The Western Kentucky Lady Toppers basketball team represents Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green, Kentucky. The team currently competes in the NCAA Division I as a member of Conference USA. Greg Collins is entering his seventh season as the head coach of the Lady Toppers in 2024âÂÂ25 after previously serving as the team's associate head coach under Michelle Clark-Heard.
Western Kentucky began playing women's basketball in 1914. The program hired Paul Sanderford in 1982. The first two seasons saw them record 20 wins each before the 1984-85 team reached the NCAA tournament for the first time ever as an at-large team with a record of 26âÂÂ5. They were one of the four Regional hosts, and the Toppers used it to their advantage, defeating #1 seed Texas in the Regional Semifinals to reach their first ever Regional Final before defeating Ole Miss to win their first ever Elite Eight. In a Final Four hosted in Austin, the Toppers lost 91-78 to Georgia in a game where both teams combined for a record 101 points (57 from Georgia, 44 from Western Kentucky) in the second half. Lillie Mason was named to the All-Tournament Team. The following year saw them win the Sun Belt outright and record a 30-win season with 32 total wins. Western Kentucky was ranked as a #4 seed but made it all the way back to the Regional finals and beat #2 Rutgers to make the Final Four again. Facing undefeated Texas in a Final Four hosted in Lexington, the Toppers were defeated 90-65. The Toppers routinely made the tournament over the next couple of years that saw their best season come with the 1991-92 team. As a #4 seed, they defeated the #1 seed Tennessee to reach their third ever regional final and then defeated #2 Maryland to make the Final Four. They faced #8 seed Southwest Missouri State 84-72 to make their first ever National Championship Game against Stanford. They were defeated 78-62 while Kim Pehlke was named to the All-Tournament Team. The 1994-95 season was the 11th and final consecutive time the team made the NCAA Tournament and they reached the Sweet Sixteen before losing to #1 seed Tennessee. Sanderson left the team to coach at the University of Nebraska in 1997; in 15 seasons, he led the team to 14 postseason appearances (12 NCAA, two NWIT).
The Lady Toppers have appeared in the NCAA tournament 20 times, with a record of 17âÂÂ20. They were NCAA runners-up in 1992 and made Final Four appearances in 1985 and 1986.
The Lady Toppers have appeared in the Women's National Invitation Tournament (WNIT) 13 times, with an overall record of 18-15. They made the semifinals of the tournament in 2006 and 2007.