Villanova Wildcats women's basketball

Last updated
Villanova Wildcats
Basketball current event.svg 2025–26 Villanova Wildcats women's basketball team
Villanova Wildcats logo.svg
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
ColorsNavy blue and white [1]
   
Uniforms
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Home
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Away
NCAA tournament Elite Eight
2003
Other NCAA tournament results
Sweet Sixteen2003, 2023
Appearances1982, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2009, 2013, 2018, 2022, 2023
AIAW tournament Final Four
1982
Other AIAW tournament results
Elite Eight1982
Sweet Sixteen1982
Appearances1982
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.

Contents

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
SeasonCoachOverallConferenceStandingPostseason
Liz Cawley (1969–1970)
1969–70Liz Cawley 4–6
Liz Cawley:4–6 (.400)
Jane Sefranek (1970–1975)
1970–71Jane Sefranek 8–5
1971–72Jane Sefranek 9–3
1972–73Jane Sefranek 10–5
1973–74Jane Sefranek 10–4
1974–75Jane Sefranek 14–6
Jane Sefranek:51–23 (.689)
Joan King (1975–1978)
1975–76Joan King 7–7
1976–77Joan King 6–11
1977–78Joan King 15–7
Joan King:28–25 (.528)
Harry Perretta (1978–1980)
1978–79Harry Perretta 17–8
1979–80Harry Perretta 20–5
1980–81Harry Perretta 22–6
1981–82Harry Perretta 29–4 AIAW Final Four
Big East Conference (1982–2020)
1982–83Harry Perretta 14–154–4T-4th
1983–84Harry Perretta 22–76–2T-1st
1984–85Harry Perretta 21–912–4T-1st
1985–86Harry Perretta 23–812–4T-2nd NCAA second round
1986–87Harry Perretta 27–415–11st NCAA First round
1987–88Harry Perretta 20–911–52nd NCAA First round
1988–89Harry Perretta 18–1211–52nd NCAA First round
1989–90Harry Perretta 9–191–159th
1990–91Harry Perretta 12–174–128th
1991–92Harry Perretta 11–177–11T-3rd
1992–93Harry Perretta 15–1310–8T-4th
1993–94Harry Perretta 13–147–11T-6th
1994–95Harry Perretta 19–913–52nd
1995–96Harry Perretta 21–713–53rd (3rd BE6)
1996–97Harry Perretta 14–148–10T-6th (5th BE6)
1997–98Harry Perretta 19–1012–6T-4th (T-2nd BE6) WNIT 1st Round
1998–99Harry Perretta 14–149–9T-6th
1999–00Harry Perretta 15–157–9T-6th WNIT 1st Round
2000–01Harry Perretta 22–911–5T-4th NCAA second round
2001–02Harry Perretta 20–1112–4T-3rd NCAA second round
2002–03Harry Perretta 28–612–4T-3rd NCAA Elite Eight
2003–04Harry Perretta 23–712–4T-2nd NCAA second round
2004–05Harry Perretta 19–1210–6T-4th WNIT 1st Round
2005–06Harry Perretta 21–119–7T-6th WNIT Quarterfinals
2006–07Harry Perretta 8–212–1416th
2007–08Harry Perretta 17–165–11T-11th WNIT Round of 16
2008–09Harry Perretta 19–1412–4T-4th NCAA First round
2009–10Harry Perretta 14–163–1315th
2010–11Harry Perretta 12–193–13T-13th
2011–12Harry Perretta 19–156–10T-10th WNIT Round of 16
2012–13Harry Perretta 21–119–7T-6th NCAA First round
2013–14Harry Perretta 23–912–6T-3rd WNIT 2nd Round
2014–15Harry Perretta 22–1412–63rd WNIT Round of 16
2015–16Harry Perretta 20–1212–6T-2nd WNIT 2nd Round
2016–17Harry Perretta 20–1511–74th WNIT semifinals
2017–18Harry Perretta 23–912–63rd NCAA round of 32
2018–19Harry Perretta 19–139–94th WNIT 2nd Round
2019-20Harry Perretta 18-1311-7T-3rdN/A
Harry Perretta:742–467 (.614)322–264 (.549)
Denise Dillon (Big East)(2020–Present)
2020-21Denise Dillon 17-79–55th WNIT Quarterfinals
2021-22 Denise Dillon 24-915-42nd NCAA Second Round
2022-23 Denise Dillon 30-717-32nd NCAA Sweet Sixteen
2023-24 Denise Dillon 22-1311-7T-3rd WBIT Runner-Up
2024-25 Denise Dillon 21-1511-75th WBIT Semifinals
Denise Dillon:114-5163-26
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

YearSeedRoundOpponentResult
1986 #7First Round
Second Round		#10 La Salle
#2 Rutgers		W 60–55
L 58–85
1987 #6Second Round#3 NC StateL 67–68
1988 #8First Round#9 Wake ForestL 51–53
1989 #11First Round#6 Old DominionL 41–66
2001 #5First Round
Second Round		#12 Drake
#4 NC State		W 66–58
L 64–68
2002 #9First Round
Second Round		#8 Pepperdine
#1 Oklahoma		W 67–46
L 53–66
2003 #2First 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 #7First Round
Second Round		#10 Ole Miss
#2 Purdue		W 66–63
L 42–60
2009 #8First Round#9 UtahL 30–60
2013 #9First Round#8 MichiganL 52–60
2018 #9First Round
Second Round		#8 South Dakota State
#1 Notre Dame		W 81–74 (OT)
L 72–98
2022 #11First Round
Second Round		#6 Brigham Young
#3 Michigan		W 61–57
L 49-64
2023 #4First 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.

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

References

  1. ↑ Villanova Athletics Identity Standards Guide and Apparel Specifications (PDF). February 4, 2014. Retrieved February 25, 2019.
  2. 1 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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