Old Dominion Monarchs women's basketball

Old Dominion Monarchs
2023–24 Old Dominion Monarchs women's basketball team
UniversityOld Dominion University
First season1969–70
All-time record1060–427
Head coachDeLisha Milton-Jones (3rd season)
ConferenceSun Belt
LocationNorfolk, Virginia
ArenaChartway Arena
(capacity: 8,472[1])
NicknameMonarchs (2013–present)
Lady Monarchs (1969–2012)
ColorsSlate blue, silver, and light blue[2]
     
Uniforms
Home jersey
Team colours
Home
Away jersey
Team colours
Away
Alternate jersey
Team colours
Alternate
NCAA tournament champions
1985
NCAA tournament runner-up
1997
NCAA tournament Final Four
1983, 1985, 1997
NCAA tournament Elite Eight
1983, 1984, 1985, 1997, 2002
NCAA tournament Sweet Sixteen
1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1987, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2008
NCAA tournament appearances
1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008
AIAW tournament champions
1979, 1980
AIAW tournament Final Four
1979, 1980, 1981
AIAW tournament Elite Eight
1979, 1980, 1981
AIAW tournament Sweet Sixteen
1979, 1980, 1981
AIAW tournament appearances
1979, 1980, 1981
Conference tournament champions
Sun Belt: 1983, 1984, 1985, 1987, 1990
CAA: 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008
Conference regular season champions
Sun Belt: 1983, 1984, 1985, 1987, 1988, 1989
CAA: 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010

The Old Dominion Monarchs women’s basketball team (formerly the Lady Monarchs) represents Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia. The team currently competes in the NCAA Division I as a member of the Sun Belt Conference.

The ODU Monarchs women's basketball team contributed to the initial rise in popularity of women's intercollegiate basketball in the United States in the 1970s. Women's college basketball was organized under the auspices of the AIAW in the early 1970s, at a time when competitive power was distributed among small colleges that had established a niche (such as Immaculata, Delta State, West Chester State, Wayland Baptist and Stephen F. Austin).

ODU won two AIAW national championships in 1979 and 1980 in dominating fashion with star players, Nancy Lieberman and Anne Donovan. Led by Medina Dixon and Tracy Claxton, ODU won the NCAA Division 1 championship in 1985, defeating the University of Georgia 70–65.

ODU along with UCLA and Tennessee, among others, led the rise to prominence of large schools with national reputations to the top intercollegiate level, before the NCAA began sponsoring sports for women.

  1. ^ "Old Dominion Women's Basketball Quick Facts" (PDF). ODUSports.com. July 1, 2021. Retrieved July 11, 2022.
  2. ^ Old Dominion University Athletic Department Branding Guidelines (PDF). July 8, 2019. Retrieved April 5, 2021.