| Gender: | women |
| Year: | 2020 |
| Preseason Ap: | South Carolina |
| Regular Season: | November 2020 – March 2021 |
| Tourney Start: | March 26 |
| Nc Date: | April 4, 2021 |
| Champ Stad: | Alamodome |
| Champ City: | San Antonio, Texas |
| Champ: | Stanford |
| Wnit Champ: | Rice |
| Playeroftheyear: | Paige Bueckers, UConn (Naismith, Wooden) NaLyssa Smith, Baylor (Wade) |
The 2020–21 NCAA Division I women's basketball season began in November 2020 and ended with the championship game of the 2021 NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas on April 4, 2021. Practices officially began in October 2020.
Ten schools joined new conferences for the 2020–21 season, including four transitioning from Division II.
Three of the four new D-I members for this season use existing on-campus facilities:
The other D-I newcomer, Bellarmine, announced a multi-year deal with the Kentucky State Fair Board on November 2, 2020 to play home games at Freedom Hall, located at the Kentucky Exposition Center near Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport. Before the opening of the downtown KFC Yum! Center in 2010, Freedom Hall had been the full-time home of Louisville men's basketball for more than 50 years, and had also been at least the part-time home of Louisville women's basketball since that team's establishment in 1975. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, Bellarmine could only seat 300 at its on-campus facility, Knights Hall. With Freedom Hall's basketball capacity of 18,252, the Knights were able to seat 2,700.[20]
To be added.
See also: 2020–21 NCAA Division I women's basketball rankings.
The top 25 from the AP and USA Today Coaches Polls.
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Early season tournaments are TBA, although many have canceled and others are unlikely to occur.
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 #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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 86–85 | November 27, 2020 | ||||
| South Dakota State | 76–69 | November 28, 2020 | |||
| 68–59 | November 29, 2020 | Gulf Coast Showcase | |||
| 54–46 | December 3, 2020 | Jimmy V Classic | ||
| 67–63OT | December 5, 2020 | ||||
| South Dakota State | 75–72OT | December 6, 2020 | |||
| Utah | 85–79 | December 8, 2020 | |||
| 62–53 |
| December 10, 2020 | |||
| 65–48 |
| December 12, 2020 | |||
| 92–68 | December 17, 2020 | ||||
| Tennessee | 66–58 | December 17, 2020 | |||
| South Dakota State | 60–52 |
| December 19, 2020 | ||
| 61–55 |
| December 19, 2020 | |||
| 65–63 | December 31, 2020 | ||||
| Tennessee | 88–73 | January 7, 2021 | |||
| Washington State | 71–69OT | January 10, 2021 | |||
| Nebraska | 68–64 | January 10, 2021 | |||
| Georgia | 67–66 |
| January 14, 2021 | ||
| 65–61OT | January 14, 2021 | ||||
| Alabama | 86–78 | January 14, 2021 | |||
| 81–77OT |
| January 15, 2021 | |||
| Nebraska | 63–55 | January 16, 2021 | |||
| Iowa State | 75–71 | January 16, 2021 | |||
| 77–72OT | January 17, 2021 | ||||
| 74–66 | January 17, 2021 | ||||
| Texas | 70–59 |
| January 23, 2021 | ||
| 86–77OT |
| January 24, 2021 | |||
| 83–71OT |
| January 28, 2021 | |||
| LSU | 60–52 |
| January 28, 2021 | ||
| 74–60 | February 1, 2021 | |||
| 72–60 | February 4, 2021 | ||||
| Washington State | 67–63 | February 5, 2021 | |||
| North Carolina | 76–69 |
| February 7, 2021 | Rivalry | |
| 63–59OT |
| February 8, 2021 | |||
| 75–70 |
| February 10, 2021 | |||
| Rutgers | 70–54 |
| February 10, 2021 | ||
| Oklahoma | 72–71 | February 13, 2021 | |||
| Nebraska | 71–64 |
| February 17, 2021 | ||
| 61–56 |
| February 18, 2021 | |||
| Creighton | 83–72 | February 20, 2021 | |||
| 68–59 |
| February 21, 2021 | |||
| Oregon State | 71–64 |
| February 21, 2021 | ||
| 69–67 |
| February 24, 2021 | |||
| Marquette | 85–71 |
| February 24, 2021 | ||
| Iowa State | 85–68 |
| February 24, 2021 | ||
| 89–67 | February 25, 2021 | ||||
| 67–49 |
| February 27, 2021 | |||
| Ole Miss | 73–69 |
| February 28, 2021 | ||
| 66–64OT |
| February 28, 2021 | |||
| Oregon State | 88–77 | February 28, 2021 | Rivalry | ||
| Butler | 86–81 |
| March 1, 2021 | ||
| Oregon State | 71–64 |
| March 4, 2021 | Rivalry/Pac-12 Tournament | |
| 58–45 |
| March 4, 2021 | War on I-4 | ||
| Ole Miss | 69–60 |
| March 4, 2021 | SEC tournament | |
| 52–40 |
| March 6, 2021 | Summit League Tournament | ||
| 78–72 |
| March 6, 2021 | Big East tournament | ||
| Northwestern | 65–49 |
| March 11, 2021 | Big Ten tournament | |
| Michigan State | 69–61 |
| March 11, 2021 | Big Ten tournament | |
| Iowa | 73–62 |
| March 11, 2021 | Big Ten tournament |
Each of the 31 Division I athletic conferences that played in 2020–21 ended its regular season with a single-elimination tournament. The team with the best regular-season record in each conference was given 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 received automatic invitations to the 2021 NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament.
| Points per game | Rebounds per game | Assists per game | Steals per game | ||||||||||||
| Player | School | PPG | Player | School | RPG | Player | School | APG | Player | School | SPG | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26.6 | 13.3 | 7.2 | 3.84 | ||||||||||||
| 26.5 | 13.0 | 7.1 | 3.82 | ||||||||||||
| 25.1 | 12.9 | 6.7 | 3.76 | ||||||||||||
| 24.3 | 12.8 | 6.5 | 3.47 | ||||||||||||
| 24.2 | 12.6 | 6.3 | 3.32 |
| 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% | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4.00 | .668 | .500 | .941 | ||||||||||||
| 3.96 | .623 | .490 | .935 | ||||||||||||
| 3.52 | .621 | .467 | .924 | ||||||||||||
| 3.16 | .611 | .464 | .923 | ||||||||||||
| 3.04 | .607 | .461 | .917 |
See main article: 2021 NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament.
For this list, an "upset" is defined as a win by a team seeded 7 or more spots below its defeated opponent.
| Date | Winner | Score | Loser | Region | Round | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March 22 | Belmont (#12) | 64–59 | Gonzaga (#5) | Mercado | First Round | |
| March 22 | Wright State (#13) | 66–62 | Arkansas (#4) | Alamo | First Round |
See main article: 2021 NCAA Women's Basketball All-Americans.
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.
Paige Bueckers, UConn[59]
Paige Bueckers, UConn[60]
Not presented in 2021, although the men's version of this award was presented.
| Team | Former coach | Interim coach | New coach | Reason | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Army | Dave Magarity | Missy Traversi | Magarity announced his retirement on January 28, 2021 after 15 seasons at Army, effective at the end of the season.[77] On March 29, Missy Traversi was hired by the Black Knights following five seasons as head coach at D-II Adelphi.[78] | ||
| Auburn | Terri Williams-Flournoy | Johnnie Harris | Auburn announced a coaching change on March 4, 2021, firing Williams-Flournoy after 9 seasons.[79] Texas associate head coach Johnnie Harris was hired as the Tigers' new head coach on April 3.[80] | ||
| Austin Peay | David Midlick | Brittany Young | Midlick's contract was not renewed on March 8, 2021, ending his 6-year tenure at Austin Peay with an 85–88 record.[81] The Governors hired Mississippi State assistant Brittany Young as their new head coach on March 17.[82] | ||
| Baylor | Kim Mulkey | Nicki Collen | Mulkey left Baylor on April 25, 2021 after 21 seasons and 3 national championships for the LSU head coaching job.[83] Atlanta Dream head coach Nicki Collen was hired by the Lady Bears on May 3.[84] | ||
| Bethune–Cookman | Vanessa Blair-Lewis | Janell Crayton | Blair-Lewis left Bethune–Cookman on April 6, 2021 after 13 seasons for the George Mason head coaching job.[85] On July 2, the Wildcats named Kennesaw State assistant Crayton as their new head coach.[86] | ||
| Boston University | Marisa Moseley | Melissa D'Amico | Moseley left her alma mater on March 26, 2021 after 3 seasons to accept the head coaching job at Wisconsin.[87] Wake Forest assistant D'Amico was hired by the Terriers on April 23.[88] | ||
| Canisius | Scott Hemer | Sahar Nusseibeh | Hemer, citing personal and health reasons, resigned from Canisius on June 22, 2021 after 3 seasons.[89] Miami (OH) assistant Nusseibeh was hired by the Golden Griffins on July 23.[90] | ||
| Charleston Southern | Fred Applin | Clarisse Garcia | On April 9, 2021, Charleston Southern announced they would not extend Applin's contract following 9 seasons and a 67–178 record with the Buccaneers.[91] Auburn assistant coach Clarisse Garcia was hired on May 3.[92] | ||
| Colgate | Bill Cleary | Ganiyat Adeduntan | On April 8, 2021, Cleary announced his resignation after 5 seasons and a 49–79 record with the Raiders.[93] George Washington assistant coach Ganiyat Adeduntan was hired by the Raiders on April 21.[94] | ||
| Dartmouth | Belle Koclanes | Adrienne Shibles | Koclanes announced on February 24, 2021 that she will leave Dartmouth after 7 seasons to become president of a non-profit organization in Delaware effective March 31.[95] Adrienne Shibles was hired by the Big Green on May 3 after 13 seasons as head coach at D-III Bowdoin.[96] | ||
| Delaware State | David Caputo | E.C. Hill | Delaware State parted ways with Caputo on April 1, 2021 after 3 seasons and a 22–51 overall record.[97] Towson assistant coach Hill was hired by the Hornets on June 4.[98] | ||
| Drake | Jennie Baranczyk | Allison Pohlman | On April 10, 2021, Baranczyk left Drake after 9 seasons to accept the head coaching position at Oklahoma.[99] The Bulldogs filled the vacancy by promoting associate head coach Pohlman on April 19.[100] | ||
| East Tennessee State | Brittney Ezell | Simon Harris | ETSU fired Ezell on March 8, 2021 after 8 seasons and a 105–132 overall record.[101] The Buccaneers announced Ohio State assistant Simon Harris as their new head coach on March 19.[102] | ||
| Eastern Kentucky | Samantha Williams | Greg Todd | Williams resigned from EKU on April 16, 2021 after 2 seasons and a 20–33 record to become an assistant at Tennessee.[103] Morehead State head coach and EKU alum Greg Todd was hired by the Colonels on May 10.[104] | ||
| Eastern Washington | Wendy Schuller | Joddie Gleason | On March 31, 2021, EWU announced that Schuller would not return as head coach after 20 seasons with the Eagles.[105] Seattle associate head coach Joddie Gleason was hired on May 21.[106] | ||
| Evansville | Matt Ruffing | Robyn Scherr-Wells | Evansville parted ways with Ruffing on March 15, 2021 after 5 seasons and a 31–119 overall record.[107] On April 20, FIU assistant Robyn Scherr-Wells was hired by the Purple Aces.[108] | ||
| Florida Atlantic | Jim Jabir | Jennifer Sullivan | Jabir left FAU on April 7, 2021 after 4 seasons to return to Siena, where he had been head coach there from 1987 to 1990, for a second stint as head coach.[109] Tennessee assistant coach Jennifer Sullivan was named the Owls' new head coach on April 15.[110] | ||
| Florida State | Sue Semrau | Brooke Wyckoff | Sue Semrau | Semrau announced on September 8, 2020 that she will take a leave of absence from Florida State for the 2020–21 season to care for her mother, with the expectation of returning to the team at the end of the season. Associate head coach Wyckoff served as the Seminoles' interim head coach during Semrau's absence.[111] Semrau officially returned to Florida State on April 1, 2021.[112] | |
| George Mason | Nyla Milleson | Vanessa Blair-Lewis | Milleson announced her resignation on March 11, 2021 after 8 seasons and a 98–140 overall record at GMU.[113] Bethune–Cookman head coach Vanessa Blair-Lewis was hired by the Patriots on April 6. | ||
| George Washington | Jennifer Rizzotti | Caroline McCombs | GW parted ways with Rizzotti on March 15, 2021 after 5 seasons and a 72–74 overall record.[114] On April 2, the Colonials hired Stony Brook head coach McCombs for the same position.[115] | ||
| Hartford | Morgan Valley | Melissa Hodgdon | Polly Thomason | Valley left Hartford on April 21, 2021 after 2 seasons to return to her alma mater UConn as an assistant coach.[116] Assistant coach Hodgdon was named interim head coach of the Hawks for the 2021–22 season.[117] On May 27, 2022, the school hired Polly Thomason from D3 UT Dallas as the permanent replacement.[118] | |
| Indiana State | Vicki Hall | Chad Killinger | A week after parting ways with the men's basketball head coach, Indiana State and Hall agreed to part ways on March 15, 2021 after 3 seasons and a 21–59 overall record.[119] Nicholls assistant coach Chad Killinger was hired by the Sycamores on April 20.[120] | ||
| Kennesaw State | Agnus Berenato | Octavia Blue | Berenato retired on March 29, 2021 following a 33-year head coaching career, the last 5 years spent at Kennesaw State.[121] Miami (FL) associate head coach Blue was hired by the Owls on April 29.[122] | ||
| Kentucky | Matthew Mitchell | Kyra Elzy | Mitchell announced his retirement on November 12, 2020 after 15 seasons as a head coach, the last 13 at Kentucky. Following his announcement, associate head coach Kyra Elzy was initially named the interim head coach of the Wildcats for the 2020–21 season,[123] but UK athletic director Mitch Barnhart removed the interim tag from Elzy on December 14.[124] | ||
| Loyola (MD) | Joe Logan | Danielle O'Banion | On March 30, 2021, Loyola announced that Logan would not return as head coach following 16 seasons with the Greyhounds.[125] He was replaced by Minnesota assistant and former Kent State head coach Danielle O'Banion on April 23.[126] | ||
| Loyola Marymount | Charity Elliott | Aarika Hughes | On April 5, 2021, Elliott announced she would be stepping down following 9 seasons as head coach of LMU.[127] The Lions stayed in the LA area for their next hire, naming USC assistant coach Aarika Hughes for the job on April 19.[128] | ||
| LSU | Nikki Fargas | Kim Mulkey | Fargas stepped down on April 15, 2021 after 10 seasons and a 177–129 record at LSU to become president of the Las Vegas Aces.[129] Baylor head coach and Hall of Famer Kim Mulkey was hired by the Lady Tigers on April 25. | ||
| McNeese State | Kacie Cryer | Lynn Kennedy | On March 12, 2021, McNeese State announced they would not be extending Cryer's contract, ending her 5-year tenure at the school.[130] Portland State head coach Lynn Kennedy was hired by the Cowgirls on March 30.[131] | ||
| Memphis | Melissa McFerrin | Michele Savage | Katrina Merriweather | McFerrin announced her retirement effective immediately on February 14, 2021 after 13 seasons at Memphis. Assistant coach Savage was named interim head coach of the Tigers for the rest of the season.[132] Wright State head coach Katrina Merriweather was hired as the school's new coach on March 29.[133] | |
| Monmouth | Jody Craig | Ginny Boggess | Craig announced her resignation from Monmouth on March 11, 2021 after 4 seasons and a 33–69 overall record. She had been suspended by the school approximately 48 hours before her resignation.[134] Penn State assistant coach and head recruiting coordinator Boggess was hired as the Hawks' new head coach on April 8.[135] | ||
| Morehead State | Greg Todd | Cayla Petree | Todd left Morehead State on May 10, 2021 after 7 seasons for the head coaching job at his alma mater Eastern Kentucky. On June 4, the Eagles hired Cayla Petree from Gulf Coast State College of the NJCAA as their new head coach.[136] | ||
| Mount St. Mary's | Maria Marchesano | Antoine White | Marchesano left the Mount on March 30, 2021 after 4 seasons for the head coaching job at Purdue Fort Wayne.[137] Associate head coach Antoine White was promoted to head coach of the Mountaineers immediately following Marchesano's departure.[138] | ||
| Northeastern | Kelly Cole | Bridgette Mitchell | Northeastern parted ways with Cole on March 24, 2021 after 7 seasons and an 87–116 overall record.[139] Pittsburgh assistant Mitchell was hired by the Huskies on April 17.[140] | ||
| Northern Colorado | Jennifer Roulier-Huth | Kristen Mattio | Huth announced her resignation from Northern Colorado on April 21, 2021 after 3 seasons and a 48–41 record.[141] The Bears hired Mattio, head coach at D-II West Texas A&M for the past 6 seasons, on May 8.[142] | ||
| Oklahoma | Sherri Coale | Jennie Baranczyk | Coale announced her retirement after 25 seasons at Oklahoma on March 17, 2021. The 2016 Women's Basketball Hall of Fame inductee left the program with a 512–293 overall record, three Final Four appearances, and six Big 12 regular-season titles.[143] The Sooners hired Drake head coach Jennie Baranczyk as her successor on April 10. | ||
| Portland State | Lynn Kennedy | Chelsey Gregg | Kennedy left Portland State on March 30, 2021 after 6 seasons for the McNeese State head coaching job. Associate head coach Gregg was promoted to head coach of the Vikings on April 16.[144] | ||
| Purdue Fort Wayne | Niecee Nelson | Maria Marchesano | Purdue Fort Wayne announced on February 26, 2021 that Nelson, who had been under investigation for toxic abuse in the program, would not have her contract renewed at the end of the season, ending her 5-year tenure at the school.[145] On March 30, the Mastodons hired Fort Wayne native Maria Marchesano from Mount St. Mary's as their new head coach. | ||
| Rice | Tina Langley | Lindsay Edmonds | Langley left Rice on April 5, 2021 after 6 seasons for the Washington head coaching job.[146] The Owls hired NC State assistant Edmonds as her replacement on April 23.[147] | ||
| Sacramento State | Bunky Harkleroad | Mark Campbell | Sacramento State parted ways with Harkleroad on March 18, 2021 after 8 seasons and an 88-151 overall record.[148] Oregon assistant coach Campbell was named the new head coach of the Hornets on April 16.[149] | ||
| Siena | Ali Jaques | Jim Jabir | Siena opted not to renew Jaques' contract on March 15, 2021, ending her 9-year tenure at the school with a 116–148 record.[150] Florida Atlantic head coach Jim Jabir, who previously served as head coach of the Saints from 1987 to 1990, returned on April 7. | ||
| SIU Edwardsville | Paula Buscher | Samantha Quigley Smith | SIUE fired Buscher on March 19, 2021 after 9 seasons and a 117–152 record.[151] The Cougars hired Samantha Quigley Smith from D-II Lewis University on April 27.[152] | ||
| SMU | Travis Mays | Toyelle Wilson | SMU declined to renew Mays' contract on March 8, 2021, ending his 5-year tenure as head coach with a 63–75 overall record.[153] The Mustangs hired Michigan assistant and former Prairie View A&M head coach Toyelle Wilson on April 1.[154] | ||
| Stony Brook | Caroline McCombs | Ashley Langford | McCombs left Stony Brook on April 2, 2021 after 7 seasons for the head coaching job at George Washington. James Madison associate head coach Ashley Langford was hired by the Seawolves on April 28.[155] | ||
| Tulsa | Matilda Mossman | Angie Nelp | On March 18, 2021, Mossman announced her retirement from coaching, finishing her ten-year tenure at Tulsa with a 119–176 and a career record of 266–269 in 19 seasons.[156] Arizona State associate head coach Angie Nelp was hired by the Golden Hurricane on April 12.[157] | ||
| UMass Lowell | Tom Garrick | Denise King | Garrick announced on April 13, 2021 that he would be stepping down as head coach at UMass Lowell after 3 seasons to become an assistant for his wife Shea Ralph, who was hired as the new head coach at Vanderbilt.[158] River Hawks assistant King was promoted to the head coaching position on May 20.[159] | ||
| USC | Mark Trakh | Lindsay Gottlieb | On April 21, 2021, Trakh announced his retirement from coaching after 4 seasons of his 2nd stint at USC, finishing his 26-year tenure as a head coach with a career record of 458–317.[160] Cleveland Cavaliers assistant Lindsay Gottlieb was hired by the Trojans on May 10.[161] | ||
| UTSA | Kristen Holt | Karen Aston | Holt's contract with UTSA was not renewed on March 16, 2021, ending her 4-year tenure with a 24–83 overall record.[162] Former Texas head coach Karen Aston was hired as the Roadrunners' new head coach on March 29.[163] | ||
| Vanderbilt | Stephanie White | Shea Ralph | On April 6, 2021, Vanderbilt parted ways with White following 5 seasons and a 46–83 record with the Commodores.[164] The Commodores hired longtime UConn assistant Ralph on April 13.[165] | ||
| Wagner | Heather Jacobs | Terrell Coburn | Jacobs resigned on April 26, 2021 after 5 seasons at Wagner.[166] Assistant coach Coburn was promoted by the Seahawks to the head coaching position 2 days later.[167] | ||
| Washington | Jody Wynn | Tina Langley | Washington fired Wynn on March 15, 2021 after 4 seasons and a 38–75 record, the lowest winning percentage by a head coach in the program.[168] Rice head coach Tina Langley was hired by the Huskies on April 5. | ||
| Wisconsin | Jonathan Tsipis | Marisa Moseley | Wisconsin fired Tsipis on March 9, 2021 after 5 seasons, in which the Badgers went 50–99 overall and never finished higher than 11th place in conference play.[169] On March 26, the school hired Boston University's Marisa Moseley as their next head coach. | ||
| Wright State | Katrina Merriweather | Kari Hoffman | Merriweather left Wright State on March 29, 2021 after 5 seasons for the Memphis head coaching job. The Raiders hired Kari Hoffman on May 20 after 5 seasons as head coach at D-II Cedarville.[170] |