Respect The Past. Embrace The Future.

By The Numbers.

NCAA Tournament Appearances

Final Fours

National Champion

916-433(.679%)

All Time Win-Loss

This year marks the 50^th season of LSU Women’s Basketball. Across its history, LSU has established itself as a premiere program in women’s college basketball. From empty gym workouts to monumental victories watched by millions LSU is proud to celebrate the history of this storied program.

In the Tigers’ second season they reached the 1977 AIAW National Championship game, laying a foundation of future success. From the time when the NCAA started sponsoring women’s basketball in 1981, LSU remains one of only two programs to have reached five consecutive Final Fours (2004-2008). When the Tigers finally reached the mountain top in 2023 they scored a NCAA Championship game record 102 points to become national champions.

LSU is the only women’s basketball program to have four members in the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame with coaches Sue Gunter, Van Chancellor and Kim Mulkey along with star player Seimone Augustus all recognized for their contributions to the games. All four are also members of the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame.

With so much history to look back upon the last 50 seasons, there so much more yet to be written over the next 50 seasons. We look forward to celebrating this milestone with you as LSU Women’s Basketball continues to etch its name in history.

Historic Moments

Effective July 11, 2024, all contributions in support of Bayou Traditions will receive 4 priority points per $1,000 contributed. These points will count toward your lifetime and philanthropic point totals. Contributions to Bayou Traditions do not qualify as charitable donations. Contributions received are directly deposited with Bayou Traditions. TAFSC is a service provider to Bayou Traditions and is not compensated based on funds received by Bayou Traditions.

Celebrate 50 Years of LSU Women’s Basketball by investing in our student-athletes today!

As we commemorate this incredible 50-year journey, we also look forward to our women’s basketball student-athletes building on this legacy. To help our Tigers maximize their potential, we invite you to celebrate 50 Seasons of LSU Women’s Basketball by supporting NIL opportunities for our student-athletes via Bayou Traditions, the Official Collective of LSU Athletics. Your generous contributions will allow them to continue making history both on and off the court.

There are several ways that you can show your support:

For a $100 gift, supporters will receive an 11″ x 14″ commemorative 50 Seasons of LSU Baseball print by renowned New Orleans artist Becky Fos.
With a $500 gift, supporters will receive the exclusive 11″ x 14″ Becky Fos print signed by Head Coach Kim Mulkey.
A $5,000 gift includes a 16″ x 20″ commemorative 50 Seasons of LSU Women’s Basketball Fos print signed by Coach Kim Mulkey, a 2024-25 team-signed basketball and an exclusive Basketball 101 interactive session with Hall of Famer, LSU legend and current assistant coach Seimone Augustus.

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LSU Women’s Basketball 50 Seasons Challenge Coin

LSU Women’s Basketball has established itself as a premier program in women’s college basketball, and we are proud to celebrate the history of this storied program. To commemorate the 50th season of LSU Women’s Basketball, there are several ways you can show your support, including purchasing an exclusive 50 Seasons of LSU Women’s Basketball Challenge Coin that bears the tagline “Respect the Past. Embrace the Future”, the theme for the 2024-25 season.

Each coin is $50. There are two ways that you can show your support:

Give to the LSU Women’s Basketball Excellence Fund, which directly helps to improve program efficiency, overall quality and assist with comprehensive student-athlete recovery and well-being.
Give to Bayou Traditions and support LSU Women’s Basketball student-athletes and empower them with NIL opportunities and avenues for personal and professional growth so they can excel in competition and in life.

Contributions to Bayou Traditions do not qualify as charitable donations. Contributions received are directly deposited with Bayou Traditions. TAFSC is a service provider to Bayou Traditions and is not compensated based on funds received by Bayou Traditions.

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Historic Players

Top 50 Moments of LSU Women’s Basketball

10 moments will be revealed every month through March

1976

First win in a National Postseason Tournament

The first season of LSU women’s basketball saw the Tigers establish themselves as a winning program. The program’s inaugural season saw the Tigers go 17-14. With three wins in the AIAW State Tournament, LSU advanced to regional play in its first season, matched up against Oklahoma State. LSU would dominate its first regional game with an 86-60 win over OSU. Although LSU would drop its next game to Baylor, LSU had wrapped up its first season, laying a strong foundation for the next 50 years.

1976

First 100-Point Game

LSU opened the 1976-77 season up by making program history. Playing West Texas State, the Tigers won the game 109-48 as it marked the first of many games LSU would score 100 points as a program. It would be the first of two games in LSU’s second season the Tigers would score triple figures as that season saw the program make its entrance to national relevancy.

1977

Maree Jackson becomes the first Tiger to score over 40 points in a game

Of all of the stars in LSU Women’s Basketball history, Maree Jackson was one of the first. On February 12, 1977, Jackson scored 47 points, becoming LSU’s first player the score over 40 in a game and leading the Tigers to a 92-89 victory over No. 11 UNLV which marked the program’s first win over a ranked team. In two seasons at LSU, the Australian Jackson was unstoppable. She still holds the No. 1 and 2 scoring seasons in program history (1,012 1977-78, 831 1976-77)) and owns the best career FG-percentage (.651). In all she scored over 40 points five times throughout her two seasons at LSU and recorded a program-record 12 20-point, 20-rebound games.

1977

LSU Advances to the AIAW Championship

Behind the post duo of Australians Julie Gross and Maree Jackson, LSU started the season slow, but finished the regular season with a 21-5 mark. LSU went to the AIAW State Tournament in Ruston where they finished in second place which earned LSU a spot in the AIAW Regional Tournament. LSU got on a roll, stomping Texas by 28 points, a three-point win over Stephen F. Austin and then a 16-point win over Baylor to qualify for the national tournament. LSU had victories over Western Washington with a 40-point performance by Maree Jackson. Next up, LSU faced Baylor once again. Maree Jackson continued her dominance with 25 points and 26 rebounds to propel another LSU victory to send the Tigers to the national semifinal. In the national semifinal, LSU faced steep odds, drawing a matchup against Immaculata who was one of the early powerhouses of women’s basketball. Jackson finished with 29 points and 19 rebounds while Gross had 23 points and 11 boards, propelling LSU for the upset win on to the national championship game. In the championship LSU fell to Delta State who jumped out to a quick lead that LSU was never able to close. For 46 seasons, the 1976-77 LSU team held the distinction of being the only team in program history to play for in a national championship game.

1978

LSU Earns Program’s First Ever No. 1 Ranking

In 1977-78, the Tigers achieved their first No. 1 ranking as LSU spent most of January and February atop the Associated Press poll, after having started the year ranked No. 2 in the nation. The Tigers stayed there until Feb. 15 when Tennessee moved ahead of LSU. Despite being ranked No. 2 in the nation, LSU couldn’t advance out of the Regionals as the Sue Gunter-coached Stephen F. Austin Lady Jacks eliminated the Tigers in the semifinals. LSU still won 37 games, which remains the school record for victories in a season.

1978

Julie Gross and Maree Jackson become program’s first All-Americans

Julie Gross and Maree Jackson, both Australians, formed one of the most dominant post duos in LSU history. Together, they helped LSU establish itself quickly as a top women’s basketball program. In 1978, Gross and Jackson became LSU’s first two All-Americans.

1983

Sue Gunter's first season

Already established as one of the top women’s basketball coaches in the country at Stephen F. Austin, Sue Gunter became LSU’s head coach coach ahead of the 1982-83 season. In Gunter’s first season as head coach of the Tigers in, she received the National Coach of the Year honor from the Basketball News. Gunter guided LSU to a 20-7 record and posted a 6-2 mark in the Southeastern Conference.

1984

Joyce Walker Leads Program To First NCAA Tournament

Joyce Walker established herself as one of the early stars of the LSU Women’s Basketball Program. She still holds the program’s best career scoring mark with 2,906 points throughout her career, leading LSU in scoring all four seasons throughout her career and including two 40+ point games. Her 1,259 made field goals rank No. 2 in NCAA history. Walker also ranks No. 7 in program history with 429 career assists and No. 19 with 598 career rebounds. In Walker’s first three seasons, LSU won 17+ games each year and she averaged over 20 points each season. When Walker was a freshman LSU played in the AIAW Regional Tournament followed by the SEC Tournament the next two seasons. The Tigers then finished 23-7 during her senior season and Walker led LSU to its first NCAA Tournament appearance, reaching the Sweet 16. Other key players on LSU’s first team to reach the NCAA Tournament included Rhonda Howard, Madeline Doucet, Ramona Dozier, Cheri Graham and Alisha Jones.

1991

First SEC Tournament Championship

LSU claimed its first Tournament title in 1991 as the Tigers had one of the most impressive runs in conference tournament history. Entering the tournament as the No. 4 seed, the Tigers had a first round bye and then beat Kentucky, 96-76, in the second round. The Tigers, who were ranked No. 12 in the nation, then upset fourth-ranked Georgia, 83-74, in the semifinals. In the title game, point guard Pokey Chatman scored 30 points, including 16 straight at one point, as the Tigers knocked off third-ranked Tennessee, 80-75. Chatman was named most valuable player of the tournament, while Sheila Johnson and Annette Jackson-Lowery were named to the all-tournament team.

1995

Sue Gunter earns career win No. 500, Gayden sets LSU record w/ 29 points and NCAA record w/ 12 made three pointers

One of the bright spots in 1994-95 was Sue Gunter’s 500th career victory on the same night Gayden set an NCAA record with 12 three-point goals in a 92-62 win over Jackson State on Feb. 9 in Baton Rouge. The record stood for over 20 seasons. LSU suffered through its worst record ever that year as the Tigers posted a 7-20 mark. Despite the losing record the year prior, LSU signed one of the nation’s best recruiting classes for the 1995-96 season and the results were immediate.

The Best Fans In Basketball

Join the Fast Break Club

The Fast Break Club is the Official Booster Club of LSU Women’s Basketball. As a dedicated supporter, this is your chance to go beyond the stands and become an integral part of the team’s journey. Our program is reaching new heights, and the Fast Break Club offers you exclusive opportunities to be closer to the action than ever before. Whether you’re cheering from the PMAC or following the Tigers on the road, your membership connects you with the heart and soul of LSU Women’s Basketball.

The Fast Break Club is a program under the Tiger Athletic Foundation (TAF), a Section 501(c)(3) organization. Starting July 11, 2024 TAF Priority Points are earned at a rate of 4 points per $1,000. Membership dues, less the fair market value (FMV) of any benefits and event tickets received by the member, may be tax deductible as a charitable contribution. Please consult a tax professional before claiming any deductions. FMV of benefits is $0 for the $100 level $15 for the $250 level; $93 for the $1,000 level; $188 for the $2,500 level and $538.00 for the $5,000 level. Event tickets are not tax deductible as a charitable contribution.

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