WVU Women’s Basketball (27-6, 14-4) secured an automatic berth into the “big dance” by winning its first Big 12 tournament title since 2017. Whatever seed the Mountaineers pull is yet to be determined, but this year will mark the 17th NCAA Tournament appearance for the program. It’s time to take a look at how the ladies have fared in the past. Read more: March Madness retrospective: WVU Women’s Basketball team history.
The NCAA launched the women’s tournament in 1982, with WVU making its initial breakthrough in 1989. Of their 16 appearances, the Mountaineers have won at least one game in all but three outings (2004, 2013, 2023). Their tournament record sits at 13-16 heading into the 2026 run.
The early years
It started in 1989 when WVU, a program launched 16 years prior (1973), earned the No. 12 seed. The Mountaineers upset No. 5 Western Kentucky in the opening round, 66-57. No. 4 Virginia was waiting on the other side, and sent WVU packing in the second round, 81-68.
WVU returned to the dance in 1992, earning a first round bye as the No. 4 team in its region. The Mountaineers won a 73-72 nailbiter over No. 5 Clemson. Virginia, as the No. 1 seed, ended WVU’s season once again with a 103-83 result in the Sweet Sixteen.
A new millennium
Over a decade passed before WVU rejoined the fray. The 2004 appearance was short lived for the 11-seed, going one-and-done against No. 6 Ohio State, losing 73-67.
WVU pulled the same slot in 2007, beating No. 6 Xavier in comfortable fashion. No. 3 LSU stopped the Mountaineers in their tracks in the second round, 49-43.
One year later, the No. 5-seeded Mountaineers narrowly escaped against No. 12 New Mexico, 61-60. N0. 4 Vanderbilt made quick work of WVU, 64-46.
Consistency is key
After missing March Madness in 2009, a streak began. WVU earned a spot for five straight seasons (2010-2014).
The trend of “first round win, second round exit” remained true in four of those five campaigns. No. 6 Delaware is the lone exception of bouncing WVU earlier than usual in that stretch (2013).
The fifth year of the era (2014) ended with No. 2 WVU getting upset by No. 7 LSU. The No. 2 seed is still the highest tournament placement in program history.
WVU failed to earn a bid in 2015, but returned with two-game runs in 2016 and 2017.
Recharged
The program went cold for a bit, missing the tourney between 2018-2020. A return in 2021, longtime head coach Mike Carey’s penultimate year, featured WVU as the No. 4 seed in the region. The second round exit trend persisted.
Dawn Plitzuweit took the Mountaineers to the tournament in her lone year as head coach, where the third and most recent first-round exit occurred.
Enter Mark Kellogg.
Coach Kellogg is taking his team dancing for the third time in three seasons this year.
If you believe in the power of trends, you aren’t going to be shocked. Both outings thus far have ended in second round exits, most recently to North Carolina this past season.
The difference this time? After coming up short in his first two seasons, Kellogg and co. willed their way to the Mountaineers’ first Big 12 tournament title since 2017.
“It’s a coach’s dream in a way,” coach Kellogg said Monday, “you just try to have a vision and put it in front of them [players], and put these guys in a position to have success and to their credit they took advantage of it, and they’ve earned and deserved everything that’s come their way, and we’re not done.”
Related: WVU Women’s Basketball wins Big 12, eyes NCAA Tournament run
Breaking the cycle
Even with a successful program such as WVU Women’s Basketball, the road has to end somewhere. Only one team’s road leads to gold. To get to that intersection, it takes a team finding its way past the second round.
If there was ever a year to make it happen, it’s this one.
On the backs of Jordan Harrison, Sydney Shaw, Meme Wheeler, Gia Cooke, and the rest of the undoubtedly stacked roster, WVU’s time may be now.
Waiting for Selection Sunday
WVU learns its path to glory, and its potential obstacles, at 8 p.m. Sunday (March 15).
Time will tell if the Mountaineers can make it past the second round, but fans and analysts alike know what the team is capable of.
