Top Women’s College Basketball Programs with Most National Championships
Winning a national title in women’s college basketball is rare. Winning more than one? That’s something only the true elites have managed.
The NCAA tournament history features a handful of programs that always seem to be in the mix. From the trailblazers of the ’80s to today’s powerhouses, these ten schools have piled up the most trophies in Division I history.
This post takes a look at the programs that set the bar in women’s college basketball. Let’s celebrate their achievements and the legends who led them there.
The Elite Programs in Women’s College Basketball
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Some teams just stand out. Their achievements go beyond winning—they’ve built legacies that inspire players and coaches coming up now.
Texas A&M Aggies: A Moment of Glory
Texas A&M carved out its spot in history with a single national championship in 2011. Gary Blair’s squad capped a 33-5 season by beating Notre Dame 76-70 in Indianapolis.
That win proved the Aggies could take down a traditional power when it mattered most.
LSU Tigers: Rapid Ascent to the Top
Kim Mulkey got right to work in Baton Rouge, bringing home a championship in just her second season in 2023. The Tigers’ offense exploded in the final, outscoring Iowa 102-85 and finishing the year 34-2.
That 102-point performance? Still one of the wildest offensive shows ever in a title game.
Notre Dame Fighting Irish: Consistent Contenders
Muffet McGraw turned Notre Dame into a fixture at the top, leading them to nine Final Fours and five runner-up finishes. They finally broke through for titles in 2001 and 2018, the latter a nail-biter over Mississippi State, 61-58.
In 2019, they nearly grabbed a third but lost to Baylor by just one point in the final.
Louisiana Tech Lady Techsters: Pioneers of the Game
Louisiana Tech became the first NCAA Division I champion, beating Cheyney 76-62 in the inaugural 1982 title game. They added another championship in 1988 and reached four of the first seven finals.
Their early dominance really set the stage for what women’s basketball would become, even though they haven’t made a title game since 1998.
USC Trojans: Back-to-Back Champions
USC pulled off the first successful title defense, winning back-to-back championships in 1983 and 1984. They took down Louisiana Tech for their first, then edged out Tennessee by two points the next year.
That 1984 loss left Pat Summitt winless in her first championship game—a moment that still stings for some fans.
Programs with Three Championships
Some schools have managed to win three national championships. That kind of staying power isn’t easy, especially across different eras.
Stanford Cardinal: A Model of Consistency
Tara VanDerveer has kept Stanford near the top with 15 Final Four trips over the years. After two early ’90s titles, the Cardinal waited a long time before finally winning a third in 2021.
That last one came in a gritty 54-53 win over Arizona—a real nail-biter.
Baylor Lady Bears: Dominance Across Decades
Kim Mulkey built Baylor into a powerhouse, collecting titles in three separate decades. The 2012 team was especially dominant, going a perfect 40-0.
They added a third championship in 2019, slipping past Notre Dame 82-81 in a game that honestly could’ve gone either way.
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South Carolina Gamecocks: The Premier Program of the 2020s
Dawn Staley has turned South Carolina into the program to beat in the 2020s, with seven Final Four appearances. They won it all in 2017 and 2022, then finished an unbeaten 38-0 season to claim the 2024 crown.
They almost repeated in 2025 but lost to UConn in the final, 82-59. That one probably still stings.
The Titans of Women’s College Basketball
When you talk about the most successful programs ever, two names just tower above the rest: Tennessee and UConn.
Tennessee Lady Volunteers: The Original Dynasty
Pat Summitt’s legacy is unmatched. She coached for 38 seasons and never had a losing year.
The Lady Vols claimed eight national championships between 1987 and 2008, including a legendary three-peat from 1996 to 1998. Add in five runner-up finishes, and you’ve got the blueprint for a dynasty.
UConn Huskies: The Pinnacle of Success
UConn pushed their record to 12 national titles by beating South Carolina 82-59 in the 2025 championship. That win ended a drought dating back to 2016 and put them back on top.
The Huskies’ resume includes six undefeated seasons and that mind-blowing 111-game winning streak from 2014 to 2017. Seriously, who does that?
Conclusion
Women’s college basketball has an elite group at the top. The mountain’s pretty steep if you’re not already in that club.
Parity is growing, sure, but those ten schools still own most of the history. Any new program with championship dreams? They’re going to have to go through these giants—there’s just no way around it.
If you’re curious about these programs and their wild achievements, check out The Big Lead. It’s worth a look.