PULLMAN, Wash. (Murrow News 8) – Following the program’s first-ever Pac-12 Tournament championship, WSU women’s basketball gets to add another honor to its record-setting 2022-2023 season.
Kamie Ethridge, in her fifth season at the helm of WSU women’s hoops, was named the National Coach of the Year by writers at The Athletic. It’s the first such honor for a WSU women’s basketball coach from national publication.
Ethridge’s Cougs are 23-10, following a run to the Pac-12 Championship last week as the tournament’s 7 seed. WSU beat three nationally ranked teams in four days, including 5-seed UCLA in the championship game last Sunday.
The 23 wins are a program record, as the Cougars have increased their win total in each of the five season with Ethridge as coach.
Ethridge edged out Virginia Tech coach Kenny Brooks for the honor. Dawn Staley, the coach of the 32-0 South Carolina Gamecocks, finished 3rd.
WSU will find out who they’ll be playing in what will be their third consecutive NCAA tournament appearance Sunday.