Baylor Bears women's basketball Women's college basketball team
Baylor Bears University Baylor University Head coach Nicki Collen Conference Big 12 Conference Location Waco, Texas Arena Foster Pavilion Nickname Bears Colors Green and gold[ 1]
2005, 2012, 2019 2005, 2010, 2012, 2019 2005, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2021 2004, 2005, 2006, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2024 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 1976, 1977 1976, 1977 1976, 1977 2005, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2021 2005, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022
The Baylor Bears women's basketball team represents Baylor University in Waco, Texas, in NCAA Division I women's basketball competition. They currently compete in the Big 12 Conference . The team plays its home games in the Foster Pavilion . Before the 2021–22 season, the team had been known as the "Lady Bears", but on September 3, 2021, the school officially announced that women's basketball had dropped "Lady" from its nickname. At the same time, soccer and volleyball, the other two Baylor women's teams that were still using "Lady" in their nicknames, also abandoned that usage.[ 2] [ 3]
The then-Lady Bears went undefeated at 40–0 to become the 2012 NCAA Division I National Champions in Women's College Basketball.
History
Olga joined the faculty of Baylor University in 1956 and served as an assistant professor of physical education through 1997. She developed Baylor's women's athletic program from its beginning within the physical education department in 1959 and from 1972 to 1979, served as the coordinator of women's athletics. She was inducted into the Baylor Athletic Hall of Fame in 1999. Under her coaching the softball team, advanced to the AIAW regional tournament in 1978 and 1979. The Bearette basketball team posted a five-year record of 143–50 and earned two consecutive bids to the national AIAW tournament in 1976 and 1977, rated fifth and seventh in the nation those years.
Statistics overview
Season
Team
Overall
Conference
Standing
Postseason
Baylor Lady Bears (Southwest Conference ) (1994–1996)
1994–1995
Baylor
13–14
4–10
7th
1995–1996
Baylor
11–19
3–11
7th
Baylor Lady Bears (Big 12 Conference ) (1996–2000)
1996–1997
Baylor
15–13
7–9
T-8th
1997–1998
Baylor
20–11
10–6
T–5th
WNIT Finals
1998–1999
Baylor
17–14
8–8
T-5th
WNIT
1999–2000
Baylor
7–20
2–14
12th
Baylor:
83–91 (.477)
34–58 (.370)
Total: 83–91 (.477)
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
Source:[ 4]
In 2000, Kim Mulkey took over a Baylor program that had finished the 1999–2000 season 7–20 and last in the Big 12 Conference . In her first season at Baylor, she turned the Lady Bears program around, leading the team to its first NCAA tournament bid. The Lady Bears have now (as of 2019) put together 19 consecutive 20-win seasons and only once has the team lost more than 10 games in a season. The rise of the Baylor program under Mulkey was capped off in 2005 with a national title . This made her the fourth person to have won NCAA Division I basketball titles as a player and a head coach (after Joe B. Hall , Bob Knight and Dean Smith ) and the first woman to do so. The Lady Bears also captured the 2012 title with an undefeated season and the 2019 title. Mulkey departed the program for LSU in 2021.[ 5]
Source:[ 7] [ 8]
Nicki Collen , previously 2018 WNBA Coach of the Year WNBA's Atlanta Dream , replaced Mulkey as head coach after the latter's departure for LSU.
Statistics overview
Season
Team
Overall
Conference
Standing
Postseason
Baylor Bears (Big 12 Conference ) (2021–present)
2021–22
Baylor
28–7
15–3
1st
NCAA Second Round
2022–23
Baylor
20–13
10–8
T–4th
NCAA Second Round
2023–24
Baylor
26–8
12–6
T-4th
NCAA Sweet Sixteen
Baylor:
74–28 (.753)
37–17 (.711)
Total: 74–28
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
National Championships
Conference Championships
Conference honors and awards
Southwest Conference Player of the Year
Big 12 Coach of the Year
Kim Mulkey (2005, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2018, 2019)Big 12 Player of the Year
Big 12 Freshman of the Year
Big 12 Newcomer of the Year
Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year
Big 12 Sixth Woman Award
Big 12 Tournament Most Outstanding Player
National honors and awards
USBWA National Freshman of the Year
Brittney Griner – 2009–10
Odyssey Sims – 2010–11 Elite 90 Award
Lindsay Palmer – 2010, 2012 Wade Trophy
Brittney Griner – 2011–12, 2012–13
Odyssey Sims – 2013–14
NaLyssa Smith – 2020–21Naismith College Player of the Year
Brittney Griner – 2011–12, 2012–13 Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award
Sheila Lambert – 2001–02
Odyssey Sims – 2013–14 WBCA Defensive Player of the Year
NCAA basketball tournament Most Outstanding Player
Nancy Lieberman Award
Naismith Defensive Player of the Year Award
Baylor vs. the Big 12*[ 10]
Baylor
Overall Record
at Waco
at Opponent's
at Neutral Site
Last 5 Meetings
Last 10 Meetings
Current Streak
Since Beginning
Colorado BU , 12–8BU , 6–2tie, 5–5
tie, 1–1
BU , 5–2BU , 8–2W 8BU , 12–5
Iowa State BU , 30–9BU , 16–2BU , 10–6BU , 4–1BU , 5–0BU , 9–1L 2BU , 30–9
Kansas BU , 34–8BU , 17–2BU , 13–5BU , 4–1BU , 5–0BU , 10-0W 15BU , 34–6
Kansas State BU , 40–8BU , 17–1BU , 14–3BU , 10–3BU , 5–0BU , 10–0W 36BU , 40–7
Missouri BU , 16–5BU , 9–1BU , 5–3BU , 2–1BU , 4–1BU , 8–2W 3BU , 15–4
Nebraska BU , 10–6BU , 6–2BU , 4–3NU, 0–1
BU , 3–2BU , 7–3W 1BU , 10–6
Oklahoma BU , 32–25BU , 16–9BU , 15-12OU, 1–5
BU , 5–0BU , 10–0W 12BU , 32–22
Oklahoma State BU , 45–11BU , 25–2BU , 15–9BU , 5–0BU , 5–0BU , 10–0W 10BU , 44–11
Texas UT, 59-45
UT, 23-24
UT, 27-17
UT, 5–6
BU , 5-0BU 10–0W 11BU , 39–17
Texas A&M BU , 50–36BU , 26–13A&M, 17–18
BU , 7–4BU , 4–1BU , 8–2W 3BU , 31–7
TCU BU , 42–5BU , 19–2BU , 20–3BU , 2–0BU , 5–0BU , 10–0W 31BU , 21–0
Texas Tech BU , 49–47BU , 21-20TT, 17-25
BU , 11–2BU , 5–0BU , 10–0W 24BU , 41–20
WVU BU , 20–3BU , 9–1BU , 9–0tied, 2–2
BU , 5–0BU , 9–1W 9BU , 20–2
*Updated through the end of the 2018–19 season.
ALL-TIME BIG 12 WINS (REGULAR SEASON) AS OF 2018–2019
289 – Baylor (.753),
240 – Oklahoma (.625),
232 – Texas (.604),
221 – Iowa State (.576),
192 – Kansas State (.500),
182 – Texas Tech (.474),
152 – Oklahoma State (.396),
126 – Kansas (.328),
71 – West Virginia (.563),
50 – TCU (.397)
Year by year results
Conference tournament winners noted with # Source[ 11]
Season
Team
Overall
Conference
Standing
Postseason
Coaches' poll
AP poll
Olga Fallen (Independent) (1974–1979)
1974–75
Olga Fallen
30–11
–
AIAW State Playoffs
1975–76
Olga Fallen
31–6
–
AIAW Quarterfinals
1976–77
Olga Fallen
32–12
–
AIAW Fifth Place
12
1977–78
Olga Fallen
33–8
–
AIAW Regional Playoffs
1978–79
Olga Fallen
17–13
–
AIAW State Playoffs
Olga Fallen:
143–50
–
Pam Bowers (Independent, Southwest) (1979–1994)
1979–80
Pam Bowers
4–24
–
1980–81
Pam Bowers
29–11
–
NWIT Eighth Place
1981–82
Pam Bowers
16–11
–
Southwest Conference
1982–83
Pam Bowers
16–14
4–4
T-5th
1983–84
Pam Bowers
15–12
9–7
T-4th
1984–85
Pam Bowers
12–14
7–9
T-5th
1985–86
Pam Bowers
6–21
4–12
7th
1986–87
Pam Bowers
8–20
5–11
T-6th
1987–88
Pam Bowers
10–20
3–13
T-8th
1988–89
Pam Bowers
3–23
1–15
9th
includes forfeit loss to Texas Tech
1989–90
Pam Bowers
4–23
1–15
9th
1990–91
Pam Bowers
9–17
3–13
8th
1991–92
Pam Bowers
11–17
3–11
8th
1992–93
Pam Bowers
12–16
6–8
5th
1993–94
Pam Bowers
13–14
4–10
7th
Pam Bowers:
168–257
50–128
Sonya Hogg (Southwest, Big 12) (1994–2000)
1994–95
Sonya Hogg
13–14
4–10
7th
1995–96
Sonya Hogg
11–19
3–11
7th
Big 12 Conference
1996–97
Sonya Hogg
15–13
7–9
T-8th (Big 12)
1997–98
Sonya Hogg
20–11
6–10
T-5th
WNIT Finals
1998–99
Sonya Hogg
17–14
8–8
T-5th
WNIT Sixteen
1999–2000
Sonya Hogg
7–20
2–14
12th
Sonya Hogg:
83–91
30–62
Kim Mulkey (Big 12) (2000–2021)
2000–01
Kim Mulkey
21–9
9–7
6th
NCAA First Round
2001–02
Kim Mulkey
27–6
12–4
2nd
NCAA Second Round
7
14
2002–03
Kim Mulkey
24–11
8–8
7th
WNIT Finals
2003–04
Kim Mulkey
26–9
10–6
T-4th
NCAA Sweet Sixteen
15
11
2004–05
Kim Mulkey
33–3
14–2
1st
NCAA Champions
5
1
2005–06
Kim Mulkey
26–7
12–4
2nd
NCAA Sweet Sixteen
10
14
2006–07
Kim Mulkey
26–8
11–5
3rd
NCAA Second Round
19
19
2007–08
Kim Mulkey
25–7
12–4
2nd
NCAA Second Round
12
17
2008–09
Kim Mulkey
29–6
12–4
2nd
NCAA Sweet Sixteen
5
6
2009–10
Kim Mulkey
27–10
9–7
T-6th
NCAA Final Four
14
4
2010–11
Kim Mulkey
34–3
15–1
1st
NCAA Elite Eight
3
5
2011–12
Kim Mulkey
40–0
18–0
1st
NCAA Champions
1
1
2012–13
Kim Mulkey
34–2
18–0
1st
NCAA Sweet Sixteen
1
4
2013–14
Kim Mulkey
32–5
16–2
T-1st
NCAA Elite Eight
5
6
2014–15
Kim Mulkey
33–4
16–2
1st
NCAA Elite Eight
5
5
2015–16
Kim Mulkey
36–2
17–1
1st
NCAA Elite Eight
4
4
2016–17
Kim Mulkey
33–4
17–1
1st
NCAA Elite Eight
5
6
2017–18
Kim Mulkey
33–2
18–0
1st
NCAA Sweet Sixteen
2
2018–19
Kim Mulkey
37–1
18–0
1st
NCAA Champions
1
1
2019–20
Kim Mulkey
28–2
17–1
1st
Cancelled due to COVID-19 Pandemic
2
3
2020–21
Kim Mulkey
28–3
17–1
1st
NCAA Elite Eight
5
5
Kim Mulkey:
632–104
296–60
Nicki Collen (Big 12) (2021–present)
2021–22
Nicki Collen
28–6
15–3
1st
NCAA Second Round
11
7
2022–23
Nicki Collen
20–12
10–8
T–4th
NCAA Second Round
2023–24
Nicki Collen
26–8
12–6
T–4th
NCAA Sweet Sixteen
13
15
Nicki Collen:
74–28
37–17
Total: 1,103–510
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
[ 7] [ 8]
Postseason results
NCAA Division I
The Bears have appeared in 19 tournaments, with a record of 53–17.
Year
Seed
Round
Opponent
Result
2001
#8
First Round
#9 Arkansas
L 59–68
2002
#2
First Round
#15 Bucknell
W 80–56
2004
#4
First Round
#13 Loyola Marymount
W 71–60W 91–76
2005 #2
First Round
#15 Illinois State
W 91–70W 69–46W 64–57W 72–63W 68–57W 84–62
2006
#3
First Round
#14 Northern Arizona
W 74–56W 87–67
2007
#5
First Round
#12 Chattanooga
W 68–55
2008
#3
First Round
#14 Fresno State
W 68–55
2009
#2
First Round
#15 UTSA
W 87–82 (OT)W 60–58
2010
#4
First Round
#13 Fresno State
W 69–55W 49–33W 77–62W 51–48
2011
#1
First Round
#16 Prairie View A&M
W 66–30W 82–68W 86–76
2012 #1
First Round
#16 UC Santa Barbara
W 81–40W 76–57W 83–68W 77–58W 59–47W 80–61
2013
#1
First Round
#16 Prairie View A&M
W 82–40W 85–47
2014
#2
First Round
#15 Western Kentucky
W 87–74W 75–56W 90–72
2015
#2
First Round
#15 Northwestern State
W 77–36W 73–44W 81–66
2016
#1
First Round
#16 Idaho
W 89–59W 84–52W 78–58
2017
#1
First Round
#16 Texas Southern
W 119–30W 86–46W 97–63
2018
#2
First Round
#15 Grambling State
W 96–46W 80–58
2019 #1
First Round
#16 Abilene Christian
W 95–38W 102–63W 93–68W 85–53W 72–67W 82–81
2021
#2
First Round
#15 Jackson State
W 101–52W 90–48W 78–75 (OT)
2022
#2
First Round
#15 Hawaii
W 89–49
2023
#7
First Round
#10 Alabama
W 78–74
2024
#5
First Round
#12 Vanderbilt
W 80–63W 75–72
AIAW Division I
The Lady Bears made two appearances in the AIAW National Division I basketball tournament , with a combined record of 5–3.
References
^ Baylor University Athletics Brand Identity (PDF) . April 15, 2019. Retrieved June 20, 2019 .^ Quillen, Kurtis (September 3, 2021). "Baylor University to drop 'Lady Bears' nickname from women's teams" . Temple, TX: KCEN-TV. Retrieved September 4, 2021 . ^ Voepel, Mechelle (September 4, 2021). "Baylor women's hoops drops 'Lady' from team name, to be known as Bears" . ESPN.com . Retrieved September 4, 2021 . ^ "Baylor Bears Official Athletic Site – BaylorBears.com – Women's Basketball" . www.baylorbears.com . Archived from the original on 2011-07-07.^ "Hall of Fame coach Mulkey leaves Baylor for LSU" . ESPN.com . 2021-04-25. Retrieved 2021-04-26 .^ ESPN News Services (12 March 2020). "NCAA tournaments canceled over coronavirus" . ESPN.com . ESPN. Retrieved 15 March 2020 . ^ a b "Player Bio: Kim Mulkey :: Women's Basketball" . Archived from the original on 2009-03-28. Retrieved 2009-05-13 .^ a b "Big 12 Record Book" (PDF) (Press release). Big 12 Sports. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 February 2008. Retrieved 2008-02-10 .^ "Young Named Player of the Year by Coaches" . www.baylorbears.com . Retrieved 2016-04-13 .^ "Big 12 Women's Basketball Media Guide" (PDF) . big12sports.com . Retrieved 2007-04-18 .^ "Media Guide" . Baylor University . Retrieved 10 Aug 2013 .
External links
Preceded by
Last NCAA team to finish the year undefeated or unbeaten in any sport Succeeded by
Venues Culture & lore People Seasons NCAA national championships in bold; NCAA Final Four appearance in italics
Current teams Championships & awards Conference challenges Seasons
