2021–22 NCAA Division I women's basketball season

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The 2021–22 NCAA Division I women's basketball season began on November 9, 2021. The regular season will end on March 6, 2022 with the 2022 NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Tournament beginning on March 18, 2022 and ending with the championship game at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota on April 3, 2022.

Rule changes[edit]

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 has been 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 may apply for an NCAA waiver to allow transmission of live video feeds to the bench in conference games. This will still be prohibited during nonconference games. (Previously, only video preloaded video has 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).

Season headlines[edit]

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 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 USACharlotte, 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 that 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, effective no later than July 2023.[34]
  • November 12
  • November 16
  • November 17 – The NCAA announced that the women's tournament would expand from 64 to 68 teams, effective with the 2022 tournament. This was one of several recommendations made by the law firm Kaplan Hecker & Fink when it issued an NCAA-commissioned gender equity report after media criticism of inequities between the 2021 men's and women's tournaments. 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.[39]

Milestones and records[edit]

TBA

Conference membership changes[edit]

Eleven schools joined new conferences for the 2021–22 season, including St. Thomas that is transitioning directly from NCAA Division III.

School Former conference New conference
Abilene Christian Southland Conference Western Athletic Conference
Bethune–Cookman Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Southwestern Athletic Conference
Central Arkansas Southland Conference ASUN Conference
Eastern Kentucky Ohio Valley Conference ASUN Conference
Florida A&M Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Southwestern Athletic Conference
Jacksonville State Ohio Valley Conference ASUN Conference
Lamar Southland Conference Western Athletic Conference
North Carolina A&T Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Big South Conference
St. Thomas Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (D-III) Summit League
Sam Houston Southland Conference Western Athletic Conference
Stephen F. Austin Southland Conference Western Athletic Conference

The 2021–22 season will be the last for six Division I schools in their current conferences. One NCAA Division II school will start its transition to D-I after the season.

Arenas[edit]

New arenas[edit]

  • 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,[45] but was delayed due to COVID-19 issues..[46] The facility officially opened on the weekend of September 24–26;[47] 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.[48][49] The regular-season opener was a men's and women's doubleheader against nearby Elon on November 9.[50]
  • 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.[51] The first women's regular-season game was on November 14 when the Vandals lost 66–46 to San Diego.[52]

Arena of new D-I team[edit]

Arenas closing[edit]

The following D-I programs plan to open new arenas for the 2022–23 season. All will move within their current campuses unless otherwise indicated.

Season outlook[edit]

Pre-season polls[edit]

The top 25 from the AP and USA Today Coaches Polls.

AP
Ranking Team
1 South Carolina (14)
2 UConn (10)
3 Stanford (5)
4 Maryland
5 NC State
6 Louisville
7 Baylor
8 Indiana
9 Iowa
10 Oregon
11 Michigan
12 Iowa State
13 Kentucky
14 Oregon State
15 Tennessee
16 Florida State
17 Ohio Stateт
18 Georgia Techт
19 West Virginia
20 UCLA
21 South Florida
22 Arizona
23 Texas A&M
24 Virginia Tech
25 Texas
USA Today Coaches
Ranking Team
1 South Carolina (13)
2 Stanfordт (13)
3 UConnт (6)
4 NC State
5 Maryland
6 Louisville
7 Indiana
8 Baylor
9 Oregon
10 Michigan
11 Iowa
12 Tennessee
13 Kentucky
14 UCLA
15 Arizona
16 Iowa State
17 Texas A&M
18 Oregon State
19 Georgia
20 Georgia Tech
21 Texas
22 South Florida
23 West Virginia
24 Florida State
25 Ohio State

Regular season top 10 matchups[edit]

Rankings reflect the AP Poll Top 25.

  • Nov 9
    • No. 1 South Carolina defeated No. 5 NC State, 66–57 (Reynolds Coliseum, Raleigh, NC)
  • Nov 21
    • No. 6 Baylor vs. No. 3 Maryland (Xfinity Center, College Park, Maryland)

Regular season[edit]

Early season tournaments[edit]

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[54]
Baha Mar Hoops Pink Flamingo November 25-27 Baha Mar Convention Center (Nassau, Bahamas) 7
Battle 4 Atlantis November Imperial Arena (Nassau, Bahamas) 8
Cancún Challenge November Moon Palace Golf & Spa Resort (Cancún, MX) 10
Junkanoo Jam November Gateway Christian Academy (Bimini, Bahamas) 10
Greater Victoria Invitational November University of Victoria (Saanich, BC) 8
Paradise Jam Tournament November Sports and Fitness Center (Saint Thomas, VI) 8
Daytona Beach Invitational November Ocean Center (Daytona Beach, FL) 10
Gulf Coast Showcase November – December Hertz Arena (Estero, FL) 8
West Palm Beach Invitational December Student Life Center (West Palm Beach, FL) 10
Duel in the Desert December Cox Pavilion (Las Vegas, NV) 4

Upsets[edit]

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
TBA


In addition to the above listed upsets in which an unranked team defeated a ranked team, there have been four non-Division I teams to defeat a Division I team so far this season:

Conference winners and tournaments[edit]

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.


Postseason[edit]

NCAA Tournament[edit]

Tournament upsets[edit]

Conference standings[edit]

2021–22 America East Conference women's basketball standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT
Stony Brook 0 0   4 0   1.000
Binghamton 0 0   2 1   .667
Albany 0 0   1 1   .500
New Hampshire 0 0   1 2   .333
NJIT 0 0   1 2   .333
UMass Lowell 0 0   1 2   .333
UMBC 0 0   1 2   .333
Vermont 0 0   1 2   .333
Hartford 0 0   0 2   .000
Maine 0 0   0 3   .000
2022 America East Tournament winner
As of November 20, 2021; 
2021–22 American Athletic Conference women's basketball standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT
Tulane 0 0   3 0   1.000
Tulsa 0 0   3 0   1.000
Wichita State 0 0   3 0   1.000
Memphis 0 0   2 0   1.000
Cincinnati 0 0   2 1   .667
SMU 0 0   2 1   .667
No. 23 South Florida 0 0   2 1   .667
UCF 0 0   2 1   .667
East Carolina 0 0   1 2   .333
Houston 0 0   1 2   .333
Temple 0 0   1 2   .333
2022 AAC Tournament winner
As of November 20, 2021; Rankings from AP Poll
2021–22 Atlantic 10 women's basketball standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT
Rhode Island 0 0   4 0   1.000
UMass 0 0   3 0   1.000
Fordham 0 0   2 0   1.000
George Mason 0 0   3 1   .750
St. Bonaventure 0 0   3 1   .750
Dayton 0 0   2 1   .667
Davidson 0 0   2 2   .500
Richmond 0 0   1 1   .500
VCU 0 0   1 1   .500
George Washington 0 0   1 2   .333
La Salle 0 0   1 2   .333
Saint Joseph's 0 0   1 2   .333
Saint Louis 0 0   1 2   .333
Duquesne 0 0   1 3   .250
2022 A10 Tournament winner
As of November 20, 2021; 
2021–22 ACC women's basketball standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT
Notre Dame 1 0   1.000 4 0   1.000
No. 18 Georgia Tech 0 0   4 0   1.000
Miami (FL) 0 0   4 0   1.000
No. 25 Virginia Tech 0 0   4 0   1.000
Wake Forest 0 0   4 0   1.000
Duke 0 0   3 0   1.000
No. 17 Florida State 0 0   3 0   1.000
North Carolina 0 0   3 0   1.000
Pittsburgh 0 0   3 0   1.000
No. 5 NC State 0 0   3 1   .750
Boston College 0 0   2 1   .667
No. 10 Louisville 0 0   2 1   .667
Clemson 0 0   1 2   .333
Virginia 0 0   0 3   .000
Syracuse 0 1   .000 2 1   .667
2022 ACC Tournament winner
As of November 18, 2021; Rankings from AP Poll
2021–22 ASUN women's basketball standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT
East
Florida Gulf Coast 0 0   3 0   1.000
Jacksonville 0 0   2 1   .667
Liberty 0 0   3 0   1.000
North Florida 0 0   3 1   .750
Stetson 0 0   1 1   .500
Kennesaw State 0 0   1 2   .333
West
Central Arkansas 0 0   1 1   .500
Eastern Kentucky 0 0   1 1   .500
Jacksonville State 0 0   1 1   .500
North Alabama* 0 0   1 1   .500
Bellarmine* 0 0   0 1   .000
Lipscomb 0 0   0 2   .000
* ineligible for the 2022 NCAA Tournament due to transition from Division II
2022 ASUN Tournament winner
As of November 20, 2021; Rankings from AP Poll
2021–22 Big East women's basketball standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT
Marquette 0 0   3 0   1.000
DePaul 0 0   2 0   1.000
Georgetown 0 0   2 0   1.000
No. 2 UConn 0 0   1 0   1.000
Creighton 0 0   1 1   .500
Providence 0 0   1 1   .500
St. John's 0 0   1 1   .500
Seton Hall 0 0   1 1   .500
Butler 0 0   0 2   .000
Villanova 0 0   0 2   .000
Xavier 0 0   0 2   .000
2022 Big East Tournament winner
As of November 20, 2021; Rankings from AP Poll
2021–22 Big Sky women's basketball standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT
Portland State 0 0   2 0   1.000
Sacramento State 0 0   2 1   .667
Idaho 0 0   1 1   .500
Idaho State 0 0   1 1   .500
Montana 0 0   1 1   .500
Weber State 0 0   1 1   .500
Montana State 0 0   1 2   .333
Eastern Washington 0 0   0 2   .000
Northern Arizona 0 0   0 2   .000
Northern Colorado 0 0   0 2   .000
Southern Utah 0 0   0 2   .000
Big Sky Tournament winner
As of November 20, 2021; 
2021–22 Big South women's basketball standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT
High Point 0 0   2 1   .667
UNC Asheville 0 0   2 1   .667
Campbell 0 0   1 1   .500
Hampton 0 0   1 2   .333
Charleston Southern 0 0   0 1   .000
USC Upstate 0 0   0 1   .000
Longwood 0 0   0 2   .000
Presbyterian 0 0   0 2   .000
Radford 0 0   0 2   .000
Winthrop 0 0   0 2   .000
Gardner–Webb 0 0   0 3   .000
North Carolina A&T 0 0   0 4   .000
2022 Big South Tournament winner
As of November 20, 2021; 
2021–22 Big Ten women's basketball standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT
No. 3 Maryland 0 0   5 0   1.000
No. 8 Iowa 0 0   4 0   1.000
Nebraska 0 0   4 0   1.000
No. 4 Indiana 0 0   3 0   1.000
No. 13 Michigan 0 0   3 0   1.000
Michigan State 0 0   3 0   1.000
Northwestern 0 0   3 0   1.000
No. 21 Ohio State 0 0   3 0   1.000
Penn State 0 0   3 0   1.000
Purdue 0 0   3 0   1.000
Minnesota 0 0   3 1   .750
Rutgers 0 0   3 1   .750
Illinois 0 0   2 1   .667
Wisconsin 0 0   1 1   .500
2022 Big Ten Tournament winner
As of November 18, 2021; Rankings from AP Poll
2021–22 Big 12 Conference women's basketball standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT
Kansas State 0 0   4 0   1.000
No. 6 Baylor 0 0   3 0   1.000
No. 14 Iowa State 0 0   2 0   1.000
Kansas 0 0   2 0   1.000
Oklahoma 0 0   2 0   1.000
No. 12 Texas 0 0   2 0   1.000
TCU 0 0   1 0   1.000
Texas Tech 0 0   1 0   1.000
Oklahoma State 0 0   1 1   .500
No. 22 West Virginia 0 0   0 0  
2022 Big 12 Tournament winner
As of November 20, 2021; Rankings from AP Poll
2021–22 Big West women's basketball standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT
Long Beach State 0 0   2 0   1.000
Cal State Bakersfield 0 0   1 0   1.000
UC Irvine 0 0   2 1   .667
Cal State Fullerton 0 0   1 1   .500
Cal State Northridge 0 0   1 1   .500
UC Davis 0 0   1 1   .500
UC Riverside 0 0   1 1   .500
UC San Diego* 0 0   1 1   .500
UC Santa Barbara 0 0   1 1   .500
Cal Poly 0 0   0 1   .000
Hawaiʻi 0 0   0 2   .000
* ineligible for the 2022 NCAA Tournament due to transition period
2022 Big West Tournament winner
As of November 20, 2021; 
2021–22 CAA women's basketball standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT
Charleston 0 0   2 0   1.000
Elon 0 0   2 0   1.000
Towson 0 0   3 1   .750
Delaware 0 0   2 1   .667
Drexel 0 0   1 1   .500
James Madison* 0 0   1 1   .500
Northeastern 0 0   1 1   .500
UNC Wilmington 0 0   1 1   .500
William & Mary 0 0   1 1   .500
Hofstra 0 0   0 1   .000
*Ineligible for the CAA Tournament due to a postseason ban imposed by the CAA.
2022 CAA Tournament winner
As of November 20, 2021; 
2021–22 Conference USA women's basketball standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT
East
Middle Tennessee 0 0   3 0   1.000
Florida Atlantic 0 0   2 0   1.000
Marshall 0 0   2 0   1.000
Old Dominion 0 0   2 0   1.000
FIU 0 0   2 2   .500
Charlotte 0 0   1 1   .500
Western Kentucky 0 0   1 3   .250
West
UTEP 0 0   3 0   1.000
Louisiana Tech 0 0   2 0   1.000
UAB 0 0   2 0   1.000
North Texas 0 0   2 1   .667
Rice 0 0   2 1   .667
Southern Miss 0 0   2 1   .667
UTSA 0 0   0 2   .000
2022 C-USA Tournament winner
As of November 20, 2021; 
2021–22 Horizon League women's basketball standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT
Cleveland State 0 0   3 0   1.000
Youngstown State 0 0   2 0   1.000
Purdue Fort Wayne 0 0   1 0   1.000
Green Bay 0 0   1 1   .500
IUPUI 0 0   1 1   .500
Northern Kentucky 0 0   1 1   .500
Oakland 0 0   1 1   .500
UIC 0 0   0 1   .000
Detroit Mercy 0 0   0 2   .000
Robert Morris 0 0   0 2   .000
Wright State 0 0   0 2   .000
Milwaukee 0 0   0 3   .000
2022 Horizon League Tournament winner
As of November 20, 2021; 
2021–22 Ivy League women's basketball standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT
Columbia 0 0   3 0   1.000
Princeton 0 0   3 0   1.000
Yale 0 0   2 0   1.000
Penn 0 0   1 0   1.000
Cornell 0 0   1 2   .333
Harvard 0 0   1 2   .333
Brown 0 0   0 2   .000
Dartmouth 0 0   0 2   .000
2022 Ivy League Tournament winner
As of November 20, 2021; 
2021–22 MAAC women's basketball standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT
Iona 0 0   2 0   1.000
Manhattan 0 0   2 0   1.000
Marist 0 0   2 1   .667
Fairfield 0 0   1 1   .500
Monmouth 0 0   1 1   .500
Quinnipiac 0 0   1 1   .500
Niagara 0 0   1 2   .333
Canisius 0 0   0 2   .000
Rider 0 0   0 2   .000
Saint Peter's 0 0   0 2   .000
Siena 0 0   0 2   .000
2022 MAAC Tournament winner
As of November 20, 2021; 
2021–22 Mid-American Conference women's basketball standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT
Kent State 0 0   2 0   1.000
Toledo 0 0   2 0   1.000
Ball State 0 0   1 0   1.000
Buffalo 0 0   1 0   1.000
Akron 0 0   2 1   .667
Bowling Green 0 0   1 1   .500
Central Michigan 0 0   1 1   .500
Eastern Michigan 0 0   1 1   .500
Miami (OH) 0 0   1 1   .500
Northern Illinois 0 0   1 1   .500
Western Michigan 0 0   1 1   .500
Ohio 0 0   0 2   .000
2022 MAC Tournament winner
As of November 20, 2021; 
2021–22 MEAC women's basketball standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT
Coppin State 0 0   2 1   .667
Norfolk State 0 0   2 1   .667
Maryland Eastern Shore 0 0   1 1   .500
Delaware State 0 0   0 2   .000
North Carolina Central 0 0   0 2   .000
South Carolina State 0 0   0 2   .000
Howard 0 0   0 3   .000
Morgan State 0 0   0 3   .000
2022 MEAC Tournament winner
As of November 20, 2021; 
2021–22 Missouri Valley Conference women's basketball standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT
Bradley 0 0   2 0   1.000
Evansville 0 0   2 0   1.000
Missouri State 0 0   2 0   1.000
Drake 0 0   1 1   .500
Indiana State 0 0   1 1   .500
Illinois State 0 0   1 1   .500
Loyola–Chicago 0 0   1 1   .500
Northern Iowa 0 0   1 1   .500
Southern Illinois 0 0   0 2   .000
Valparaiso 0 0   0 2   .000
2022 MVC Tournament winner
As of November 20, 2021; Rankings from AP Poll
2021–22 Mountain West Conference women's basketball standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT
Colorado State 0 0   3 0   1.000
New Mexico 0 0   2 0   1.000
San Diego State 0 0   2 0   1.000
UNLV 0 0   2 0   1.000
Utah State 0 0   2 0   1.000
Air Force 0 0   1 1   .500
Boise State 0 0   1 1   .500
Fresno State 0 0   1 1   .500
Wyoming 0 0   1 1   .500
San Jose State 0 0   1 2   .333
Nevada 0 0   0 2   .000
2022 MW Tournament winner
As of November 20, 2021; 
2021–22 Northeast Conference women's basketball standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT
Sacred Heart 0 0   2 0   1.000
Wagner 0 0   1 0   1.000
Mount St. Mary's 0 0   1 1   .500
LIU 0 0   0 1   .000
Bryant 0 0   0 2   .000
Central Connecticut 0 0   0 2   .000
Fairleigh Dickinson 0 0   0 2   .000
Merrimack* 0 0   0 2   .000
St. Francis Brooklyn 0 0   0 2   .000
Saint Francis (PA) 0 0   0 2   .000
* ineligible for the 2022 NCAA Tournament due to transition period
2022 NEC Tournament winner
As of November 20, 2021; 
2021–22 Ohio Valley Conference women's basketball standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT
Tennessee Tech 0 0   2 0   1.000
Eastern Illinois 0 0   1 0   1.000
Belmont 0 0   2 1   .667
Murray State 0 0   2 1   .667
Tennessee State 0 0   2 1   .667
UT Martin 0 0   2 1   .667
Austin Peay 0 0   1 1   .500
Southeast Missouri State 0 0   1 1   .500
Morehead State 0 0   0 1   .000
SIU Edwardsville 0 0   0 2   .000
2022 OVC Tournament winner
As of November 20, 2021; 
2021–22 Pac-12 Conference women's basketball standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT
No. 11 Arizona 0 0   4 0   1.000
Utah 0 0   4 0   1.000
California 0 0   3 0   1.000
Colorado 0 0   3 0   1.000
USC 0 0   3 0   1.000
No. 9 Oregon 0 0   2 0   1.000
No. 20 UCLA 0 0   2 0   1.000
Washington 0 0   2 0   1.000
Washington State 0 0   2 0   1.000
No. 15 Oregon State 0 0   1 0   1.000
No. 7 Stanford 0 0   2 1   .667
Arizona State 0 0   1 2   .333
2022 Pac-12 Tournament winner
As of November 20, 2021; Rankings from AP Poll
2021–22 Patriot League women's basketball standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT
Lehigh 0 0   2 0   1.000
Boston University 0 0   2 1   .667
American 0 0   2 1   .667
Colgate 0 0   1 1   .500
Loyola (MD) 0 0   1 2   .333
Army 0 0   0 1   .000
Bucknell 0 0   0 1   .000
Holy Cross 0 0   0 2   .000
Navy 0 0   0 2   .000
Lafayette 0 0   0 2   .000
2022 Patriot League Tournament winner
As of November 20, 2021; 
2021–22 SEC women's basketball standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT
No. 24 Texas A&M 0 0   4 0   1.000
Georgia 0 0   3 0   1.000
Mississippi State 0 0   3 0   1.000
Missouri 0 0   3 0   1.000
No. 1 South Carolina 0 0   3 0   1.000
No. 16 Tennessee 0 0   3 0   1.000
Alabama 0 0   2 1   .667
Arkansas 0 0   2 1   .667
No. 19 Kentucky 0 0   2 1   .667
LSU 0 0   2 1   .667
Ole Miss 0 0   2 1   .667
Florida 0 0   3 2   .600
Vanderbilt 0 0   2 2   .500
Auburn 0 0   1 2   .333
2022 SEC Tournament winner
As of November 20, 2021; Rankings from AP Poll
2021–22 Southern Conference women's basketball standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT
Mercer 0 0   2 1   .667
Furman 0 0   1 1   .500
UNC Greensboro 0 0   1 1   .500
Samford 0 0   1 1   .500
Western Carolina 0 0   1 1   .500
East Tennessee State 0 0   1 2   .333
Chattanooga 0 0   0 2   .000
Wofford 0 0   0 4   .000
2022 SoCon Tournament winner
As of November 20, 2021; 
2021–22 Southland Conference women's basketball standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT
Northwestern State 0 0   2 0   1.000
McNeese State 0 0   2 1   .667
Houston Baptist 0 0   1 1   .500
Nicholls 0 0   1 1   .500
Texas A&M–CC 0 0   1 1   .500
Southeastern Louisiana 0 0   1 2   .333
Incarnate Word 0 0   0 2   .000
New Orleans 0 0   0 2   .000
2022 Southland Tournament winner
As of November 20, 2021; 
2021–22 SWAC women's basketball standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT
East
Bethune–Cookman 0 0   1 2   .333
Florida A&M 0 0   0 1   .000
Jackson State 0 0   0 1   .000
Mississippi Valley State 0 0   0 1   .000
Alabama State 0 0   0 2   .000
Alabama A&M 0 0   0 3   .000
West
Grambling State 0 0   1 0   1.000
Prairie View A&M 0 0   1 1   .500
Alcorn State 0 0   0 2   .000
Arkansas–Pine Bluff 0 0   0 2   .000
Southern 0 0   0 2   .000
Texas Southern 0 0   0 2   .000
2022 SWAC Tournament winner
As of November 20, 2021; 
2021–22 Summit League women's basketball standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT
Kansas City 0 0   2 1   .667
Western Illinois 0 0   2 1   .667
South Dakota 0 0   2 2   .500
South Dakota State 0 0   2 2   .500
North Dakota State 0 0   1 2   .333
St. Thomas* 0 0   1 2   .333
Denver 0 0   1 3   .250
North Dakota 0 0   0 3   .000
Omaha 0 0   0 3   .000
Oral Roberts 0 0   0 3   .000
* Ineligible for the 2022 NCAA Tournament due to transition from Division III
2022 Summit League Tournament winner
As of November 20, 2021; 
2021–22 Sun Belt Conference women's basketball standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT
Coastal Carolina 0 0   2 0   1.000
Georgia Southern 0 0   2 0   1.000
Louisiana 0 0   2 0   1.000
Appalachian State 0 0   2 1   .667
Arkansas State 0 0   2 1   .667
South Alabama 0 0   2 1   .667
Troy 0 0   2 1   .667
Little Rock 0 0   1 1   .500
Texas State 0 0   1 1   .500
UT Arlington 0 0   1 1   .500
Georgia State 0 0   1 2   .333
Louisiana–Monroe 0 0   0 2   .000
2022 Sun Belt Tournament winner
As of November 20, 2021; 
2021–22 WAC women's basketball standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT
Stephen F. Austin 0 0   3 0   1.000
Abilene Christian 0 0   2 0   1.000
Grand Canyon 0 0   2 0   1.000
New Mexico State 0 0   2 0   1.000
California Baptist* 0 0   1 0   1.000
Tarleton* 0 0   2 1   .667
Utah Valley 0 0   2 1   .667
Seattle 0 0   1 1   .500
Dixie State* 0 0   1 2   .333
Lamar 0 0   1 2   .333
Sam Houston 0 0   1 2   .333
Chicago State 0 0   0 2   .000
Texas–Rio Grande Valley 0 0   0 3   .000
* ineligible for the 2022 NCAA Tournament due to transition from Division II
2022 WAC Tournament winner
As of November 20, 2021; 
2021–22 West Coast Conference women's basketball standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT
BYU 0 0   2 0   1.000
Gonzaga 0 0   2 0   1.000
Portland 0 0   2 0   1.000
Saint Mary's 0 0   2 0   1.000
Santa Clara 0 0   2 0   1.000
San Diego 0 0   2 1   .667
Pacific 0 0   1 1   .500
Pepperdine 0 0   1 1   .500
San Francisco 0 0   1 1   .500
Loyola Marymount 0 0   0 2   .000
2022 WCC Tournament winner
As of November 20, 2021; Rankings from AP Poll

Award winners[edit]

Coaching changes[edit]

Team Former
coach
Interim
coach
New
coach
Reason
Detroit Mercy AnnMarie Gilbert LaTanya Collins 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.[55][56]
Fairfield Joe Frager Frager announced on October 19, 2021 that he will retire at the end of the season, his 15th as Fairfield head coach.[57]
Florida Cameron Newbauer Kelly Rae Finley Newbauer, citing personal reasons, announced his resignation from Florida on July 16, 2021 after 4 seasons. Assistant coach Finley was named interim head coach of the Gators for the 2021–22 season.[58] 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.[59]
Harvard Kathy Delaney-Smith Delaney-Smith announced on November 5, 2021 that she will retire after the 2021–22 season, her 40th year at Harvard.[60]
Mississippi State Nikki McCray-Penson Doug Novak McCray-Penson announced on October 12, 2021 that she was stepping down as head coach after 1 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.[61]
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 8 seasons as head coach of Marian (IN) of the NAIA.[62] However, Versyp announced her retirement effective immediately on September 16.[63]
Syracuse Quentin Hillsman Vonn Read Hillsman resigned from Syracuse on August 2, 2021 after 15 seasons amid allegations of inappropriate behavior by former players.[64] 2 days later, associate head coach Read was named interim head coach of the Orange for the 2021–22 season.[65]
Texas A&M Gary Blair 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.[66]

See also[edit]

Footnotes[edit]

References[edit]

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  49. ^ "2021–22 Women's Basketball Schedule". High Point Panthers. Retrieved October 18, 2021.
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  52. ^ "Idaho Women Fall to San Diego" (Press release). Idaho Vandals. November 14, 2021. Retrieved November 17, 2021.
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  57. ^ Doyle, Paul (October 19, 2021). "Fairfield women's basketball coach Joe Frager will retire after season". Connecticut Post. Retrieved October 21, 2021.
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  59. ^ Huber, Zachary (September 27, 2021). "Former Florida women's basketball players detail abuse under Coach Newbauer". The Independent Florida Alligator. Retrieved October 4, 2021.
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  61. ^ "Nikki McCray-Penson steps down as Mississippi State women's basketball coach due to health concerns". ESPN.com. Associated Press. October 12, 2021. Retrieved October 13, 2021.
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  65. ^ Carlson, Chris (August 4, 2021). "Syracuse names Vonn Read acting head coach for women's basketball for 2021-22 season". Post-Standard. Retrieved August 5, 2021.
  66. ^ Rieken, Kristie (October 28, 2021). "Texas A&M women's coach Blair to retire at season's end". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved October 29, 2021.