Villanova Wildcats women's basketball

Villanova Wildcats
Villanova Wildcats
	2025–26 Villanova Wildcats women's basketball team
University	Villanova University
Head coach	Denise Dillon (6th season)
Conference	Big East
Location	Villanova, Pennsylvania
Arena	Finneran Pavilion ; (capacity: 6,500)
Nickname	Wildcats
Student section	Nova Nation
Colors	Navy blue and white;
Uniforms
Home	Away
NCAA tournament Elite Eight
	2003
Sweet Sixteen	2003, 2023
Other NCAA tournament results
Sweet Sixteen	2003, 2023
Appearances	1982, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2009, 2013, 2018, 2022, 2023
AIAW tournament Final Four
	1982
Elite Eight	1982
Other AIAW tournament results
Elite Eight	1982
Sweet Sixteen	1982
Appearances	1982
Conference tournament champions
	1986, 1987, 2003
Conference regular-season champions
	1984, 1985, 1987

The Villanova Wildcats women's basketball team represents Villanova University in Villanova, Pennsylvania, United States.

History

The school's team currently competes in the Big East, where it has competed since the 1982–83 season.^[2] The women's basketball team began competing in 1969–70 under coach Liz Cawley, obtaining a 4–6 record in its inaugural season, and an 8–5 record and its first winning season the following year.

Harry Perretta coached the team starting in 1978.^[2] In the fall of 2019 it was announced that Perretta's 2019–2020 season would be his last season coaching the Wildcats after a 42-year tenure with the program. He was honored at the team's last home game of the 2019–2020 season at Finneran Pavilion.^[3]

The Wildcats are currently coached by Denise Dillon.^[4]

On January 20, 2023, Maddy Siegrist became the Wildcats' all-time leading scorer, breaking Shelly Pennefather's record. She also led the nation in scoring in 2022–23 and earned Big East Player of the Year in two consecutive seasons.^[5]

Yearly record

Statistics overview
Season	Coach	Overall	Conference	Standing	Postseason
Liz Cawley (1969–1970)
1969–70	Liz Cawley	4–6
Liz Cawley:		4–6 (.400)
Jane Sefranek (1970–1975)
1970–71	Jane Sefranek	8–5
1971–72	Jane Sefranek	9–3
1972–73	Jane Sefranek	10–5
1973–74	Jane Sefranek	10–4
1974–75	Jane Sefranek	14–6
Jane Sefranek:		51–23 (.689)
Joan King (1975–1978)
1975–76	Joan King	7–7
1976–77	Joan King	6–11
1977–78	Joan King	15–7
Joan King:		28–25 (.528)
Harry Perretta (1978–1980)
1978–79	Harry Perretta	17–8
1979–80	Harry Perretta	20–5
1980–81	Harry Perretta	22–6
1981–82	Harry Perretta	29–4			AIAW Final Four
Big East Conference (1982–2020)
1982–83	Harry Perretta	14–15	4–4	T-4th
1983–84	Harry Perretta	22–7	6–2	T-1st
1984–85	Harry Perretta	21–9	12–4	T-1st
1985–86	Harry Perretta	23–8	12–4	T-2nd	NCAA second round
1986–87	Harry Perretta	27–4	15–1	1st	NCAA First round
1987–88	Harry Perretta	20–9	11–5	2nd	NCAA First round
1988–89	Harry Perretta	18–12	11–5	2nd	NCAA First round
1989–90	Harry Perretta	9–19	1–15	9th
1990–91	Harry Perretta	12–17	4–12	8th
1991–92	Harry Perretta	11–17	7–11	T-3rd
1992–93	Harry Perretta	15–13	10–8	T-4th
1993–94	Harry Perretta	13–14	7–11	T-6th
1994–95	Harry Perretta	19–9	13–5	2nd
1995–96	Harry Perretta	21–7	13–5	3rd (3rd BE6)
1996–97	Harry Perretta	14–14	8–10	T-6th (5th BE6)
1997–98	Harry Perretta	19–10	12–6	T-4th (T-2nd BE6)	WNIT 1st Round
1998–99	Harry Perretta	14–14	9–9	T-6th
1999–00	Harry Perretta	15–15	7–9	T-6th	WNIT 1st Round
2000–01	Harry Perretta	22–9	11–5	T-4th	NCAA second round
2001–02	Harry Perretta	20–11	12–4	T-3rd	NCAA second round
2002–03	Harry Perretta	28–6	12–4	T-3rd	NCAA Elite Eight
2003–04	Harry Perretta	23–7	12–4	T-2nd	NCAA second round
2004–05	Harry Perretta	19–12	10–6	T-4th	WNIT 1st Round
2005–06	Harry Perretta	21–11	9–7	T-6th	WNIT Quarterfinals
2006–07	Harry Perretta	8–21	2–14	16th
2007–08	Harry Perretta	17–16	5–11	T-11th	WNIT Round of 16
2008–09	Harry Perretta	19–14	12–4	T-4th	NCAA First round
2009–10	Harry Perretta	14–16	3–13	15th
2010–11	Harry Perretta	12–19	3–13	T-13th
2011–12	Harry Perretta	19–15	6–10	T-10th	WNIT Round of 16
2012–13	Harry Perretta	21–11	9–7	T-6th	NCAA First round
2013–14	Harry Perretta	23–9	12–6	T-3rd	WNIT 2nd Round
2014–15	Harry Perretta	22–14	12–6	3rd	WNIT Round of 16
2015–16	Harry Perretta	20–12	12–6	T-2nd	WNIT 2nd Round
2016–17	Harry Perretta	20–15	11–7	4th	WNIT semifinals
2017–18	Harry Perretta	23–9	12–6	3rd	NCAA round of 32
2018–19	Harry Perretta	19–13	9–9	4th	WNIT 2nd Round
2019-20	Harry Perretta	18-13	11-7	T-3rd	N/A
Harry Perretta:		742–467 (.614)	322–264 (.549)
Denise Dillon (Big East) (2020–Present)
2020-21	Denise Dillon	17-7	9–5	5th	WNIT Quarterfinals
2021-22	Denise Dillon	24-9	15-4	2nd	NCAA Second Round
2022-23	Denise Dillon	30-7	17-3	2nd	NCAA Sweet Sixteen
2023-24	Denise Dillon	22-13	11-7	T-3rd	WBIT Runner-Up
2024-25	Denise Dillon	21-15	11-7	5th	WBIT Semifinals
Denise Dillon:		114-51	63-26
Total:		898–556 (.618)
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

Postseason results

NCAA Division I

Year	Seed	Round	Opponent	Result
1986	#7	First Round Second Round	#10 La Salle #2 Rutgers	W 60–55 L 58–85
1987	#6	Second Round	#3 NC State	L 67–68
1988	#8	First Round	#9 Wake Forest	L 51–53
1989	#11	First Round	#6 Old Dominion	L 41–66
2001	#5	First Round Second Round	#12 Drake #4 NC State	W 66–58 L 64–68
2002	#9	First Round Second Round	#8 Pepperdine #1 Oklahoma	W 67–46 L 53–66
2003	#2	First Round Second Round Sweet Sixteen Elite Eight	#15 St. Francis (PA) #7 George Washington #6 Colorado #1 Tennessee	W 51–36 W 70–57 W 53–51 L 49–73
2004	#7	First Round Second Round	#10 Ole Miss #2 Purdue	W 66–63 L 42–60
2009	#8	First Round	#9 Utah	L 30–60
2013	#9	First Round	#8 Michigan	L 52–60
2018	#9	First Round Second Round	#8 South Dakota State #1 Notre Dame	W 81–74 (OT) L 72–98
2022	#11	First Round Second Round	#6 Brigham Young #3 Michigan	W 61–57 L 49-64
2023	#4	First Round Second Round Sweet Sixteen	#13 Cleveland State #12 Florida Gulf Coast #9 Miami (FL)	W 76–59 W 76-57 L 65-70

AIAW Division I

The Wildcats made one appearance in the AIAW National Division I basketball tournament, with a combined record of 2–1.

Year	Round	Opponent	Result
1982	First Round Quarterfinals Semifinals	Miami (OH) Delta State Rutgers	W, 69–61 W, 87–72 L, 75–83

References

^ Villanova Athletics Identity Standards Guide and Apparel Specifications (PDF). February 4, 2014. Retrieved February 25, 2019.
^ ^a ^b Villanova Women's Basketball All-Time Results, retrieved 2013-Aug-15.
^ Jarman, Dave. "42 Years Later". AKSM Media. AKSM News. Retrieved 25 February 2020.
^ Newsome, Victoria (November 6, 2024). "Denise Dillon: Reshaping a Villanova Dynasty". The Villanovan. Retrieved 2024-11-27.
^ Subhan, Amna (February 16, 2023). "Maddy Siegrist, the nation's top scorer, is breaking records, leading Villanova women's basketball to rare heights". NCAA.com. Retrieved 2024-11-27.

External links

Official website

[1] Villanova Athletics Identity Standards Guide and Apparel Specifications (PDF). February 4, 2014. Retrieved February 25, 2019.

[All-Time_Results-2] Villanova Women's Basketball All-Time Results, retrieved 2013-Aug-15.

[3] Jarman, Dave. "42 Years Later". AKSM Media. AKSM News. Retrieved 25 February 2020.

[4] Newsome, Victoria (November 6, 2024). "Denise Dillon: Reshaping a Villanova Dynasty". The Villanovan. Retrieved 2024-11-27.

[5] Subhan, Amna (February 16, 2023). "Maddy Siegrist, the nation's top scorer, is breaking records, leading Villanova women's basketball to rare heights". NCAA.com. Retrieved 2024-11-27.

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v t e Villanova Wildcats women's basketball
Venues	Jake Nevin Field House (1969–1986, 2017–18) Finneran Pavilion (1986–2017, 2018–present)
Rivalries	Saint Joseph's
Culture & lore	Will D. Cat City 6 Philadelphia Big 5 Big 5 Classic "V for Villanova"
People	Head coaches
Seasons	1969–70 1970–71 1971–72 1972–73 1973–74 1974–75 1975–76 1976–77 1977–78 1978–79 1979–80 1980–81 1981–82 1982–83 1983–84 1984–85 1985–86 1986–87 1987–88 1988–89 1989–90 1990–91 1991–92 1992–93 1993–94 1994–95 1995–96 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09 2009–10 2010–11 2011–12 2012–13 2013–14 2014–15 2015–16 2016–17 2017–18 2018–19 2019–20 2020–21 2021–22 2022–23 2023–24 2024–25 2025–26

v t e Villanova University
Academics	School of Business School of Law
Campus	Arboretum Villanova St. Thomas of Villanova Church Villanova, PA
People	Alumni List of presidents Fr. Peter Donohue (President) Order of Saint Augustine (O.S.A.)
Media	The Villanovan WXVU
Athletics	Villanova Wildcats Men's basketball (Holy War) Women's basketball Men's lacrosse Football (Battle of the Blue) Men's soccer Finneran Pavilion Villanova Stadium Jake Nevin Field House
Catholicism portal

v t e Big East Conference women's basketball
Teams	Butler Bulldogs Creighton Bluejays DePaul Blue Demons Georgetown Hoyas Marquette Golden Eagles Providence Friars St. John's Red Storm Seton Hall Pirates UConn Huskies Villanova Wildcats Xavier Musketeers
Championships & awards	Big East women's basketball tournament Player of the Year Freshman of the Year Defensive Player of the Year
Seasons	1982–83 1983–84 1984–85 1985–86 1986–87 1987–88 1988–89 1989–90 1990–91 1991–92 1992–93 1993–94 1994–95 1995–96 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09 2009–10 2010–11 2011–12 2012–13 2013–14 2014–15 2015–16 2016–17 2017–18 2018–19 2019–20 2020–21 2021–22 2022–23 2023–24 2024–25 2025–26