Wahine Basketball: A Tradition of Excellence

The Wahine basketball team has a long tradition of excellence, dating back to their days as a powerhouse in the amateur ranks. Today, they continue to be one of the top teams in the country, regularly contending for conference and National Championships Follow their story here!

Introduction

The University of Hawaii at Manoa women’s Basketball team has a long and storied tradition of excellence. Founded in 1974, the Wahine have won 11 conference championships and made 12 NCAA tournament appearances, including two trips to the Sweet Sixteen The team is currently coached by Laura Beeman, who is entering her sixth season at the helm.

The Wahine play their home games at the Stan Sheriff Center, which is located on the UH campus in Honolulu. The arena seats 10,300 fans and is one of the premier collegiate basketball venues in the country.

Over the years, many Great players have donned the green and white uniform of the Wahine. Some of the most notable include Linda Godby, who was named an All-American in 1977; Amy Sanders, who was Conference Player of the Year in 1996; and TashaWilliams, who was named Conference Defensive Player of the Year three times from 2006 to 2008.

The Wahine have a rich tradition of success both on and off the court, and they are always striving to reach new heights. With a devoted fan base and a commitment to excellence, they are sure to continue to be one of the top programs in collegiate basketball for years to come.

A Brief History

The University of Hawaii women’s basketball team (“Wahine”) is one of the most successful NCAA Division I programs in the nation. The team has won 20 conference championships and made 15 appearances in the NCAA Tournament including four trips to the Sweet Sixteen

The Wahine have been led by some of the most accomplished coaches in women’s Basketball History including Vince Goo, who led the team to six conference titles and eight NCAA tournament appearances in his 18 years at the helm. Goo was succeeded by legendary coach Dave Shoji, who has led the Wahine to 14 conference titles and six trips to the NCAA tournament since taking over in 1975.

Under Shoji’s leadership, the Wahine have become one of the most dominant teams in Division I women’s basketball, with a winning percentage of .769 that ranks second all-time among NCAA Division I programs. The Wahine have also produced a number of All-American players including Tasha Williams, who was named National Player of the Year by ESPN in 2001.

The Wahine are currently coached by Laura Beeman, who has led the team to two conference titles and one NCAA tournament appearance in her five years at Hawaii. Beeman has continued the tradition of excellence established by her predecessors, and she has helped lead the Wahine to a new level of success with her innovative approach to coaching.

The Wahine Basketball Program

The Wahine Basketball Program is one of the nation’s most successful collegiate programs. The team has won over twenty conference championships and has appeared in the NCAA Tournament thirty-six times, including five Final Fours. The Wahine are also one of only two programs to have won back-to-back national championships, winning the title in 1998 and 1999.

The Wahine Legacy

The University of Hawaii at Manoa women’s Basketball team has been one of the most successful programs in the history of the sport. The Wahine have won 19 conference championships and have made 16 appearances in the NCAA Tournament including two trips to the Final Four. The team has produced two Olympians and eight All-Americans.

Under the guidance of Head Coach Beth O’Neil, the Wahine have continued their tradition of excellence. In her four years at the helm, O’Neil has led Hawaii to two conference championships and three NCAA tournament appearances. In 2018, she was named the Big West Conference Coach of the Year after leading the Wahine to a school-record 27 wins and their first ever trip to the Sweet Sixteen.

The Wahine are currently in the midst of another successful season They are 19-5 overall and 11-2 in Big West Conference play, good for second place in the standings. With O’Neil at the helm, there is no doubt that Hawaii will continue to be one of the top programs in women’s college basketball for years to come.

The Wahine in the Media

Since their inception in 1972, the University of Hawaii’s women’s basketball team has been a reputable and competitive program, winning conference championships and nationally ranked seasons. The team has also produced Olympians and NBA players

The Wahine have been featured in numerous media outlets over the years. In 2006, ESPN named the Wahine one of the top 25 teams of all time. In 2009, Sports Illustrated ranked the Wahine #23 in their “Top 25 Greatest college basketball Programs of All-Time” list. And in 2012, Bleacher Report named the Wahine one of the “15 Most Dominant College Basketball Programs Since 2000”.

The Wahine have a long tradition of excellence and it is reflected in their media coverage over the years.

The Wahine Rivalry

The Wahine Rivalry is a College Basketball rivalry between the University of Hawaii Rainbow Wahine and the University of Hawaii at Hilo Vulcans The two teams first met in 1982, with Hawaii winning 84-52. Since then, the two teams have met a total of 50 times, with Hawaii winning 42 of those meetings.

The rivalry is intense, but friendly, and both teams regularly compete for the title of Big Island Interscholastic Federation Champion. The Wahine have won the title 22 times, while the Vulcans have won it 12 times.

The Wahine are currently ranked 12th in the nation, while the Vulcans are unranked. However, both teams are still considered to be among the best in the country, and every game between them is highly anticipated.

The Wahine in the Community

Women’s basketball has been a part of the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa since 1969, and our Wahine have built a tradition of excellence both on and off the court. Our student-athletes are outstanding role models in the community, and they are committed to giving back

Each year, our Wahine participate in a variety of service projects, including Coaching Clinics for youth players, visiting schools and hospitals, and working with local non-profit organizations. In addition, our team hosts an annual Hoops for Hope event to benefit Breast Cancer Awareness and research.

Through their hard work and dedication, our Wahine are making a positive impact in the lives of others. We are proud of their commitment to giving back, and we know that they will continue to make a difference in the community for years to come.

The Future of Wahine Basketball

In recent years the University of Hawai‘i women’s basketball team—known as the Wahine—has undergone some major changes. In 2016, the team left its home court at the Stan Sheriff Center after 28 years to play its games at the new 10,000-seat arena, the Secret Isle Arena. The following year, the team won its first Big West conference championship and made its first appearance in the NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Tournament in a decade.

Despite these changes, one thing has remained constant: the Wahine’s commitment to excellence.

The Wahine have a long history of success, dating back to their days in the old Rainbow Coliseum. In 1977, they became the first team from Hawai‘i to win an NCAA Division I Basketball Championship defeating Louisiana Tech in the finals. The Wahine would go on to make 18 more appearances in the NCAA Tournament over the next 20 years.

In recent years under head coach Laura Beeman, the Wahine have continued to uphold their tradition of excellence. The team has won back-to-back Big West titles and made two consecutive appearances in the NCAA Tournament In 2019, they reached the Sweet Sixteen for the first time since 1998.

This season, despite losing two Key Players to graduation, the Wahine are off to a strong start and look poised to make another run at a conference title and an NCAA berth. With a talented group of players and a commitment to excellence, there is no doubt that Hawai‘i’s women’s basketball team will continue to be a force to be reckoned with for years to come.

Conclusion

What started out as a small, women’s Basketball Program has now become one of the most successful and recognizable programs in the country. The University of Hawaii women’s basketball team has made nineteen trips to the NCAA tournament including five Sweet Sixteen appearances and one Elite Eight appearance. The Wahine have also won twenty-five conference championships, thirteen Big West regular season titles, and eleven Big West tournament titles. In addition to their on-court success, the Wahine have also excelled in the classroom, earning thirty-six Academic All-America honors.

The Wahine basketball program has a long tradition of success, both on and off the court. The team’s accomplishments are a testament to the hard work and dedication of the players, coaches, and staff. The Wahine have built a strong foundation for future success and will continue to be a force to be reckoned with in the years to come.

References

Further reading
NCAA Division I women’s basketball championship
List of NCAA Division I women’s Basketball season scoring leaders
List of women’s college basketball seasons

General
WNBA
Women’s college basketball in the United States

Specific programs
Baylor Lady Bears basketball
California Golden Bears women’s basketball
Connecticut Huskies women’s basketball
Duke Blue Devils women’s basketball
Louisville Cardinals women’s basketball
Mississippi State Bulldogs women’s basketball
Notre Dame Fighting Irish women’s basketball
Ohio State Buckeyes women’s basketball Tennessee Volunteers women’s basketball
UConn – Tennessee rivalry