September 17 – The NCAA officially announced that both men's and women's basketball season is permitted to begin on November 25.[1]
September 24 – One week after the NCAA's announcement, the Pac-12 permitted play to begin on that date. The Pac-12 had previously barred play until 2021.[2] This ruling left the Ivy League as the only conference not yet allowing play to begin on November 25.[3]
October 14 – The NCAA announced that all student-athletes in winter sports during the 2020–21 school year, including men's and women's basketball, would receive an extra year of athletic eligibility, whether or not they or their teams play during that school year.[4]
October 27 – Bethune–Cookman, which had previously canceled its 2020 fall sports due to COVID-19 concerns, announced that none of its other teams, including men's and women's basketball, would play in the 2020–21 school year.[5]
November 12
Cal State Northridge announced that it would not play in the 2020–21 season after six players opted out of the season and a seventh was unable to enter the U.S. due to travel restrictions, leaving the Matadors with only six available players.[6]
The Ivy League became the first conference to cancel all winter sports for the 2020–21 season, including men's and women's basketball, due to COVID-19 concerns.[7]
November 19 – Maryland Eastern Shore became the second MEAC program to opt out of all remaining 2020–21 sports, including men's and women's basketball, due to COVID-19 concerns.[8]
November 23 – Florida A&M became the third MEAC member to opt out of the 2020–21 season due to COVID-19 concerns. Unlike the previous two MEAC members to opt out, FAMU only opted out of women's basketball at that time.[9]
December 14 – The NCAA announces that the 2021 NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament would be held in one geographic area. The original host of the Final Four, San Antonio, and surrounding areas began preliminary discussions to host the entire 64-team tournament.[10]
December 29 – Southern Methodist University canceled the remainder of its women's basketball season, citing player concerns over COVID–19.
December 31 - South Carolina makes a claim to the 2019-20 season mythical national championship based on poll results in the SEC season-opener against Florida.
January 6 – Dixie State University canceled the remainder of its women's basketball season, citing player concerns over COVID–19.
January 21 – The University of Detroit Mercy canceled the remainder of its women's basketball season. The school's announcement came four days after the parents of all 14 players sent a letter to UDM athletic director Robert Vowels Jr. alleging rampant player mistreatment by first-year head coach AnnMarie Gilbert.[13]
January 24 – The University of Vermont canceled the remainder of its women's basketball season, citing player concerns over COVID–19.
January 29 – UMBC canceled the remainder of its women's basketball season, citing player concerns over COVID–19.
February 3 – South Carolina State University canceled the remainder of its women's basketball season, citing player concerns over COVID–19.
February 4 – Canisius College canceled the remainder of its women's basketball season, citing player concerns over COVID–19.
February 10 – The University of Hartford canceled the remainder of its women's basketball season, citing player concerns over COVID–19.
February 12 – The College of William & Mary canceled the remainder of its women's basketball season, citing player concerns over COVID–19.
February 18 – Colgate University canceled the remainder of its women's basketball season, citing player concerns over COVID–19.
February 23 – St. Francis (BKN) canceled the remainder of its women's basketball season, citing player concerns over COVID–19.
February 25 – The University of San Diego canceled the remainder of its women's basketball season, citing player concerns over COVID–19.
March 2 – Hampton University canceled the remainder of its women's basketball season, citing player concerns over COVID–19.
March 3 – Delaware State University canceled the remainder of its women's basketball season, citing player concerns over COVID–19.
Milestones and records
January 9 – In what was believed to be the first-ever coaching matchup of a father and daughter in Division I basketball, Holy Cross, coached by Maureen Magarity, defeated Army, coached by her father Dave Magarity, 80–46.[14]
January 28 – In an 83–71 upset of then-#2 NC State, Virginia Tech set a new Division I women's record for most points in an overtime period with 26, which also tied the D-I men's mark.[15]
Conference membership changes
Ten schools joined new conferences for the 2020–21 season, including four transitioning from Division II.
This was originally intended to be Idaho's final season at the Kibbie Dome, also home to Idaho football, with the facility's basketball configuration known as Cowan Spectrum. When Idaho football moved its 2020 season to spring 2021, it forced Idaho men's and women's basketball to move their entire home schedules to Memorial Gymnasium, which had been a secondary home to both teams since the Kibbie Dome opened in 1976, as well as the full-time home to both before that time. The school plans to open the new Idaho Central Credit Union Arena for the 2021–22 season. The Dome will remain in use for football and several other sports.[23]
Early season tournaments are TBA, although many have canceled and others are unlikely to occur.
Upsets
An upset is a victory by an underdog team. In the context of NCAA Division I Women's Basketball, this generally constitutes an unranked team defeating a team currently ranked in the Top 25. This list will highlight those upsets of ranked teams by unranked teams as well as upsets of #1 teams. Rankings are from the AP poll.
Bold type indicates winning teams in "true road games"—i.e., those played on an opponent's home court (including secondary homes).
Each of the 31 Division I athletic conferences that played in 2020–21 ended its regular season with a single-elimination tournament. The team with the best regular-season record in each conference was given the number one seed in each tournament, with tiebreakers used as needed in the case of ties for the top seeding. Unless otherwise noted, the winners of these tournaments received automatic invitations to the 2021 NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament.
^California Baptist, which was unbeaten after the WAC tournament, was ineligible for the NCAA tournament because it was in the third year of a four-year transition from NCAA Division II. Prior to the tournament, the WAC announced that if California Baptist won the tournament, the conference's automatic bid would go to the regular-season second-place finisher, Utah Valley.[58]
Vermont suspended their season on January 24, 2021 UMBC suspended their season on January 29, 2021 Hartford suspended their season on February 10, 2021 Binghamton suspended their season on February 19, 2021
SMU suspended their season on December 29, 2020 The American has declared a forfeit win for USF against Memphis for conference-standings purposes only as a result of the scheduled game from Jan. 17 that was not played. The teams' overall records are not affected.
Notes: The MAAC has ordered standings based on league wins, not winning percentage, since all teams will not reach 20 conference games played. These standings are also used for seeding purposes in the 2021 MAAC Tournament.[59][60]
Canisius suspended their season on February 4, 2021
* ineligible for the 2021 NCAA tournament due to transition period. Dixie State suspended its season on January 6, 2021. ^ received automatic bid for the 2021 NCAA tournament as conference tournament runner-up, due to California Baptist's ineligibility
The NCAA has never recognized a consensus All-America team in women's basketball. This differs from the practice in men's basketball, in which the NCAA uses a combination of selections by the Associated Press (AP), the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC), the Sporting News, and the United States Basketball Writers Association (USBWA) to determine a consensus All-America team. The selection of a consensus team is possible because all four organizations select at least a first and second team, with only the USBWA not selecting a third team.
Before the 2017–18 season, it was impossible for a consensus women's All-America team to be determined because the AP had been the only body that divided its women's selections into separate teams. The USBWA first named separate teams in 2017–18. The women's counterpart to the NABC, the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA), continues the USBWA's former practice of selecting a single 10-member (plus ties) team. The NCAA does not recognize Sporting News as an All-America selector in women's basketball.
Magarity announced his retirement on January 28, 2021 after 15 seasons at Army, effective at the end of the season.[80] On March 29, Missy Traversi was hired by the Black Knights following five seasons as head coach at D-II Adelphi.[81]
Auburn announced a coaching change on March 4, 2021, firing Williams-Flournoy after 9 seasons.[82] Texas associate head coach Johnnie Harris was hired as the Tigers' new head coach on April 3.[83]
Midlick's contract was not renewed on March 8, 2021, ending his 6-year tenure at Austin Peay with an 85–88 record.[84] The Governors hired Mississippi State assistant Brittany Young as their new head coach on March 17.[85]
Mulkey left Baylor on April 25, 2021 after 21 seasons and 3 national championships for the LSU head coaching job.[86] Atlanta Dream head coach Nicki Collen was hired by the Lady Bears on May 3.[87]
Blair-Lewis left Bethune–Cookman on April 6, 2021 after 13 seasons for the George Mason head coaching job.[88] On July 2, the Wildcats named Kennesaw State assistant Crayton as their new head coach.[89]
Moseley left her alma mater on March 26, 2021 after 3 seasons to accept the head coaching job at Wisconsin.[90] Wake Forest assistant D'Amico was hired by the Terriers on April 23.[91]
Hemer, citing personal and health reasons, resigned from Canisius on June 22, 2021 after 3 seasons.[92] Miami (OH) assistant Nusseibeh was hired by the Golden Griffins on July 23.[93]
On April 9, 2021, Charleston Southern announced they would not extend Applin's contract following 9 seasons and a 67–178 record with the Buccaneers.[94] Auburn assistant coach Clarisse Garcia was hired on May 3.[95]
On April 8, 2021, Cleary announced his resignation after 5 seasons and a 49–79 record with the Raiders.[96] George Washington assistant coach Ganiyat Adeduntan was hired by the Raiders on April 21.[97]
Koclanes announced on February 24, 2021 that she will leave Dartmouth after 7 seasons to become president of a non-profit organization in Delaware effective March 31.[98] Adrienne Shibles was hired by the Big Green on May 3 after 13 seasons as head coach at D-III Bowdoin.[99]
Delaware State parted ways with Caputo on April 1, 2021 after 3 seasons and a 22–51 overall record.[100] Towson assistant coach Hill was hired by the Hornets on June 4.[101]
On April 10, 2021, Baranczyk left Drake after 9 seasons to accept the head coaching position at Oklahoma.[102] The Bulldogs filled the vacancy by promoting associate head coach Pohlman on April 19.[103]
ETSU fired Ezell on March 8, 2021 after 8 seasons and a 105–132 overall record.[104] The Buccaneers announced Ohio State assistant Simon Harris as their new head coach on March 19.[105]
Williams resigned from EKU on April 16, 2021 after 2 seasons and a 20–33 record to become an assistant at Tennessee.[106] Morehead State head coach and EKU alum Greg Todd was hired by the Colonels on May 10.[107]
On March 31, 2021, EWU announced that Schuller would not return as head coach after 20 seasons with the Eagles.[108] Seattle associate head coach Joddie Gleason was hired on May 21.[109]
Evansville parted ways with Ruffing on March 15, 2021 after 5 seasons and a 31–119 overall record.[110] On April 20, FIU assistant Robyn Scherr-Wells was hired by the Purple Aces.[111]
Jabir left FAU on April 7, 2021 after 4 seasons to return to Siena, where he had been head coach there from 1987 to 1990, for a second stint as head coach.[112] Tennessee assistant coach Jennifer Sullivan was named the Owls' new head coach on April 15.[113]
Semrau announced on September 8, 2020 that she will take a leave of absence from Florida State for the 2020–21 season to care for her mother, with the expectation of returning to the team at the end of the season. Associate head coach Wyckoff served as the Seminoles' interim head coach during Semrau's absence.[114] Semrau officially returned to Florida State on April 1, 2021.[115]
Milleson announced her resignation on March 11, 2021 after 8 seasons and a 98–140 overall record at GMU.[116] Bethune–Cookman head coach Vanessa Blair-Lewis was hired by the Patriots on April 6.[88]
GW parted ways with Rizzotti on March 15, 2021 after 5 seasons and a 72–74 overall record.[117] On April 2, the Colonials hired Stony Brook head coach McCombs for the same position.[118]
Valley left Hartford on April 21, 2021 after 2 seasons to return to her alma mater UConn as an assistant coach.[119] Assistant coach Hodgdon was named interim head coach of the Hawks for the 2021–22 season.[120] On May 27, 2022, the school hired Polly Thomason from D3UT Dallas as the permanent replacement.[121]
A week after parting ways with the men's basketball head coach, Indiana State and Hall agreed to part ways on March 15, 2021 after 3 seasons and a 21–59 overall record.[122] Nicholls assistant coach Chad Killinger was hired by the Sycamores on April 20.[123]
Berenato retired on March 29, 2021 following a 33-year head coaching career, the last 5 years spent at Kennesaw State.[124] Miami (FL) associate head coach Blue was hired by the Owls on April 29.[125]
Mitchell announced his retirement on November 12, 2020 after 15 seasons as a head coach, the last 13 at Kentucky. Following his announcement, associate head coach Kyra Elzy was initially named the interim head coach of the Wildcats for the 2020–21 season,[126] but UK athletic director Mitch Barnhart removed the interim tag from Elzy on December 14.[127]
On March 30, 2021, Loyola announced that Logan would not return as head coach following 16 seasons with the Greyhounds.[128] He was replaced by Minnesota assistant and former Kent State head coach Danielle O'Banion on April 23.[129]
On April 5, 2021, Elliott announced she would be stepping down following 9 seasons as head coach of LMU.[130] The Lions stayed in the LA area for their next hire, naming USC assistant coach Aarika Hughes for the job on April 19.[131]
Fargas stepped down on April 15, 2021 after 10 seasons and a 177–129 record at LSU to become president of the Las Vegas Aces.[132] Baylor head coach and Hall of Famer Kim Mulkey was hired by the Lady Tigers on April 25.[86]
On March 12, 2021, McNeese State announced they would not be extending Cryer's contract, ending her 5-year tenure at the school.[133] Portland State head coach Lynn Kennedy was hired by the Cowgirls on March 30.[134]
McFerrin announced her retirement effective immediately on February 14, 2021 after 13 seasons at Memphis. Assistant coach Savage was named interim head coach of the Tigers for the rest of the season.[135] Wright State head coach Katrina Merriweather was hired as the school's new coach on March 29.[136]
Craig announced her resignation from Monmouth on March 11, 2021 after 4 seasons and a 33–69 overall record. She had been suspended by the school approximately 48 hours before her resignation.[137] Penn State assistant coach and head recruiting coordinator Boggess was hired as the Hawks' new head coach on April 8.[138]
Todd left Morehead State on May 10, 2021 after 7 seasons for the head coaching job at his alma mater Eastern Kentucky.[107] On June 4, the Eagles hired Cayla Petree from Gulf Coast State College of the NJCAA as their new head coach.[139]
Marchesano left the Mount on March 30, 2021 after 4 seasons for the head coaching job at Purdue Fort Wayne.[140] Associate head coach Antoine White was promoted to head coach of the Mountaineers immediately following Marchesano's departure.[141]
Northeastern parted ways with Cole on March 24, 2021 after 7 seasons and an 87–116 overall record.[142] Pittsburgh assistant Mitchell was hired by the Huskies on April 17.[143]
Huth announced her resignation from Northern Colorado on April 21, 2021 after 3 seasons and a 48–41 record.[144] The Bears hired Mattio, head coach at D-II West Texas A&M for the past 6 seasons, on May 8.[145]
Coale announced her retirement after 25 seasons at Oklahoma on March 17, 2021. The 2016 Women's Basketball Hall of Fame inductee left the program with a 512–293 overall record, three Final Four appearances, and six Big 12 regular-season titles.[146] The Sooners hired Drake head coach Jennie Baranczyk as her successor on April 10.[102]
Kennedy left Portland State on March 30, 2021 after 6 seasons for the McNeese State head coaching job.[134] Associate head coach Gregg was promoted to head coach of the Vikings on April 16.[147]
Purdue Fort Wayne announced on February 26, 2021 that Nelson, who had been under investigation for toxic abuse in the program, would not have her contract renewed at the end of the season, ending her 5-year tenure at the school.[148] On March 30, the Mastodons hired Fort Wayne native Maria Marchesano from Mount St. Mary's as their new head coach.[140]
Langley left Rice on April 5, 2021 after 6 seasons for the Washington head coaching job.[149] The Owls hired NC State assistant Edmonds as her replacement on April 23.[150]
Sacramento State parted ways with Harkleroad on March 18, 2021 after 8 seasons and an 88-151 overall record.[151] Oregon assistant coach Campbell was named the new head coach of the Hornets on April 16.[152]
Siena opted not to renew Jaques' contract on March 15, 2021, ending her 9-year tenure at the school with a 116–148 record.[153] Florida Atlantic head coach Jim Jabir, who previously served as head coach of the Saints from 1987 to 1990, returned on April 7.[112]
SIUE fired Buscher on March 19, 2021 after 9 seasons and a 117–152 record.[154] The Cougars hired Samantha Quigley Smith from D-II Lewis University on April 27.[155]
SMU declined to renew Mays' contract on March 8, 2021, ending his 5-year tenure as head coach with a 63–75 overall record.[156] The Mustangs hired Michigan assistant and former Prairie View A&M head coach Toyelle Wilson on April 1.[157]
McCombs left Stony Brook on April 2, 2021 after 7 seasons for the head coaching job at George Washington.[118] James Madison associate head coach Ashley Langford was hired by the Seawolves on April 28.[158]
On March 18, 2021, Mossman announced her retirement from coaching, finishing her ten-year tenure at Tulsa with a 119–176 and a career record of 266–269 in 19 seasons.[159] Arizona State associate head coach Angie Nelp was hired by the Golden Hurricane on April 12.[160]
Garrick announced on April 13, 2021 that he would be stepping down as head coach at UMass Lowell after 3 seasons to become an assistant for his wife Shea Ralph, who was hired as the new head coach at Vanderbilt.[161] River Hawks assistant King was promoted to the head coaching position on May 20.[162]
On April 21, 2021, Trakh announced his retirement from coaching after 4 seasons of his 2nd stint at USC, finishing his 26-year tenure as a head coach with a career record of 458–317.[163] Cleveland Cavaliers assistant Lindsay Gottlieb was hired by the Trojans on May 10.[164]
Holt's contract with UTSA was not renewed on March 16, 2021, ending her 4-year tenure with a 24–83 overall record.[165] Former Texas head coach Karen Aston was hired as the Roadrunners' new head coach on March 29.[166]
On April 6, 2021, Vanderbilt parted ways with White following 5 seasons and a 46–83 record with the Commodores.[167] The Commodores hired longtime UConn assistant Ralph on April 13.[168]
Jacobs resigned on April 26, 2021 after 5 seasons at Wagner.[169] Assistant coach Coburn was promoted by the Seahawks to the head coaching position 2 days later.[170]
Washington fired Wynn on March 15, 2021 after 4 seasons and a 38–75 record, the lowest winning percentage by a head coach in the program.[171] Rice head coach Tina Langley was hired by the Huskies on April 5.[149]
Wisconsin fired Tsipis on March 9, 2021 after 5 seasons, in which the Badgers went 50–99 overall and never finished higher than 11th place in conference play.[172] On March 26, the school hired Boston University's Marisa Moseley as their next head coach.[90]
Merriweather left Wright State on March 29, 2021 after 5 seasons for the Memphis head coaching job.[136] The Raiders hired Kari Hoffman on May 20 after 5 seasons as head coach at D-II Cedarville.[173]