Seattle Redhawks Women's Basketball: A History of WAC Success
The Seattle Redhawks women's basketball program has carved out a competitive legacy since returning to NCAA play. By joining the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) in 2012, the team set the stage for a decade of growth, marked by regular-season titles, postseason invitations, and a historic breakthrough into the national tournament.
The Early WAC Years and Postseason Debuts
The program quickly found its footing in the WAC, achieving significant success early in its tenure. In 2013, the Redhawks captured the regular season title. Although they fell 67–64 to Idaho in the conference tournament championship game, their performance earned them an invitation to the Women's National Invitation Tournament (WNIT)—the first postseason appearance in the program's history. Their WNIT journey ended in the first round with a 68–51 loss to Saint Mary's.
The following year, in 2014, the Redhawks once again reached the conference tournament title game, but suffered another defeat, losing 75–67 to Idaho.
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The Suzy Barcomb Era and Rising Momentum
A new chapter began in 2017 with the arrival of Head Coach Suzy Barcomb. In her debut season, Barcomb led the Redhawks to a second-place finish in the WAC regular season. The team advanced to the tournament championship final, where they were defeated by the regular season champions, New Mexico State.
Despite the loss in the final, Seattle's strong season earned them another WNIT invitation. However, they were eliminated in the first round by Wyoming.
A Historic Milestone: The NCAA Tournament
The program reached its pinnacle in 2018. Entering the WAC tournament as a 4-seed, the Redhawks staged a significant upset by defeating the 2-seed Cal State Bakersfield with a score of 57–54.
This victory secured the program's first-ever WAC tournament championship. More importantly, the win provided an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament, marking the first time the Redhawks women's program ever qualified for the prestigious national tournament.
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Key Facts
- WAC Entry: Joined the Western Athletic Conference in 2012.
- First Regular Season Title: Achieved in 2013.
- First Postseason Appearance: 2013 WNIT.
- First WAC Tournament Championship: Won in 2018.
- NCAA Debut: Earned first-ever berth in 2018.
| Year | Achievement | Outcome/Opponent |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | WAC Regular Season Title | Lost Tournament Final to Idaho (67–64) |
| 2013 | First WNIT Appearance | Lost First Round to Saint Mary's (68–51) |
| 2014 | WAC Tournament Finalist | Lost to Idaho (75–67) |
| 2017 | WAC Regular Season 2nd Place | Lost Tournament Final to New Mexico State |
| 2018 | WAC Tournament Champions | Defeated Cal State Bakersfield (57–54) |
| 2018 | First NCAA Tournament Berth | Automatic Bid via WAC Championship |
Frequently Asked Questions
When did the Seattle Redhawks join the WAC?
The Redhawks joined the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) in 2012.
Who was the head coach during the 2017 season?
Suzy Barcomb served as the Head Coach starting in 2017.
When did the program first appear in a postseason tournament?
The program made its first-ever postseason appearance in 2013 when they were invited to the Women's National Invitation Tournament (WNIT).
How did the Redhawks qualify for their first NCAA tournament?
They qualified in 2018 by winning the WAC tournament championship, defeating Cal State Bakersfield 57–54 to earn an automatic bid.
Which team defeated the Redhawks in the 2013 and 2014 conference title games?
The Redhawks were defeated by Idaho in both the 2013 and 2014 conference tournament championship games.