Heading into March Madness, Which NCAA Women’s Basketball Team Has Most Championships?

Such is a hype that pundits are making it sound some never-seen-before event. Well, at least, that’s how women hoopers are performing this season. And it’s beyond smashing records. The surging popularity of Angel Reeses and JuJu Watkins of women basketball is now crowding stands and making it a sold out house. And that exactly is making March Madness a massive moment for women college basketball this year.

While fans are expecting thrill and theatrics, Essentially Sports takes a look at the colleges that have won the most championships in women’s basketball history:-

University of Connecticut Huskies – 11 titles

Years: 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2010, 2009, 2004, 2003, 2002, 2000, 1995. 

Lady Huskies have forged a brilliant track record with 11 titular wins in the college basketball circuit. The credit for this exceptional display goes to their head coach Geno Auriemma. Auriemma has won eighth Naismith Coach of the Year award and has been rewarded for his blood, sweat, and labor. A noteworthy record for Huskies is that they won four of these titles during consecutive years from 2013 to 2016.

However, this has not been the first time that Huskies went on a winning spree. They did so when they won the championship game from 2002 to 2004 and again in 2009 and 2010. This season too despite losing a mainstay player in Azzi Fudd, their star Paige Bueckers looks in top form to take the team to another championship title.

Tennessee Volunteers – 8 titles

Years: 2008, 2007, 1998, 1997, 1996, 1991, 1989, 1987

Volunteers occupy the second spot with 8 wins. These records came due to the able coaching of their head coach Pat Summitt. She was the most winningest coach in college basketball history during the time of her retirement and her passion and dedication to the sport shone in ways more than one. 

Apart from the 8 titles, Volunteers also marked 18 Final Four appearances with her. The earnest coach never had a losing season which is a thing to look up to especially since she coached Lady Volunteers for 38 seasons.

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The championship wins can be mostly divided into three phases. The first came with a difference of two years thrice in 1987, 1989 and 1991. Three other wins were consecutive in 1996, 1997 and 1998. During the last phase, Lady Volunteers emerged triumphant in 2007 and 2008. Overall, they had a record that others looked to imitate.

Baylor Bears – 3 titles

Years: 2019, 2012, 2005. 

Kim Mulkey was the head coach for Baylor Bears from 2000-2021 and helped the team to three NCAA titles. Mulkey is the first player to win a championship as a player, coach, and assistant. Her record can also be traced to Louisiana State University Lady Tigers where she won the championship after her transfer. Mulkey is therefore champion throughout. 

Mulkey is the only coach after Auriemma and Summitt to have more than 3 championships. Bears currently are being coached by Nicki Collen and there is no better opportunity for them to go for another NCAA Championship title. Moreso, the want for it is amplified due to Collen’s need to prove her mettle in the NCAA circuit. If Baylor Bears even come near to winning a championship this season, every fan would breathe a sigh of relief and would stop missing Mulkey so much.

Stanford Cardinal – 3

Years: 2021, 1992, 1990. 

Cardinal have won three championships due to the able guidance of their head coach Tara VanDerveer. VanDerveer recently surpassed Coach K as the most winningest NCAA D1 basketball coach. No words would be apt to describe her dedication to the game. The first win for the 70-year-old came during the 1990 season. She followed that up with another win in the 1992 season proving her mettle. Her last came very recently in 2021.

Other than wins, VanDerveer has led the team to 13 Final Fours and has completely transformed the way Cardinal women’s basketball team is perceived. Even this season she has one of the best teams with star players like Cameron Brink. If VanDerveer can get going in the March Madness, then there is no one stopping her.

South Carolina, Notre Dame, Louisiana Tech, Southern California – 2

Years: (2017, 2022), (2018, 2001), (1988,1982), (1984,1983)

Gamecocks, Fighting Irish, Louisiana Tech, and Trojans have all won the NCAA title twice. Hence, these four teams are tied for the fifth spot. While Gamecocks have won the contest in 2017 and 2022, Notre Dame have emerged triumphant in 2018 and 2001. Louisiana Tech have won the game in 1982 and 1988, whereas Trojans were the first program to win back-to-back titles in women’s college basketball history.

Though all the coaches involved in the games have been celebrated, the two most notable ones are Gamecocks’ Dawn Staley and Notre Dame’s Muffet McGraw. Gamecocks had a 33-4 record in 2017 and a 31-2 record in 2022. This only proves how dedicated Staley and her team were to take the squad to a championship title such that they made the most of the regular season. 

On a similar note, Notre Dame too had exceptional records during their winning season of 2001 and 2018. This year too South California in particular has been going strong and have an unbeaten record. Who knows they might get their third championship title soon.