The Villanova Wildcats women's basketball team represents Villanova University in Villanova, Pennsylvania, United States.
The school's team currently competes in the Big East, where it has competed since the 1982âÂÂ83 season. The women's basketball team began competing in 1969âÂÂ70 under coach Liz Cawley, obtaining a 4âÂÂ6 record in its inaugural season, and an 8âÂÂ5 record and its first winning season the following year.
Harry Perretta coached the team starting in 1978. In the fall of 2019 it was announced that Perretta's 2019âÂÂ2020 season would be his last season coaching the Wildcats after a 42-year tenure with the program. He was honored at the team's last home game of the 2019âÂÂ2020 season at Finneran Pavilion.
The Wildcats are currently coached by Denise Dillon.
On January 20, 2023, Maddy Siegrist became the Wildcats' all-time leading scorer, breaking Shelly Pennefather's record. She also led the nation in scoring in 2022âÂÂ23 and earned Big East Player of the Year in two consecutive seasons.
Villanova has appeared in the NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament fifteen times. They have a record of 11âÂÂ15.
The Wildcats made one appearance in the AIAW National Division I basketball tournament, with a combined record of 2âÂÂ1.