198] Kansas City head coach Hoyt was hired on March 20.[184] | |
| Oral Roberts | Misti Cussen | Kelsi Musick | Oral Roberts parted ways with Cussen on March 30, 2022 after 10 seasons.[199] Musick, head coach at Division II Southwestern Oklahoma State the past 13 seasons, was hired by the Golden Eagles on April 21.[200] | |
| Purdue | Sharon Versyp | Katie Gearlds | Purdue initially announced on March 26, 2021 that the 2021–22 season, which would have been Versyp's 16th season as head coach, would be her last at her alma mater. She will be succeeded by another former Boilermaker star player in Katie Gearlds, who was set to serve as associate head coach this season after spending the past eight seasons as head coach of Marian (IN) of the NAIA.[201] However, Versyp announced her retirement effective immediately on September 16.[202] | |
| Rutgers | C. Vivian Stringer | Coquese Washington | Stringer announced her retirement on April 30, 2022, effective September 1, after 50 years as head coach, the last 27 at Rutgers. Stringer, who did not coach the Scarlet Knights this season because of COVID concerns, leaves as the program's winningest coach with 535 wins and as the 5th all-time winningest coach in Women’s Basketball history with 1,055.[203] Notre Dame associate head coach and former Penn State head coach Washington was hired on May 23.[204] | |
| Saint Louis | Lisa Stone | Rebecca Tillett | Saint Louis fired Stone on March 18, 2022 after 10 seasons and a 164–138 record.[205] Longwood head coach Tillett was hired by the Billikens on April 12.[187] | |
| Saint Peter's | Marc Mitchell | Jennifer Leedham | In an unusual move, Mitchell left Saint Peter's on June 29, 2022 after 4 seasons for the head coaching job at NCAA D2 UIndy.[206] St. Francis Brooklyn associate head coach Leedham was hired by the Peacocks on July 25.[207] | |
| San Jose State | Jamie Craighead | April Phillips | San Jose State announced on March 11, 2022 that Craighead will not be retained as head coach, ending her nine-year tenure with an 89–160 record.[208] Texas assistant coach Phillips was hired by the Spartans on April 6.[209] | |
| South Carolina State | Audra Smith | Ervin Monier | Timothy Eatman | South Carolina State parted ways with Smith on February 24, 2022 after three seasons, a day after she filed a Title IX lawsuit against the school. Bulldogs associate head coach Monier was named interim head coach for the rest of the season.[210] On July 12, Rutgers assistant Eatman was hired as the new head coach.[211] |
| South Dakota | Dawn Plitzuweit | Kayla Karius | Plitzuweit left South Dakota on March 31, 2022 after 6 seasons for the West Virginia coaching job.[212] Drake assistant coach Karius, who was an assistant for the Coyotes from 2016–18, was hired on April 10.[213] | |
| Southern Illinois | Cindy Stein | Kelly Bond-White | Stein announced her retirement on July 2, 2021, effective at the end of the season, her ninth at SIU.[214] Texas A&M associate head coach Bond-White was hired by the Salukis on March 31.[215] | |
| Syracuse | Quentin Hillsman | Vonn Read | Felisha Legette-Jack | Hillsman resigned from Syracuse on August 2, 2021 after 15 seasons amid allegations of inappropriate behavior by former players.[216] Two days later, associate head coach Read was named interim head coach of the Orange for the 2021–22 season.[217] Following the season, Buffalo head coach and former Syracuse star Felisha Legette-Jack was hired on March 26.[144] |
| Temple | Tonya Cardoza | Diane Richardson | Temple announced on March 22, 2022 that Cardoza will not return as head coach, ending her 14-year tenure with a 251–188 record.[218] Towson head coach Richardson was hired by the Owls in April 5.[219] | |
| Texas A&M | Gary Blair | Joni Taylor | Blair announced on October 28, 2021 that he will retire at the end of the 2021–22 season, his 19th as head coach at A&M.[220] Blair's accolades with the Aggies include being the winningest head coach of the program with 444 wins, two SEC tournament Titles, a National championship, and becoming the third women's college basketball coach to have the court at their home arena named for them. Georgia head coach Taylor was hired on March 23, 2022.[178] | |
| Texas Southern | Cynthia Cooper-Dyke | Vernette Skeete | Cooper-Dyke, serving her second stint as Texas Southern head coach, announced her retirement on March 17, 2022 after three seasons at the school.[221] Texas A&M co-associate head coach Skeete was hired by the Lady Tigers on April 13.[222] | |
| Towson | Diane Richardson | Laura Harper | Richardson left Towson on April 5, 2022 after 5 seasons for the Temple head coaching position.[219] The Tigers hired Coppin State head coach Harper on April 20.[160] | |
| UCF | Katie Abrahamson-Henderson | Sytia Messer | Abrahamson-Henderson left UCF on March 26, 2022 after six seasons for the Georgia head coaching vacancy.[179] LSU associate head coach Messer was hired by the Knights on April 3.[223] | |
| UIC | Tasha Pointer | Ashleen Bracey | UIC announced on March 5, 2022 that Pointer will not return as head coach, ending her four-year tenure with an 11–94 overall record.[224] Missouri assistant coach Bracey was hired by the Flames on March 28.[225] | |
| UNC Wilmington | Karen Barefoot | Tina Martin | Nicole Woods | UNC Wilmington fired Barefoot on February 14, 2022 after four-and-a-half seasons, with the Seahawks at 50–83 overall and winless in conference play this season at the time of the announcement. Assistant coach Martin was initially named interim head coach for the rest of the season.[226] On April 8, the school announced that Martin will continue to serve as the interim head coach of the team for the 2022-23 season.[227] After Martin was not retained, Charlotte associate head coach Woods was hired on April 13, 2023.[228] |
| USC Upstate | Becky Burke | Jason Williams | Burke left USC Upstate on April 6, 2022 after 2 seasons for the Buffalo head coaching job.[145] On April 22, Jason Williams was hired by the Spartans after 9 seasons as head coach at D-II Belmont Abbey.[229] | |
| Virginia | Tina Thompson | Amaka Agugua-Hamilton | Thompson was fired by Virginia on March 3, 2022 after four seasons and a 30–63 record.[230] Missouri State head coach Amaka Agugua-Hamilton was hired by the Cavaliers on March 21.[194] | |
| Wake Forest | Jennifer Hoover | Megan Gebbia | Wake Forest fired Hoover on May 11, 2022 after 10 seasons and a 142–170 overall record.[231] American head coach Gebbia was hired by the Demon Deacons on May 26.[135] | |
| West Virginia | Mike Carey | Dawn Plitzuweit | Carey announced his retirement on March 16, 2022. He retired after 21 seasons at West Virginia as their winningest coach with a record of 447–239.[232] The Mountaineers hired South Dakota head coach Plitzuweit as his replacement on March 31.[212] | |
| William & Mary | Ed Swanson | Erin Dickerson | William & Mary announced on March 21, 2022 that Swenson will not be retained for next season, ending his nine-year tenure with a 126–128 record.[233] Wake Forest associate head coach Dickerson was hired by the Tribe on April 11.[234] | |
| Wyoming | Gerald Mattinson | Heather Ezell | Mattinson announced his retirement on March 25, 2022 after three seasons at Wyoming and was succeeded by Cowgirls associate head coach Ezell.[235] | |
| Yale | Allison Guth | Dalila Eshe | Guth left Yale on April 8, 2022 after 7 seasons for the head coach opening at Loyola Chicago.[190] Princeton assistant coach Eshe was hired by the Bulldogs on April 25.[236] | |
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