Houston Cougars women's basketball

Houston Cougars
2024–25 Houston Cougars women's basketball team
UniversityUniversity of Houston
First season1975–76
Head coachRonald Hughey (11th season)
ConferenceBig 12 Conference
LocationHouston, Texas
ArenaFertitta Center
(capacity: 7,100)
NicknameCougars
ColorsScarlet and white[1]
   
Uniforms
Home jersey
Team colours
Home
Away jersey
Team colours
Away


NCAA tournament second round
1988, 2004
NCAA tournament appearances
1988, 1992, 2004, 2005, 2011
Conference tournament champions
2004
Conference regular season champions
2004, 2011
The 2018–19 Houston team in action against SMU

The Houston Cougars women's basketball team represents the University of Houston in NCAA Division I women's basketball. Coached by Ronald Hughey,[2] the team plays their home games at Fertitta Center on-campus at the University of Houston.

Conference affiliations

Notable former players

Name Career at Houston Notability Year drafted by WNBA Reference
Chandi Jones 2000–04 WNBA player for the Phoenix Mercury, Detroit Shock, and Minnesota Lynx 2004 [3]
Sancho Lyttle 2001–05 WNBA player for the Houston Comets 2005 [4]

Individual awards

National award winners

Associated Press College Basketball Coach of the Year

espn.com National Coach of the Year

Basketball TImes Women's College Basketball Coach of the Year Award

National Player of the Year awards

Women's Basketball News Service National Comeback Player of the Year Award

Naismith College Player of the Year

John R. Wooden Award

All-Americans

Key

AP Associated Press USBWA United States Basketball Writers Association
WBCA/Kodak Women's Basketball Coaches Association CoSIDA College Sports Information Directors Association
Year Player Position Selector(s)
2002 Chandi Jones G AP (HM), USBWA (2nd)
2003 Chandi Jones G AP (HM)
2004 Chandi Jones G AP (2nd), WBCA/Kodak (1st)
2012 Roxanna Button G CoSIDA Academic (1st)

Note: HM stands for Honorable Mention.

Conference Player of the Year

The following Houston players have been named Conference Player of the Year while at UH.[5]

Season Player Position Conference
1985-86 Sonya Watkins F Southwest
2001-02 Chandi Jones G Conference USA
2002-03 Chandi Jones G
2003-04 Chandi Jones G
2009-10 Courtney Taylor F The American
2010-11 Courtney Taylor F

Conference Defensive Player of the Year

The following Houston players have been named Conference Defensive Player of the Year while at UH.[5]

Season Player Position Conference
2001-02 Nicole Oliver G Conference USA

Conference Sixth Player of the Year

The following Houston players have been named Conference Sixth Player of the Year while at UH.[5]

Season Player Position Conference
2022-23 Tiara Young G The American

Conference Newcomer or Freshman of the Year

The following Houston players have been named Conference Newcomer of the Year or Freshman of the Year while at UH.[5]

Season Player Position Conference
1986-87 Missy Davis C Southwest
1994-95 Stacey Johnson (Newcomer) G
1994-95 Jennifer Jones (Freshman) F
1997-98 ShaRonda Lassiter F Conference USA
2000-01 Chandi Jones G

Year by year results

Conference tournament winners noted with # Source [5]

Season Team Overall Conference Standing Postseason Coaches' poll AP poll
Connie Payne (Independent) (1975–1976)
1975–76 Connie Payne 11–18 – Texas AIAW
Connie Payne: 11–18 –
Dot Woodfin (Independent, Southwest) (1976–1985)
1976–77 Dot Woodfin 23–10 – AIAW Southwest Regional
1977–78 Dot Woodfin 26–15 – AIAW Southwest Regional
1978–79 Dot Woodfin 17–13 – AIAW Southwest Regional
1979–80 Dot Woodfin 17–13 – AIAW Southwest Regional
1980–81 Dot Woodfin 21–10 – AIAW State Tournament
1981–82 Dot Woodfin 18–11 –
Southwest Conference
1982–83 Dot Woodfin 17–11 5–3 4th (Southwest)
1983–84 Dot Woodfin 16–12 9–7 T-4th
1984–85 Dot Woodfin 22–8 11–5 T-3rd
Dot Woodfin: 177–103 25–15
Greg Williams (Southwest) (1985–1990)
1985–86 Greg Williams 19–10 9–7 T-4th
1986–87 Greg Williams 19–10 10–6 T-3rd
1987–88 Greg Williams 22–7 12–4 2nd NCAA Second Round (Bye) 25
1988–89 Greg Williams 16–12 9–7 T-4th
1989–90 Greg Williams 17–12 9–7 4th
Greg Williams: 93–51 49–31
Jessie Kenlaw (Southwest, Conference USA) (1990–1998)
1990–91 Jessie Kenlaw 20–12 10–6 4th (Southwest) NWIT Fourth Place
1991–92 Jessie Kenlaw 22–8 10–4 3rd NCAA First Round 22
1992–93 Jessie Kenlaw 11–16 5–9 6th
1993–94 Jessie Kenlaw 11–15 5–9 T-5th
1994–95 Jessie Kenlaw 14–14 7–7 T-4th
1995–96 Jessie Kenlaw 12–16 4–10 5th
Conference USA
1996–97 Jessie Kenlaw 5–24 0–14 4th (White) (CUSA)
1997–98 Jessie Kenlaw 9–18 3–13 6th (National)
Jessie Kenlaw: 104–123 44–72
Joe Curl (Conference USA) (1998–2007)
1998–99 Joe Curl 5–22 1–15 6th (National)
1999–2000 Joe Curl 7–21 3–13 T-5th (National)
2000–01 Joe Curl 19–13 10–6 T-2nd (National) WNIT First Round
2001–02 Joe Curl 26–8 11–3 T-2nd WNIT Finals
2002–03 Joe Curl 15–13 6–8 T-7th
2003–04 Joe Curl 28–4 13–1 1st# NCAA Second Round 16 9
2004–05 Joe Curl 21–9 10–4 T-3rd NCAA First Round
2005–06 Joe Curl 12–17 8–8 T-6th
2006–07 Joe Curl 9–19 5–11 T-9th
Danny Hughes (Conference USA) (2007–2008)
2007–08 Danny Hughes 15–16 9–7 4th
Danny Hughes: 15–16 9–7
Joe Curl (Conference USA) (2008–2010)
2008–09 Joe Curl 19–10 11–5 T-2nd
2009–10 Joe Curl 17–15 10–6 T-2nd WNIT First Round
Joe Curl: 178–151 88–80
Todd Buchanan (Conference USA, American) (2010–2013)
2010–11 Todd Buchanan 26–6 16–0 1st (CUSA) NCAA First Round 22
2011–12 Todd Buchanan 3–26 2–14 12th
2012–13 Todd Buchanan 13–17 7–9 T-8th
American Athletic Conference
2013–14 (portion) Todd Buchanan 4–7 0–0 NA
Todd Buchanan: 46–56 25–23
Wade Scott (American) (2013–2014)
2013–14 (portion) Wade Scott (interim) 2–18 1–17 10th
Wade Scott: 2–18 1–17
Ronald Hughey (American, Big 12) (2014–present)
2014–15 Ronald Hughey 6–24 1–17 11th
2015–16 Ronald Hughey 6–24 2–16 11th
2016–17 Ronald Hughey 12–19 4–12 10th
2017–18 Ronald Hughey 20–12 9–7 T-5th WNIT First Round
2018–19 Ronald Hughey 15–16 9–7 4th WNIT First Round
2019–20 Ronald Hughey 12–19 5–11 10th
2020–21 Ronald Hughey 17–8 12–5 3rd
2021–22 Ronald Hughey 18–16 7–9 6th
2022–23 Ronald Hughey 15–16 10–5 4th
Big 12 Conference
2023–24 Ronald Hughey 14–16 5–13 T-11th
Ronald Hughey: 135–170 64–102
Total: 726–682

      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

NCAA tournament results

Year Seed Round Opponent Result
1988 #6 Second Round #3 Ole Miss L 68–74
1992 #8 First Round #9 UC Santa Barbara L 69–80
2004 #3 First Round
Second Round		 #14 Green Bay
#11 UC Santa Barbara		 W 62–47
L 52–56
2005 #10 First Round #7 Boston College L 43–65
2011 #8 First Round #9 West Virginia L 73–78

References

  1. ^ "Logos - University of Houston Athletics". June 12, 2018. Retrieved March 23, 2019.
  2. ^ "Hughey introduced as UH women's basketball coach". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved April 13, 2016.
  3. ^ "Chandi Jones Playerfile". WNBA. Archived from the original on December 20, 2008. Retrieved December 8, 2008.
  4. ^ "Sancho Lyttle Playerfile". WNBA. Archived from the original on December 11, 2008. Retrieved December 8, 2008.
  5. ^ a b c d e "Media Guide" (PDF). University of Houston. Retrieved May 1, 2024.