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Auburn Tigers women's basketball

{{Infobox college basketball team|women=yes

| name = Auburn Tigers women's basketball

| current = 2024–25 Auburn Tigers women's basketball team

| logo = Auburn Tigers logo.svg

| logo_size = 150

| university = Auburn University

| firstseason = 1972

| record = {{Winning percentage|946|497|record=y}}

| athletic_director = John Cohen

| conference = Southeastern Conference

| location = Auburn, Alabama

| coach = Larry Vickers

| tenure = 1st

| arena = Auburn Arena

| capacity = 9,121

| nickname = Tigers

| h_body = 0C2340

| h_pattern_b = _thinsidesonwhite

| h_shorts = 0C2340

| h_pattern_s = _blanksides2

| a_body = 0C2340

| a_pattern_b = _thinorangesides_2

| a_shorts = 0C2340

| a_pattern_s = _orangesides

| 3_body = F26522

| 3_pattern_b = _thinmidnightbluesides

| 3_shorts = F26522

| 3_pattern_s = _midnightbluesides

| NCAAchampion =

| NCAArunnerup = 1988, 1989, 1990

| NCAAfinalfour = 1988, 1989, 1990

| NCAAeliteeight = 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1996

| NCAAsweetsixteen = 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1996

| NCAAtourneys = 1982, 1983, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2004, 2008, 2009, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2024

| conference_tournament = 1981, 1987, 1990, 1997

| conference_season = 1981, 1987, 1988, 1989, 2009

}}

The Auburn Tigers women's basketball program is the intercollegiate women's basketball team that represents Auburn University. The school competes in the Southeastern Conference in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). The Tigers play their homes games at Auburn Arena in Auburn, Alabama on the university campus. The program began in 1971.{{Cite web |title=2023-24 Auburn WBB Quick Facts (PDF) |url=https://auburntigers.com/documents/2023/10/20/23-24_Quick_Facts.pdf |access-date=2023-11-20 |website=Auburn University Athletics |language=en}}

Auburn has won five SEC regular season championships and four SEC tournament championships. Auburn has appeared in the NCAA tournament 21 times, making it as far as the championship game three times in a row in 1988, 1989, and 1990.{{Cite web |title=Legendary Women's Basketball coach, Joe Ciampi, to be honored with banner |url=https://www.eagleeyeauburn.com/article/2022/01/legendary-womens-basketball-coach-joe-ciampi-to-be-honored-with-banner |access-date=2023-11-20 |website=Legendary Women's Basketball coach, Joe Ciampi, to be honored with banner - Eagle Eye TV |language=en-US}} Auburn has produced eight WNBA draft picks, including DeWanna Bonner who was selected with the fifth overall pick, the highest in Auburn history. Eight Auburn players have been named All-Americans{{Cite web |title=Women's Basketball Record Book SEC 2024 |url=https://a.espncdn.com/sec/basketball/ncw/2023/2024%20WBB%20Record%20Book.pdf |access-date=20 November 2023 |website=a.espncdn.com |page=77}} and Auburn has had 73 All-SEC selections. Four Auburn players have been named SEC Player of the Year: Vickie Orr in 1988, Carolyn Jones in 1990 and 1991, Lauretta Freeman in 1993, and DeWanna Bonner in 2009.{{Cite web |title=Women's Basketball Record Book SEC 2024 |url=https://a.espncdn.com/sec/basketball/ncw/2023/2024%20WBB%20Record%20Book.pdf |access-date=20 November 2023 |website=a.espncdn.com |page=75}} Former head coaches Joe Ciampi and Nell Fortner have been selected as SEC Coach of the Year a total of four times.{{Cite web |title=Women's Basketball Record Book SEC 2024 |url=https://a.espncdn.com/sec/basketball/ncw/2023/2024%20WBB%20Record%20Book.pdf |access-date=20 November 2023 |website=a.espncdn.com |page=76}}

History

The Auburn women's basketball team has been consistently competitive both nationally and within the SEC. Despite playing in the same conference as perennial powerhouse Tennessee and other competitive programs such as LSU, Georgia, Kentucky and Vanderbilt, and more recently, South Carolina, Mississippi State and Texas A&M, Auburn has won five regular season SEC championships and four SEC tournament championships. Auburn has made 21 appearances in the NCAA women's basketball tournament, advancing to the Sweet 16 seven times and the Elite Eight six times. Auburn played in three consecutive National Championship games in 1988, 1989 and 1990, and won the Women's NIT in 2003.{{cite web|url=http://www.alabamanews.net/2016/03/14/auburn-selected-to-ncaa-tournament-as-no-9-seed/|title=Auburn selected to NCAA Tournament as No. 9 seed - Alabama News|date=14 March 2016}}

When Coach Joe Ciampi announced his retirement after 25 years at the end of the 2003–2004 season, the resulting search snared the highly experienced, former Purdue and US National and Olympic team head coach, Nell Fortner.{{Cite web |title=Fortner Hired To Replace Ciampi As AU Coach |url=https://247sports.com/college/auburn/Article/Fortner-Hired-To-Replace-Ciampi-As-AU-Coach-104086440/ |access-date=2023-11-20 |website=247Sports |language=en}} Fortner coached the team through the 2011–2012 season, including a 2009 SEC regular-season championship and a 30–4 record. The Tigers made two NCAA Tournament appearances in Fortner's eight-year tenure.

Fortner was replaced in 2012 by Terri Williams-Flournoy who had been the head coach at Georgetown University for eight seasons.{{cite web |url=http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2012/04/new_auburn_coach_terri_william.html | title=New Auburn coach Terri Williams-Flournoy says wins will bring fans to new arena |date=April 3, 2012 |first=Evan | last=Woodbery | access-date=April 28, 2016 | website=AL.com}}{{Cite web |title=2015-16 Auburn Women's Basketball omen's Basketball Record Book |url=http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/aub/sports/w-baskbl/auto_pdf/2015-16/prospectus/prospectus.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170315132346/http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/aub/sports/w-baskbl/auto_pdf/2015-16/prospectus/prospectus.pdf |archive-date=15 March 2017}} Williams-Flournoy directed the Tigers to three NCAA Tournament appearances, a pair of 20-win seasons and two trips to the WNIT in her nine seasons.

Williams-Flournoy was relieved of her coaching duties following the 2020–21 season.{{Cite web|title=Auburn announces women's basketball coaching change|url=https://auburntigers.com/news/2021/3/4/auburn-announces-womens-basketball-coaching-change.aspx|access-date=2021-06-09|website=Auburn University Athletics|date=4 March 2021 |language=en}} On April 3, 2021, Johnnie Harris was named the program's seventh head coach.{{Cite web|title=Johnnie Harris named Auburn Women's Basketball Head Coach|url=https://auburntigers.com/news/2021/4/3/johnnie-harris-named-auburn-womens-basketball-head-coach.aspx|access-date=2021-06-09|website=Auburn University Athletics|date=3 April 2021 |language=en}}

Standout former Auburn players include: Mae Ola Bolton, Ruthie Bolton, Vickie Orr, Carolyn Jones, Chantel Tremitiere, Lauretta Freeman, Le'coe Willingham, DeWanna Bonner, Monique Morehouse, Blanche Alverson, Tyrese Tanner and Unique Thompson.

Players

=Awards and honors=

==Retired jerseys==

class="wikitable toccolours"
{{CollegePrimaryHeader|team=Auburn Tigers|No.|Player|Years}}
21Carolyn Jones1988–91
24DeWanna Bonner2005–09
25Ruthie Bolton1985–89
34Becky Jackson1980–84
50Vickie Orr1985–89

==All-Americans==

class="wikitable toccolours"

{{CollegePrimaryHeader|team=Auburn Tigers|Player|Year(s)|Selectors}}

align="center"

| Marianne Merritt

| 1979

| HM, NSA

align="center"

| Becky Jackson (3)

| 1981, 1983, 1984

| AWSF, WBCA

align="center"

| Martha Monk

| 1981

| AWSF

align="center"

| Vickie Orr (3)

| 1987, 1988, 1989

| WBCA, USBWA

align="center"

| Carolyn Jones (2)

| 1990, 1991

| WBCA

align="center"

| Lauretta Freeman

| 1993

| WBCA

align="center"

| DeWanna Bonner (2)

| 2008, 2009

| HM, AP, WBCA, USBWA

align="center"

| Whitney Boddie

| 2009

| HM, AP, USBWA

align="center"

| Unique Thompson

| 2020, 2021

| HM, AP, USBWA

==Other honors==

SEC Player of the Year

SEC Tournament MVP

SEC Freshman of the Year

  • Mae Ola Bolton (1985)
  • Kristen Mulligan (1993)

SEC Scholar-Athlete of the Year

  • Blanche Alverson (2012, 2013)
  • Katie Frerking (2017)

=Auburn in the WNBA=

==WNBA Draft picks==

Auburn has produced eight WNBA draft picks, including three in the inaugural 1997 draft. DeWanna Bonner holds the record for the highest draft pick from Auburn, selected 5th overall in the 2009 draft.

class="wikitable"

{{CollegePrimaryHeader|team=Auburn Tigers|Year|Round|Pick|Player|Team}}

align="center"

|rowspan="3"|1997

|colspan="2"|Assigned by league

|Ruthie Bolton-Holifield

|Sacramento Monarchs

align="center"

|3

|18

|Chantel Tremitiere

|Sacramento Monarchs

align="center"

|colspan="2"|Developmental player

|Tara Williams

|Phoenix Mercury

align="center"

|1999

|4

|42

|Carolyn Jones-Young

|New York Liberty

align="center"

|2000

|3

|33

|Monique Morehouse

|Cleveland Rockers

align="center"

|2006

|3

|42

|Marita Payne

|Connecticut Sun

align="center"

|rowspan="2"|2009

|1

|5

|DeWanna Bonner

|Phoenix Mercury

align="center"

|2

|20

|Whitney Boddie

|Sacramento Monarchs

align="center"2021

|2

|19

|Unique Thompson

|Indiana Fever

==Undrafted free agents==

In addition to its eight WNBA draft picks, Auburn has had two undrafted free agents that went on to have WNBA careers.

==Awards and honors==

Sixth Woman of the Year

All-Stars

= Auburn in the Olympics =

class="wikitable"

{{CollegePrimaryHeader|team=Auburn Tigers|Year|Player|Medal}}

rowspan="2"|1992

|{{flagIOCathlete|Carolyn Jones|USA|1992 Summer}}

|rowspan="2"|{{bronze medal}}

{{flagIOCathlete|Vickie Orr|USA|1992 Summer}}
1996

|{{flagIOCathlete|Ruthie Bolton-Holifield|USA|1996 Summer}}

|{{gold medal}}

2000

|{{flagIOCathlete|Ruthie Bolton-Holifield|USA|2000 Summer}}

|{{gold medal}}

Championships and postseason

=SEC regular season championships=

Auburn has won five regular season Southeastern Conference championships in its history.

class="wikitable"

{{CollegePrimaryHeader|team=Auburn Tigers|Year|Conference|Overall record|Conference record|Coach}}

align="center"

|1981

|SEC

|26–7

|5–2

|Joe Ciampi

align="center"

|1987

|SEC

|31–2

|8–1

|Joe Ciampi

align="center"

|1988

|SEC

|32–3

|9–0

|Joe Ciampi

align="center"

|1989

|SEC

|32–2

|9–0

|Joe Ciampi

align="center"

|2009

|SEC

|30–4

|12–2

|Nell Fortner

=SEC Tournament=

Auburn has won the SEC tournament four times, all under Joe Ciampi. Auburn defeated rival Alabama in the 1981 tournament 85–71 to win their first ever SEC Tournament title in the second edition of the tournament. Six years later in 1987, Auburn routed Georgia by a score of 83–57 to win their second championship. After losing in the championship game to Tennessee twice in a row in the following years, Auburn defeated Tennessee in the 1990 championship game 78–77. Auburn won its most recent SEC Tournament championship in 1997, defeating Florida 52–47. Auburn has reached the SEC Tournament final four other times, falling to Tennessee in 1985, 1988, and 1989 and falling to Vanderbilt in 2009.

Four Auburn players have been selected as SEC Tournament MVP: Becky Jackson in 1981, Vickie Orr in 1987, Carolyn Jones in 1990, and Laticia Morris in 1997. Auburn has had 22 players selected to the SEC All-Tournament teams, including most recently DeWanna Bonner and Whitney Boddie in 2009.

Season-by-season record

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
{{CollegePrimaryHeader|team=Auburn Tigers|Season|Coach|Record|Conference record|Postseason finish}}
style="text-align:left"|1971–72Aletha Bond10–2–
style="text-align:left"|1972–73Aletha Bond14–3–
style="text-align:left"|1973–74Susan Nunnelly13–5–
style="text-align:left"|1974–75Susan Nunnelly13–8–
style="text-align:left"|1975–76Susan Nunnelly19–8–
style="text-align:left"|1976–77Jan Pylant12–8–
style="text-align:left"|1977–78Jan Pylant8–18–
style="text-align:left"|1978–79Jan Pylant9–18–
style="text-align:left"|1979–80Joe Ciampi17–13–
style="text-align:left"|1980–81Joe Ciampi26–7–
style="text-align:left"|1981–82Joe Ciampi24–5–NCAA Tournament
style="text-align:left"|1982–83Joe Ciampi24–86–2 (T-2nd)NCAA Tournament
style="text-align:left"|1983–84Joe Ciampi19–104–4 (6th)
style="text-align:left"|1984–85Joe Ciampi25–65–3 (3rd)NCAA Tournament
style="text-align:left"|1985–86Joe Ciampi24–66–3 (T-2nd)NCAA Sweet Sixteen
style="text-align:left"|1986–87Joe Ciampi31–28–1 (1st)NCAA Elite Eight
style="text-align:left"|1987–88Joe Ciampi32–39–0 (1st)NCAA Runner-Up
style="text-align:left"|1988–89Joe Ciampi32–29–0 (1st)NCAA Runner-Up
style="text-align:left"|1989–90Joe Ciampi28–77–2 (2nd)NCAA Runner-Up
style="text-align:left"|1990–91Joe Ciampi26–67–2 (2nd)NCAA Elite Eight
style="text-align:left"|1991–92Joe Ciampi17–124–7 (T-7th)
style="text-align:left"|1992–93Joe Ciampi25–49–2 (T-2nd)NCAA Sweet Sixteen
style="text-align:left"|1993–94Joe Ciampi20–106–5 (6th)NCAA Second Round
style="text-align:left"|1994–95Joe Ciampi17–105–6 (8th)
style="text-align:left"|1995–96Joe Ciampi23–96–5 (T-5th)NCAA Elite Eight
style="text-align:left"|1996–97Joe Ciampi22–105–7 (T-8th)NCAA second round
style="text-align:left"|1997–98Joe Ciampi16–114–10 (T-9th)
style="text-align:left"|1998–99Joe Ciampi20–98–6 (4th)NCAA second round
style="text-align:left"|1999-00Joe Ciampi22–89–5 (4th)NCAA second round
style="text-align:left"|2000–01Joe Ciampi17–125–9 (T-8th)
style="text-align:left"|2001–02Joe Ciampi16–133–11 (T-10th)
style="text-align:left"|2002–03Joe Ciampi23–115–9 (8th)WNIT Champions
style="text-align:left"|2003–04Joe Ciampi22–99–5 (3rd)NCAA second round
style="text-align:left"|2004–05Nell Fortner16–136–8 (T-6th)
style="text-align:left"|2005–06Nell Fortner14–154–10 (10th)
style="text-align:left"|2006–07Nell Fortner21–136–8 (9th)WNIT Semifinals
style="text-align:left"|2007–08Nell Fortner20–127–7 (6th)NCAA first round
style="text-align:left"|2008–09Nell Fortner30–412–2 (1st)NCAA second round
style="text-align:left"|2009–10Nell Fortner15–165–11 (10th)
style="text-align:left"|2010–11Nell Fortner16–168–8 (T-5th)WNIT Second Round
style="text-align:left"|2011–12Nell Fortner13–175–11 (9th)
style="text-align:left"|2012–13Terri Williams-Flournoy19–155–11 (10th)WNIT Quarterfinals
style="text-align:left"|2013–14Terri Williams-Flournoy19–157–9 (T-6th)WNIT Third Round
style="text-align:left"|2014–15Terri Williams-Flournoy13–183–13 (13th)
style="text-align:left"|2015–16Terri Williams-Flournoy20–138–8 (T-7th)NCAA Second Round
style="text-align:left"|2016–17Terri Williams-Flournoy17–157–9 (T-8th)NCAA First Round
style="text-align:left"|2017–18Terri Williams-Flournoy14–155–11 (10th)
style="text-align:left"|2018–19Terri Williams-Flournoy22–109–7 (T-6th)NCAA First Round
style="text-align:left"|2019–20Terri Williams-Flournoy11–184–12 (T-12th)
style="text-align:left"|2020–21Terri Williams-Flournoy5–190–15 (13th)
style="text-align:left"|2021–22Johnnie Harris10–182–14 (14th)
style="text-align:left"|2022–23Johnnie Harris16–155–11 (T-10th)WNIT Second Round
style="text-align:left"|2023–24Johnnie Harris22–128–8 (T-7th)NCAA First Four
style="text-align:left"|2024–25Johnnie Harris12–183–13 (T-13th)
style="text-align:left"|2025–26Larry Vickers0–00–0

{{cite web |url=https://auburntigers.com/documents/2019/12/19/19_20_record_book.pdf | title=Auburn Tigers Women's Basketball2019-20 Media Guide | access-date=20 March 2020 }}

{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/womens-college-basketball/standings/_/group/23 | title=SEC Women's Basketball Standings - 2019-20 | publisher=ESPN | access-date=20 March 2020 }}

NCAA tournament results

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
{{CollegePrimaryHeader|team=Auburn Tigers|Year|Seed|Round|Opponent|Result}}
rowspan=1 | 1982#2First Round#7 CheyneyL 64–75
style="text-align:center;"

| rowspan=1 | 1983

#5First Round
Sweet Sixteen		#4 Missouri
#1 Louisiana Tech		W 94–76
L 54–81
style="text-align:center;"

| rowspan=1 | 1985

#3First Round
Sweet Sixteen		#6 Memphis State
#2 NE Louisiana		W 82–64
L 71–76
style="text-align:center;"

| rowspan=1 | 1986

#3Second Round
Sweet Sixteen		#6 Southern Illinois
#2 Ole Miss		W 61–39
L 55–56
style="text-align:center;"

| rowspan=1 | 1987

#1Second Round
Sweet Sixteen
Elite Eight		#8 Illinois
#5 Old Dominion
#2 Tennessee		W 92–58
W 77–61
L 61–77
style="text-align:center;"

| rowspan=1 | 1988

#1Second Round
Sweet Sixteen
Elite Eight
Final Four
Title Game		#8 Temple
#4 Clemson
#3 Ole Miss
#2 Long Beach State
#2 Louisiana Tech		W 94–66
W 68–65
W 103–74
W 68–55
L 54–56
style="text-align:center;"

| rowspan=1 | 1989

#1Second Round
Sweet Sixteen
Elite Eight
Final Four
Title Game		#9 Penn State
#4 Georgia
#2 Maryland
#1 Louisiana Tech
#1 Tennessee		W 88–54
W 71–60
W 77–51
W 76–71
L 60–76
style="text-align:center;"

| rowspan=1 | 1990

#2Second Round
Sweet Sixteen
Elite Eight
Final Four
Title Game		#7 Tennessee Tech
#6 Vanderbilt
#1 Washington
#1 Louisiana Tech
#1 Stanford		W 73–54
W 89–67
W 76–50
W 81–69
L 81–88
style="text-align:center;"

| rowspan=1 | 1991

#3Second Round
Sweet Sixteen
Elite Eight		#11 Holy Cross
#10 Vanderbilt
#1 Tennessee		W 84–58
W 58–45
L 65–69
style="text-align:center;"

| rowspan=1 | 1993

#3Second Round
Sweet Sixteen		#11 Louisville
#2 Iowa		W 66–61
L 50–63
style="text-align:center;"

| rowspan=1 | 1994

#9First Round
Second Round		#8 Virginia Tech
#1 Connecticut		W 60–51
L 59–81
style="text-align:center;"

| rowspan=1 | 1996

#6First Round
Second Round
Sweet Sixteen
Elite Eight		#11 Hawaii
#3 Colorado
#2 Penn State
#1 Stanford		W 73–53
W 68–61
W 75–69
L 57–71
style="text-align:center;"

| rowspan=1 | 1997

#7First Round
Second Round		#10 Louisville
#2 Louisiana Tech		W 68–65
L 48–74
style="text-align:center;"

| rowspan=1 | 1999

#5First Round
Second Round		#12 Texas
#4 Virginia Tech		W 69–61
L 61–76
style="text-align:center;"

| rowspan=1 | 2000

#7First Round
Second Round		#10 SW Missouri State
#2 Penn State		W 78–74
L 69–75
style="text-align:center;"

| rowspan=1 | 2004

#7First Round
Second Round		#10 NC State
#2 Connecticut		W 79–59
L 53–79
style="text-align:center;"

| rowspan=1 | 2008

#11First Round#6 George WashingtonL 56–66
style="text-align:center;"

| rowspan=1 | 2009

#2First Round
Second Round		#15 Lehigh
#7 Rutgers		W 85–49
L 52–80
style="text-align:center;"

| rowspan=1 | 2016

#9First Round
Second Round		#8 St. John's
#1 Baylor		W 68–57
L 52–84
style="text-align:center;"

| rowspan=1 | 2017

#11First Round#6 NC StateL 48–62
style="text-align:center;"

| rowspan=1 | 2019

#10First Round#7 BYUL 64–73
style="text-align:center;"

| rowspan=1 | 2024

#11First Four#11 ArizonaL 59–69
style="text-align:center;"

WNIT

Source{{Cite web |title=Archived Fields (PDF) - WNIT Pre and Post Tournament |url=https://womensnit.com/documents/2023/3/23/Postseason_WNIT_Past_Participants.pdf?path=postwnit |access-date=2023-04-18 |website=womensnit.com |language=en}}

The Tigers have participated in six WNIT tournaments, with an overall record of 13 – 5, including the 2003 WNIT championship.{{Cite web |title=Auburn stuns Baylor with last-second shot to capture title of 2003 Postseason WNIT |url=https://womensnit.com/news/2019/2/18/auburn-stuns-baylor-with-last-second-shot-to-capture-title-of-2003-postseason-wnit.aspx?path=post_wnit |access-date=2023-04-18 |website=womensnit.com |language=en}}

class="wikitable"
{{CollegePrimaryHeader|team=Auburn Tigers|Year|Round|Opponent|Result}}
rowspan="5" |2003

|First

|S. Alabama

|W 77–53

Second

|Florida State

|W 68–57

Quarterfinals

|Richmond

|W 59–53

Semifinals

|Creighton

|W 73–62

Championship

|Baylor

|W 64–63

rowspan="3" |2007

|Round 2

|UAB

|W 74–60

Round 3

|Virginia Tech

|W 81–73

Quarterfinals

|Kansas State

|L 67–54

rowspan="2" |2011

|First

|Tennessee Tech

|W 68–54

Second

|Toledo

|L 67–52

rowspan="4" |2013

|First

|UAB

|W 80–57

Second

|WKU

|W 84–66

Third

|Tulane

|W 72–52

Fourth

|Drexel

|L 56–43

rowspan="3" |2014

|Round 1

|Furman

|W 78–64

Round 2

|Old Dominion

|W 82–59

Round 3

|Mississippi State

|L 59–54

rowspan="2" |2023

|Round 1

|Tulane

|W 73–58

Round 2

|Clemson

|L 56–55

References

{{Reflist}}

External links

  • {{official website}}

{{Auburn Tigers women's basketball navbox}}

{{Auburn University}}

{{Southeastern Conference women's basketball navbox}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Auburn Tigers women's Basketball}}