Oregon Ducks women's basketball

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Oregon Ducks
2025–26 Oregon Ducks women's basketball team
UniversityUniversity of Oregon
Head coachKelly Graves (12th season)
LocationEugene, Oregon
ArenaMatthew Knight Arena
(capacity: 12,364)
ConferenceBig Ten
NicknameDucks
ColorsGreen and yellow[1]
   
Student sectionOregon Pit Crew
NCAA Division I tournament Final Four
2019
Other NCAA Division I tournament results
Elite Eight2017, 2018, 2019
Sweet Sixteen2017, 2018, 2019, 2021
Appearances1982, 1984, 1987, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2005, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2025, 2026
AIAW tournament second round
1981
AIAW tournament appearances
1980, 1981
Conference tournament champions
NorPac: 1982, 1984
Pac-12: 2018, 2020
Conference regular-season champions
1999, 2000, 2018, 2019, 2020
Uniforms
Home jersey
Team colours
Home
Away jersey
Team colours
Away
Alternate jersey
Team colours
Alternate

The Oregon Ducks women's basketball team is the official women's basketball team of the University of Oregon in Eugene, Oregon. Basketball is one of 11 varsity women's sports at the University of Oregon. The team is a member of the Big Ten Conference and a Division I team in the National Collegiate Athletic Association. Matthew Knight Arena is the home venue for both women's and men's basketball and women's volleyball. Nike provides the official team uniforms for University of Oregon sports teams.

History

Women's basketball (as a zoned, single-dribble game) at the University of Oregon started as a club in 1899, brought to Oregon by physical education instructor Alice Chapman, wife of University President Charles Chapman. With a women's intercollegiate game emerging at Willamette University, Oregon Agricultural College, Pacific University, and elsewhere, an effort was made during the 1902–03 academic year to organize a women's university team.[2] This effort was waylaid by the Oregon faculty athletic committee early in January 1903, however, with the committee deeming it "not advisable" for the "young ladies' basketball team" to enter into intercollegiate games.[3] Instead, it was hoped that two campus teams could be organized to keep competition on a local level.[3]

The sport became an "interest group" in 1965. Intercollegiate games also began in 1965, and in 1966, the women's team entered the Northwest College Women's Sports Association (which would eventually become the AIAW Region 9 conference). The program became official in 1973, the year following the passage of Title IX, which required federally supported universities to offer equal opportunities in men's and women's athletics.[4] They have an all-time record (as of the end of the 2015–16 season) of 706–507. They previously played in the Northwest Basketball League from 1977 to 1982 (47–5 all-time record) and the NorPac Conference from 1982 to 1986 (34–12 all-time record) before the Pacific-10 Conference, now known as the Pac-12 Conference, began sponsoring women's sports in 1986. The Ducks' current all-time conference record is 260–280. They won the Women's National Invitation Tournament in 1989 over San Diego State, 67–64; and in 2002, with a 54–52 win over Houston.[5]

Season-by-season results

Season Coach Record Conference record
1973–74Jane Spearing3–8n/a
1974–75Nancy Mikleton2–10n/a
1975–76Nancy Mikleton5–15n/a
1976–77Elwin Heiny11–6n/a
1977–78Elwin Heiny19–58–4 (2nd)
1978–79Elwin Heiny23–211–0 (1st)
1979–80Elwin Heiny24–513–0 (1st)
1980–81Elwin Heiny25–711–1 (1st)
1981–82Elwin Heiny21–54–0 (1st)
1982–83Elwin Heiny15–148–4 (3rd)
1983–84Elwin Heiny23–710–1 (1st)
1984–85Elwin Heiny14–146–5 (3rd)
1985–86Elwin Heiny21–710–2 (T-1st)
1986–87Elwin Heiny23–714–4 (T-2nd)
1987–88Elwin Heiny16–129–9 (5th)
1988–89Elwin Heiny22–1011–7 (3rd)
1989–90Elwin Heiny17–129–9 (T-4th)
1990–91Elwin Heiny13–156–12 (8th)
1991–92Elwin Heiny14–146–12 (7th)
1992–93Elwin Heiny9–183–15 (T-9th)
1993–94Jody Runge20–913–5 (3rd)
1994–95Jody Runge18–1011–7 (4th)
1995–96Jody Runge18–1110–8 (T-3rd)
1996–97Jody Runge22–714–4 (2nd)
1997–98Jody Runge17–1013–5 (4th)
1998–99Jody Runge25–615–3 (T-1st)
1999–00Jody Runge23–814–4 (1st)
2000–01Jody Runge17–1210–8 (4th)
Season Coach Overall Conference Standing Postseason
Jane Spearing (Independent) (1973–1974)
Spearing: 3–8 (.273)
Nancy Mikleto (Independent) (1974–1976)
Mikleto: 7–25 (.219)
Elwin Heiny (Independent/Northwest Basketball League/NorPac/Pacific-10) (1976–1993)
Heiny: 310–160 (.660)139–85 (.621)
Jody Runge (Pacific-10) (1993–2001)
Runge: 160–73 (.687)100–44 (.694)
Bev Smith (Pacific-10) (2001–2009)
2001–02 Bev Smith 22–1310–8T-6thWNIT Champion
2002–03 Bev Smith 12–168–10T-5th
2003–04 Bev Smith 14–156–128th
2004–05 Bev Smith 21–1012–6T-2ndNCAA Second Round
2005–06 Bev Smith 14–155–138th
2006–07 Bev Smith 17–148–106thWNIT Third Round
2007–08 Bev Smith 14–177–117th
2008–09 Bev Smith 9–215–137th
Smith: 123–121 (.504)61–83 (.424)
Paul Westhead (Pacific-10/Pac-12) (2009–2014)
2009–10 Paul Westhead 18–167–11T-6thWNIT Third Round
2010–11 Paul Westhead 13–174–149th
2011–12 Paul Westhead 15–167–119th
2012–13 Paul Westhead 4–272–1612th
2013–14 Paul Westhead 16–166–1210thWNIT Second Round
Westhead: 66–92 (.418)26–64 (.289)
Kelly Graves (Pac-12) (2014–2024)
2014–15 Kelly Graves 13–176–12T-9th
2015–16 Kelly Graves 24–119–96thWNIT Semifinals
2016–17 Kelly Graves 23–148–106thNCAA Elite Eight
2017–18 Kelly Graves 33–516–21stNCAA Elite Eight
2018–19 Kelly Graves 31–516–21stNCAA Final Four
2019–20 Kelly Graves 31–217–11stPostseason cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
2020–21 Kelly Graves 15–910–74thNCAA Sweet Sixteen
2021–22 Kelly Graves 20–1211–62ndNCAA First Round
2022–23 Kelly Graves 20–157–118thWNIT Great Eight
2023–24 Kelly Graves 11–212–1612th
Kelly Graves (Big Ten) (2024–present)
2024–25 Kelly Graves 20–1210–8T-8thNCAA Second Round
Graves: 221–100 (.688)102–76 (.573)
Total:892–590 (.602)

      National champion         Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion         Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion       Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

Individual accomplishments

Individual National Award winners

Players

Sabrina Ionescu (2017)
Ruthy Hebard (2018)
Ruthy Hebard (2020)
Sabrina Ionescu (2019)
Sabrina Ionescu (2020)
Sabrina Ionescu (2018)
Sabrina Ionescu (2019)
Sabrina Ionescu (2020)
Sabrina Ionescu (2019)
Sabrina Ionescu (2020)
Sabrina Ionescu (2020)
Sabrina Ionescu (2020)
Sabrina Ionescu (2020)
Sabrina Ionescu (2019)
Sabrina Ionescu (2020)
Sabrina Ionescu (2020)

Individual Conference Award winners

Lauri Landerholm (1986–87)
Shaquala Williams (1999–00)
Jillian Alleyne (2015–16†)
Sabrina Ionescu (2017–18)
Sabrina Ionescu (2018–19)
Sabrina Ionescu (2019–20)
Sabrina Ionescu (2018)
Sabrina Ionescu (2020)
Kelly Graves (2018) (AP)
Kelly Graves (2019)

† Shared Award

Postseason

NCAA tournament results

The Ducks have appeared in 19 NCAA tournaments. Their combined record is 19–19.

Year Seed Round Opponent Result
1982#6First Round#3 MissouriL 53–59
1984#3First Round#6 San Diego StateL 63–70
1987#10First Round
Second Round		#7 Eastern Washington
#2 Ohio State		W 75–56
L 62–76
1994#6Round of 64
Round of 32		#11 Santa Clara
#3 Colorado		W 74–59
L 71–92
1995#6Round of 64#11 LouisvilleL 65–67
1996#11Round of 64#6 WisconsinL 60–74
1997#6Round of 64
Round of 32		#11 San Diego State
#3 Tennessee		W 79–62
L 59–76
1998#12Round of 64#5 RutgersL 76–79
1999#5Round of 64
Round of 32		#12 Cincinnati
#4 Iowa State		W 65–56
L 70–85
2000#6Round of 64#11 UABL 79–80 OT
2001#13Round of 64#4 IowaL 82–88
2005#10Round of 64
Round of 32		#7 TCU
#2 Baylor		W 58–55
L 46–69
2017#10Round of 64
Round of 32
Sweet Sixteen
Elite Eight		#7 Temple
#2 Duke
#3 Maryland
#1 Connecticut
W 71–70
W 74–65
W 77–63
L 52–90
2018#2Round of 64
Round of 32
Sweet Sixteen
Elite Eight		#15 Seattle
#10 Minnesota
#11 Central Michigan
#1 Notre Dame		W 88–45
W 101–73
W 83–69
L 84–74
2019#2Round of 64
Round of 32
Sweet Sixteen
Elite Eight
Final Four		#15 Portland State
#10 Indiana
#6 South Dakota State
#1 Mississippi State
#1 Baylor		W 78–40
W 91–68
W 63–53
W 88–84
L 72–67
2021#6Round of 64
Round of 32
Sweet Sixteen		#11 South Dakota
#3 Georgia
#2 Louisville		W 67–47
W 57–50
L 60–42
2022#5Round of 64#12 BelmontL 70–73 OT
2025#10Round of 64
Round of 32		#7 Vanderbilt
#2 Duke		W 77–73 OT
L 53–59
2026#8Round of 64
Round of 32		#9 Virginia Tech
#1 Texas		W 70–60
L 58–100

Historical NCAA tournament seeding

Years → '82 '84 '87 '94 '95 '96 '97 '98 '99 '00 '01 '05 '17 '18 '19 '20 '21 '22 '25 '26
Seeds → 63106611612561310102265108

Pac-10/12 tournament seeding

Years → '02 '03 '04 '05 '06 '07 '08 '09 '10 '11 '12 '13 '14 '15 '16 '17 '18 '19 '20 '21 '22 '23
Seeds→ 7 5 8 2 8 6 7 7 6 9 9 12 10 10 6 6 1 1 1 4 2 9

B1G Tournament Seeding

Years → '25 '26
Seeds→ 8 11
  • Bold indicates tournament champion

Coaching history

Jane Spearing coached the first official season for the Ducks in 1973–74. The team finished that season with a 3–8 losing record. The 1974–75 and 1975–76 seasons were coached by Nancy Mikleton and the team posted 2–10 and 5–15 records, respectively. Head coach Elwin Heiny took over the program in 1976 and remained coach until 1993. Heiny was the first full-time coach hired for women's basketball. In his first season as head coach, Heiny coached the team to its first winning record (11–6). Jody Runge took over as head coach in 1993 and coached until 2001. She coached the Ducks to NCAA tournament appearances during each of her eight seasons as coach. Runge also spoke out for equality in women's athletics.[6] From 2001 to 2009, former Oregon Ducks All-American Bev Smith coached the team, posting an 83–69 overall record. Paul Westhead coached the Ducks from the 2009–10 season through the 2013–14 season. The current head coach is Kelly Graves, assisted by Associate Head Coach Mark Campbell, and Assistant Coaches Jodie Berry and Xavi López.

Facilities

The early women's basketball clubs played in Gerlinger Hall on the University of Oregon campus, built in 1927 to serve as the women's gymnasium. Games eventually moved to McArthur Court (also called Mac Court and "The Pit") — one of the most renowned college athletic facilities of all time. Admission was first charged for women's games at Mac Court in 1978. The Ducks relocated when Matthew Knight Arena opened in 2011. In their first game in Matthew Knight, the women's team defeated Oregon State University in the "Civil War," 81–72.

Statistical leaders

Current through Oregon's game against Oregon State on December 13, 2020.[7][8][9] Players active in the 2020–21 season are in bold type.

Career leaders

Scoring
Rank Player Years Points
1Sabrina Ionescu2016–202,562
2Ruthy Hebard2016–202,368
3Alison Lang1980–842,252
4Jillian Alleyne2012–162,151
5Bev Smith1978–822,063
6Stefanie Kasperski1986–901,956
7Lauri Landerholm1982–871,783
8Amanda Johnson2008–121,505
9Arianne Boyer1993–971,501
10Shaquala Williams1998–20021,478
Rebounds
Rank Player Years Rebounds
1Jillian Alleyne2012–161,712
2Bev Smith1978–821,352
3Ruthy Hebard2016–201,299
4Alison Lang1980–841,151
5Phillipina Kylei2021-251,073
6Sabrina Ionescu2016–201,040
7Stefanie Kasperski1986–90996
8Amanda Johnson2008–12893
9Debbie Sporcich1990–94868
10Arianne Boyer1993–97850
Assists
Rank Player Years Assists
1Sabrina Ionescu2016–201,091
2Maite Cazorla2015–19691
3Lauri Landerholm1982–87607
4Bev Smith1978–82443
5Missy Croshaw1990–94417
6Jacquie Semeniuk1986–90408
7Corrie Misuzawa2003–05389
8Shaquala Williams1998–2002369
9Kaela Chapdelaine2004–08362
10Lisa Bowyer1996–99358

Steals
Rank Player Years Steals
1Bev Smith1978–82349
2Lauri Landerholm1982–87290
3Sabrina Ionescu2016–20207
4Nia Jackson2008–12204
5Maite Cazorla2015–19201
6Julie Cushing1977–80200
7Amanda Johnson2008–12195
8Lisa Bowyer1996–99186
9Jasmin Holliday2009–12183
10Debbie Adams1977–81173
Blocks
Rank Player Years Blocks
1Alison Lang1980–84425
2Stefanie Kasperski1986–90402
3Jenny Mowe1996–2001222
4Bev Smith1978–82193
5Renae Fegent1994–97169
6Jillian Alleyne2012–16147
7Ruthy Hebard2016–20146
8Phillipina Kyei2021-25138
9Cathrine Kraayeveld2000–05132
10Gabi Neumann1984–87111
Three-pointers
Rank Player Years Threes
1Sabrina Ionescu2016–20329
2Lexi Bando2014–18283
3Taylor Lilley2007–10270
4Erin Boley2018–2021219
5Maite Cazorla2015–19211
6Missy Croshaw1990–94189
7Brandi Davis2002–06186
8Jamie Craighead1998–2002182
9Satou Sabally2017–20180
10Amanda Johnson2008–12168

Field goal percentage[a]
Rank Player Years Percentage
1Ruthy Hebard2016–20.651
2Alison Lang1980–84.590
3Jenny Mowe1996–2001.573
4Stefanie Kasperski1986–90.563
5Sara Wilson1990–94.554
6Angelina Wolvert1997–2001.544
7Jillian Alleyne2012–16.543
8Debbie Sporcich1990–94.540
9Gabi Neumann1984–87.534
10Debbie Adams1977–81.534
Three-point percentage[b]
Rank Player Years Percentage
1Lexi Bando2014–18.457
2Jennifer Boum1987–91.446
3Michelle Eble1987–90.443
4Erin Boley2018–2021.429
5Sabrina Ionescu2016–20.422
6Taylor Chavez2018–2021.414
7Natasha O'Brien1997–99.407
8Chelsea Wagner2003–06.395
9Missy Croshaw1990–94.392
10Victoria Kenyon2008–11.391
Free throw percentage[c]
Rank Player Years Percentage
1Micaela Cocks2007–10.859
2Sabrina Ionescu2016–20.851
3Shaquala Williams1998–2002.839
4Carolyn Gaines2003–07.812
5Lauri Landerholm1982–87.810
6Ariel Thomas2010–14.809
7Sonja Curtis1996–99.800
8Maite Cazorla2015–19.790
9Lexi Bando2014–18.789
10Gabrielle Richards2004–06.786

  1. Qualification requirement: At least 4 attempts per game, plus at least two seasons at Oregon
  2. Qualification requirement: At least 1 attempt per game, plus at least two seasons at Oregon
  3. Qualification requirement: At least 1.5 attempts per game, plus at least two seasons at Oregon

Single-season leaders

Scoring
Rank Player Season Points
1Sabrina Ionescu2018–19755
2Sabrina Ionescu2017–18748
3Alison Lang1982–83693
4Chrishae Rowe2013–14690
5Jillian Alleyne2013–14684
6Ruthy Hebard2017–18652
7Stefanie Kasperski1988–89650
8Bev Smith1980–81632
Satou Sabally2018–19632
10Alison Lang1983–84609
Rebounds
Rank Player Season Rebounds
1Jillian Alleyne2013–14519
2Jillian Alleyne2014–15455
3Bev Smith1980–81376
Phillipina Kyei2022–23376
5Jillian Alleyne2012–13370
6Jillian Alleyne2015–16368
7Bev Smith1979–80367
8Ruthy Hebard2018–19335
9Ruthy Hebard2017–18333
10Bev Smith1978–79323
Assists
Rank Player Season Assists
1Sabrina Ionescu2018–19311
2Sabrina Ionescu2019–20299
3Sabrina Ionescu2017–18298
4Corrie Misuzawa2004–05209
5Maite Cazorla2015–16206
6Jacquie Semeniuk1988–89190
7Sabrina Ionescu2016–17189
8Corrie Misuzawa2003–04180
9Maite Cazorla2017–18179
10Lauri Landerholm1986–87171

Steals
Rank Player Season Steals
1Bev Smith1978–7995
Bev Smith1979–8095
3Bev Smith1980–8194
4Suzanne Washington1978–7987
5Vanessa Selden1981–8284
6Suzanne Washington1979–8083
Nia Jackson2009–1083
8Lauri Landerholm1986–8776
9Lauri Landerholm1986–8773
10Sally Crowe1994–9572
Allison Towriss1980–8172
Chrishae Rowe2013–1472
Blocks
Rank Player Season Blocks
1Alison Lang1982–83140
2Stefanie Kasperski1987–88119
3Stefanie Kasperski1988–89111
4Alison Lang1983–84105
5Alison Lang1981–8299
6Stefanie Kasperski1988–8992
7Kerry Clawson1977–7884
8Alison Lang1980–8181
9Stefanie Kasperski1986–8780
10Renae Fegent1995–9674
Three-pointers
Rank Player Season Threes
1Taylor Lilley2009–10124
2Erin Boley2018–19108
3Sabrina Ionescu2017–18102
4Sabrina Ionescu2018–1994
5Katelyn Loper2013–1483
6Jamie Craighead2000–0181
Chrishae Rowe2013–1481
Satou Sabally2018–1981
Te-Hina PaoPao2022–202381
10Lexi Bando2017–1880

Field goal percentage[a]
Rank Player Season Percentage
1Ruthy Hebard2019–20.685
2Ruthy Hebard2018–19.670
3Ruthy Hebard2017–18.660
4Debbie Adams1980–81.614
5Alison Lang1982–83.611
6Stefanie Kasperski1988–89.606
7Debbie Sporcich1992–93.602
8Alison Lang1981–82.594
9Sara Wilson1993–94.593
10Ruthy Hebard2016–17.588
Three-point percentage[b]
Rank Player Season Percentage
1Taylor Lilley2006–07.506
2Lexi Bando2016–17.475
3Taylor Chavez2019–20.474
4Michelle Eble1988–89.471
5Missy Croshaw1993–94.458
6Lexi Bando2017–18.457
7Jennifer Boum1990–91.454
8Lexi Bando2015–16.453
9Lexi Petersen2015–16.447
10Lexi Bando2014–15.440
Free throw percentage[c]
Rank Player Season Percentage
1Sabrina Ionescu2019–20.921
2Gabrielle Richards2005–06.909
3Shaquala Williams2001–02.908
4Sabrina Ionescu2018–19.883
5Devyn Galland2012–13.875
6Micaela Cocks2009–10.865
7Sally Crowe1994–95.864
8Micaela Cocks2008–09.860
9Ariel Thomas2013–14.840
10Jessica Schutt1993–94.836

  1. Qualification requirement: At least 4 made per game
  2. Qualification requirement: At least 1 made per game
  3. Qualification requirement: At least 2 made per game

Oregon women's basketball players in professional teams

Player Year Drafted team Current team Drafted
Nyara Sabally 2022 New York Liberty New York Liberty RD 1, 5th overall
Sabrina Ionescu 2020 New York Liberty New York Liberty RD 1, 1st overall
Satou Sabally 2020 Dallas Wings Dallas Wings RD 1, 2nd overall
Ruthy Hebard 2020 Chicago Sky Chicago Sky RD 1, 7th overall
Maite Cazorla 2019 Atlanta Dream Perfumerías Avenida RD 2, 23rd overall
Jillian Alleyne 2016 Phoenix Mercury Minnesota Lynx RD 2, 20th overall
Amanda Johnson 2012 Phoenix Mercury Retired RD 3, 33rd overall
Taylor Lilley 2010 Undrafted Retired –
Cathrine Kraayeveld 2005 San Antonio Silver Stars Retired RD 3, 27th overall
Shaquala Williams 2003 Cleveland Rockers Retired RD 3, 30th overall
Edniesha Curry 2002 Charlotte Sting Retired RD 3, 41st overall
Jenny Mowe 2001 Portland Fire Retired RD 2, 20th overall
Angelina Wolvert 2001 Cleveland Rockers Retired RD 3, 43rd overall

References

  1. "Colors | University Communications". University of Oregon Brand and Style Guide. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
  2. "Society Notes," Eugene Register, vol. 9, no. 65 (Oct. 21, 1902), p. 3.
  3. "Will Strive for Footlight Plaudits," Eugene Register, vol. 9, no. 133 (Jan. 9, 1903), p. 6.
  4. "Reaching a Bit Further," Emerald Sports Weekly, March 11, 1981.
  5. "2016–17 Women's Basketball Media Guide V2 – GoDucks.com – The University of Oregon Official Athletics Web Site" (PDF). www.goducks.com.
  6. "Former Oregon coach Jody Runge can't get a second chance- ESPN The Magazine".
  7. "Individual Career Records" (PDF). 2020–21 Oregon Women's Basketball Record Book. Oregon Ducks. pp. 76–77. Retrieved November 29, 2020.
  8. "Individual Single-Season Records" (PDF). 2019–20 Oregon Women's Basketball Media Guide. Oregon Ducks. pp. 74–75. Retrieved November 29, 2020.
  9. "2020–21 Oregon Women's Basketball Individual Career Summaries" (PDF). Oregon Ducks. December 13, 2020. Retrieved December 14, 2020.