
The Oregon Ducks women's basketball team is the official women's basketball team of the University of Oregon in Eugene, Oregon. The team is a Division I team in the National Collegiate Athletic Association and has a long history dating back to 1899 when it was brought to the university by physical education instructor Alice Chapman. The Ducks have had their fair share of successes over the years, including winning the Women's National Invitation Tournament in 1989 and again in 2002. They have also made appearances in the NCAA Tournament, thanks to former coach Jody Runge, who led the team to the tournament every year during her eight-season tenure from 1993 to 2001. More recently, in 2016, the Ducks reached the Final Four but fell short of the title game, losing to Baylor. While the team has had its triumphs, they have yet to claim a national championship title in basketball.
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What You'll Learn
- The Oregon Ducks women's basketball team is the official team of the University of Oregon
- The team has won the Women's National Invitation Tournament twice, in 1989 and 2002
- The Ducks have made it to the NCAA tournament eight times under coach Dana Altman
- The Ducks have an all-time conference record of 260-280
- The Ducks' home venue is the Matthew Knight Arena

The Oregon Ducks women's basketball team is the official team of the University of Oregon
Women's basketball at the University of Oregon has a long history, dating back to 1899 when it was introduced as a club by physical education instructor Alice Chapman, the wife of University President Charles Chapman. The first official season for the Ducks was in 1973-74, with Jane Spearing as the coach. The team finished that season with a 3-8 losing record. The following two seasons, from 1974 to 1976, were coached by Nancy Mikleton, with records of 2-10 and 5-15, respectively. Elwin Heiny took over as head coach in 1976 and remained in that position until 1993. Heiny was the first full-time coach hired for the women's basketball team.
The Ducks have experienced success in recent years, making their first NCAA tournament appearance in 2005 and advancing to the Elite Eight. In the 2015-16 season, the team had a notable run, winning the Pac-12 Conference Tournament and earning the top seed in the West Regional of the NCAA tournament. This was a historic achievement for the program as it was their first time earning a top seed in the NCAA tournament.
The Oregon Ducks women's basketball team has a rich history and a dedicated fan base. With a strong foundation and talented players, the team continues to strive for excellence and compete at the highest levels of collegiate women's basketball.
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The team has won the Women's National Invitation Tournament twice, in 1989 and 2002
The Oregon Ducks women's basketball team is the official women's basketball team of the University of Oregon in Eugene, Oregon. Basketball is one of 11 varsity women's sports at the University of Oregon. The team has won the Women's National Invitation Tournament twice, in 1989 and 2002.
The team's history can be traced back to 1899 when women's basketball (as a zoned, single-dribble game) at the University of Oregon was started as a club by physical education instructor Alice Chapman, wife of University President Charles Chapman. In 1902-03, an effort was made to organise a women's university team, as a women's intercollegiate game was emerging at Willamette University, Oregon Agricultural College, Pacific University, and elsewhere. The team played its first official season in 1973-74 under coach Jane Spearing, finishing with a 3-8 losing record. The following two seasons were coached by Nancy Mikleton, and the team posted 2-10 and 5-15 records, respectively.
In 1976, Elwin Heiny took over the program and became the first full-time coach hired for women's basketball at the University of Oregon. In his first season as head coach, Heiny led the team to its first winning record (11-6). He remained the coach until 1993. Jody Runge then took over as head coach and coached until 2001, leading the Ducks to NCAA tournament appearances during each of her eight seasons as coach. From 2001 to 2009, former Oregon Ducks All-American Bev Smith coached the team, achieving an 83-69 overall record. Paul Westhead coached the Ducks from the 2009-10 season through the 2013-14 season.
The Oregon Ducks women's basketball team plays its home games at Matthew Knight Arena, which opened in 2011. The team is a member of the Big Ten Conference and a Division I team in the National Collegiate Athletic Association. Nike provides the official team uniforms.
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The Ducks have made it to the NCAA tournament eight times under coach Dana Altman
The Oregon Ducks women's basketball team is the official women's basketball team of the University of Oregon in Eugene, Oregon. Basketball is one of 11 varsity women's sports at the University of Oregon. The team is a member of the Big Ten Conference and a Division I team in the National Collegiate Athletic Association.
The Ducks have a long and proud history of NCAA success. From their first conference title in 1933 to their 12th Pac-12 Championship, they have been one of the most successful teams in college athletics. The Ducks won the first-ever NCAA Tournament in 1939. Since then, they have struggled to make their way back to the national championship, with only one Final Four appearance since the tournament was restructured in 1985.
The Ducks' women's basketball team has had a number of notable achievements. They won the Women's National Invitation Tournament in 1989 and again in 2002. They have also made it to the NCAA tournament eight times under coach Jody Runge, who coached the team from 1993 to 2001. The Ducks played their home games at McArthur Court, one of the most renowned college athletic facilities of all time, until they relocated to the new Matthew Knight Arena in 2011.
Under coach Dana Altman, who joined the Ducks in 2010, the team has continued to find success. In addition to his three Pac-12 Conference Coach of the Year honors (2013, 2015, 2016), Altman has led the Ducks to four consecutive NCAA men's basketball tournaments (2013, 2014, 2015, 2016), including a trip to the Sweet 16 in 2013 and the Elite 8 in 2016. The Ducks were the top seed in the West Regional of the 2015-2016 NCAA tournament, their first-ever top seeding.
The Ducks have a rich history in basketball, with both their men's and women's teams achieving notable successes and championships over the years.
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The Ducks have an all-time conference record of 260-280
The Oregon Ducks women's basketball team has a rich history that dates back to the early 20th century. The team is based at the University of Oregon in Eugene, Oregon, and competes in the Big Ten Conference as a Division I team in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). With a long tradition of excellence, the Ducks have an all-time conference record of 260-280.
The story of the women's basketball team at the University of Oregon began in 1899 when the sport was introduced to the university by physical education instructor Alice Chapman, the wife of University President Charles Chapman. Initially, the sport took the form of clubs, with early games played in Gerlinger Hall, which was constructed in 1927 to serve as the women's gymnasium. It was not until 1965 that intercollegiate games commenced, and the team joined the Northwest College Women's Sports Association, a precursor to the AIAW Region 9 conference.
The program achieved official status in 1973, a year after the enactment of Title IX, which mandated equal opportunities for men and women in athletics at federally funded universities. The inaugural official season was coached by Jane Spearing, and the team concluded with a 3-8 record. The following two seasons, from 1974 to 1976, were led by coach Nancy Mikleton, who oversaw records of 2-10 and 5-15, respectively.
In 1976, Elwin Heiny took the reins as head coach, becoming the first full-time coach specifically hired for the women's basketball team. During his first season, he guided the team to their inaugural winning record, finishing with an impressive 11-6 tally. The Ducks women's basketball team continued to build on this success, earning their first Final Four appearance in 2017 under head coach Dana Altman, marking a 78-year gap between appearances.
The Ducks women's basketball team has experienced both triumphs and setbacks over the years, as reflected in their all-time conference record of 260-280. They have also secured notable wins in the Women's National Invitation Tournament, claiming the title in 1989 against San Diego State and again in 2002 with a victory over Houston. The team's resilience and determination have contributed to their competitive spirit, and they continue to strive for excellence in the world of collegiate basketball.
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The Ducks' home venue is the Matthew Knight Arena
The Oregon Ducks women's basketball team is the official women's basketball team of the University of Oregon in Eugene, Oregon. The team is a member of the Big Ten Conference and a Division I team in the National Collegiate Athletic Association. The Ducks' home venue is the Matthew Knight Arena.
The Ducks have a rich history in NCAA basketball, with the men's team winning the first-ever NCAA Tournament in 1939. The women's basketball team at the University of Oregon started as a club in 1899, brought to the university by physical education instructor Alice Chapman, wife of University President Charles Chapman. The first official season for the Ducks women's basketball team was in 1973-74, coached by Jane Spearing. The team finished that season with a 3-8 losing record.
The Ducks' current head coach is Kelly Graves, who has been leading the team since the 2009-10 season. The team has seen success in recent years, with a noteworthy 2015-16 season where they won the Pac-12 Conference Tournament. This led to the Ducks being the top seed in the West Regional of the 2015-2016 NCAA tournament, their first-ever top seeding. The Ducks men's basketball team has also achieved notable success, reaching four straight NCAA tournaments from 2013 to 2016 under the leadership of coach Dana Altman.
The Ducks women's basketball team has come a long way since its early days, and now calls the Matthew Knight Arena its home venue. The arena, named after the late son of Nike co-founder Phil Knight, is a state-of-the-art facility that provides a fantastic atmosphere for the team and its fans. With a capacity of 12,364 seats, the arena is one of the largest in the Pac-12 Conference and offers a true home-court advantage for the Ducks. The support of the crowd in this arena has no doubt contributed to the team's success over the years, and it continues to be a formidable venue for visiting teams.
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Frequently asked questions
The Oregon Ducks women's basketball team has won the Women's National Invitation Tournament twice, in 1989 and 2002. They have also won the Northwest Basketball League and the NorPac Conference.
Women's basketball at the University of Oregon started as a club in 1899, brought to the university by physical education instructor Alice Chapman. In 1965, the team began playing intercollegiate games. The program became official in 1973, following the passage of Title IX, which required federally funded universities to offer equal opportunities in men's and women's athletics.
The Oregon Ducks women's basketball team play their home games at Matthew Knight Arena, which opened in 2011.











































