Undefeated national champions in women’s college basketball: South Carolina goes 38-0

Led by head coach Jody Conradt, the 1985-’86 Texas Longhorns became the first undefeated national champions in women’s college basketball history. Coming off a 28-3 season, Texas entered the 1985 preseason ranked No. 1 in the country. They had some very close calls, including a 78-76 victory over Ohio State in the season-opener, but went into the NCAA Tournament 29-0. The Longhorns capped off that undefeated season with a 97-81 victory over No. 3 USC in the NCAA championship game.

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Just get used to seeing the UConn Huskies on this list. Following a 30-3 season in 1993-’94, Geno Auriemma’s Huskies entered the preseason ranked as the fourth-best team in the nation. UConn didn’t even hold the No. 1 spot in the AP poll until Jan. 17, but this team was phenomenal. Led by Rebecca Lobo and Kara Walters, UConn entered the NCAA Tournament 29-0 and then battled to the title game. Fittingly, it ended with a rivalry matchup against the Tennessee Volunteers, with UConn coming out on top 70-64 for the second undefeated season in women’s college basketball history.

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While the loss in the 1995 national championship game was heartbreaking for Pat Summitt and her players, it helped spark the 1997-’98 Tennessee Volunteers. Coming off a 29-10 season the previous year, Tennessee went from start to finish as the No. 1 team in the AP poll for 1997-98. The Vols suffered a scare in the 1998 SEC Championship Game, narrowly escaping with a 67-63 win over Alabama, but they stormed through the NCAA Tournament. Tennessee became the third undefeated national champions in women’s college basketball history after defeating Louisiana Tech 93-75 in the title game.

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The 2000s belonged to the UConn Huskies. During the 2001-’02 season, a lineup featuring Swin Cash, Diana Taurasi, Sue Bird and Ashja Jones proved to be one of the most dominant women’s college basketball teams ever. UConn had five players averaging double-figures and, unlike its predecessor to make history, the Huskies went wire-to-wire atop the AP poll. On its road to a national championship, UConn crushed Tennessee in the Final FOur (79-56) then beat fellow No.1-seeded Oklahoma 82-70 to win another national title.

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Don’t let the gap between undefeated seasons for UConn in the 200s fool you, they still won two national championships in between their perfect years. However, after going 36-2 and then losing in the semifinal of the 2008 NCAA Tournament, the Huskies were determined to get back on top. A lineup led by Maya Moore, arguably the most dominant player ever in women’s college basketball, paired with Tina Charles and Renee Montgomery wreaked havoc in the NCAA. The Huskies entered the preseason ranked first in the nation and carried that ranking through a 76-54 national championship victory over Louisville.

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UConn didn’t lose a single game for two consecutive seasons. Maya Moore and Tina Charles ran it back after their undefeated season, combining for over 36 points and nearly 20 rebounds per game as a duo. The Huskies’ tandem kept their team in the No. 1 spot for two full years, putting a bow on their historic run with a 53-47 victory over Stanford in the national title game. This version of the Huskies is definitely one of the most dominant runs ever in college sports.

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Carried by Brittney Griner, who averaged 23.2 points, 9.5 rebounds and 5.2 blocks per game – the 2011-12 Baylor Bears became the fourth school in women’s college basketball to be undefeated national champions. Baylor opened the season ranked first in the nation and it held that crown through the end. Baylor capped off its perfect season by crushing Notre Dame 80-61 in the national championship, giving the Bears 40 consecutive wins in a single basketball year.

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UConn finished atop the mountain in 2013 as national champions, but the program did suffer 4 losses that season. So, Breanna Stewart, Bria Hartley and Stefanie Dolson used it as motivation. Entering the season atop the AP poll, UConn went on a 40-game run of dominance. In the NCAA tournament, which was capped off with a 79-80 win over Notre Dame in the national championship, UConn won every game by double-digits.

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Much like her fellow alum Maya Moore, one undefeated season wasn’t enough for Breanna Stewart. So, one of the best players in women’s college basketball history teamed up with guard Moriah Jefferson to take the Huskies on another insane run. As is the case with so many of these teams, the Huskies went wire-to-wire atop the AP poll. Then, Stewart and Jefferson closed things out by crushing Syracuse 82-51 in the title game. Just as impressive, UConn won every game in the 2016 NCAA tournament by at least 20 points.

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The 2023-’24 South Carolina Gamecocks are the latest team to make history. Led by head coach Dawn Staley, with a well-rounded team that is headlined by Kamilla Cardoso and MiLaysia Fulwiley, the Gamecocks became the 10th team in women’s college basketball history to go undefeated as national champions. After allowing 18 points in the first quarter to Caitlin Clark and trailing the Iowa Hawkeyes 27-0 heading into the second quarter, South Carolina rallied. Thanks to a phenomenal performance off the bench by freshman guard Tessa Johnson, and Kamilia Cardoso’s dominance on the glass paired with three starters scoring in double-figures, South Carolina capped off its perfect season as national champions. Plus, it avenged its Final Four loss in 2023 to Iowa. The Gamecocks are now 74-1 in the last two seasons and 109-3 over the last three seasons with two national championships.