The UAB Blazers women's basketball team represents the University of Alabama at Birmingham in women's basketball. The school competes in the American Conference in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). The Blazers play home basketball games at Bartow Arena in Birmingham, Alabama.

History The UAB Blazers women's basketball program was established in 1978 and played its inaugural season in 1978–79 as an NCAA Division 1 independent. The program's early history was marked by transitions through various head coaches, including Fran Braasch (1978–1981), Avie Bridges (1981–1984), and Bill Ivey (1984–1987). During this formative era, the Blazers competed in the Sun Belt Conference starting in the 1984–85 season.

The program reached new heights during the tenure of Jeannie Milling, the longest-tenured head coach in program history, who led the team from 1987 to 2004. Under Milling, the Blazers won the Great Midwest Conference regular-season championship in 1993-94 and transitioned into Conference USA. The high point of this era occurred in 2000, when the team made its second NCAA Tournament appearance and advanced to the Sweet 16. Throughout the late 20th and early 21st centuries, the team also made multiple appearances in the National Women's Invitational Tournament (NWIT) and Women's National Invitation Tournament (WNIT) postseason tournaments.

Following Milling's departure, Audra Smith took over as head coach from 2004 to 2013. A significant milestone during her tenure was winning the 2011 Women's Basketball Invitational (WBI) championship. Randy Norton was subsequently hired in 2013. Between 2017 and 2020, Norton led the Blazers to three consecutive 20-win seasons—a first for the program—and secured the Conference USA regular-season title in 2017–18. Norton was named the 2017-18 C-USA Coach of the Year for this record-setting campaign.

In 2023, UAB transitioned from Conference USA to the American Conference (AC). In their debut season in the AC, the Blazers finished with a 9–9 conference record. Most recently, the Blazers continued their postseason presence with an appearance in the 2025 WNIT.

Conference affiliations

NCAA

1978–79 – 1983–84 NCAA Division I Independent 1984–85 to 1990–91 – Sun Belt Conference 1991–92 to 1994–95 – Great Midwest Conference 1995–96 to 2022–23 – Conference USA 2023–24 to present – American Conference

Head Coaches

+ UAB Blazers women's basketball head coaches Coach Seasons Tenure Record Fran Braasch 3 1978–1981 58–33 Avie Bridges 3 1981–1984 37–44 Bill Ivey 3 1984–1987 38–50 Jeannie Milling 17 1987–2004 265–230 Audra Smith 9 2004–2013 134–145 Randy Norton 13 (current) 2013–present 222–178

Year by year results

+ UAB Blazers women's basketball year-by-year results Season Coach Overall Conf. Postseason Independent (1978–1984) 1978–79 Fran Braasch 15–11 — 1979–80 Fran Braasch 21–10 — 1980–81 Fran Braasch 22–12 — AIAW Region III 1981–82 Avie Bridges 19–6 — 1982–83 Avie Bridges 14–14 — 1983–84 Avie Bridges 4–24 — Sun Belt Conference (1984–1991) 1984–85 Bill Ivey 14–15 3–3 1985–86 Bill Ivey 12–16 3–3 1986–87 Bill Ivey 12–19 1–5 1987–88 Jeannie Milling 15–14 3–3 1988–89 Jeannie Milling 8–20 1–5 1989–90 Jeannie Milling 19–11 4–2 1990–91 Jeannie Milling 24–8 6–0 NWIT (5th) Great Midwest Conference (1991–1995) 1991–92 Jeannie Milling 24–8 8–2 NWIT (7th) 1992–93 Jeannie Milling 9–18 4–6 1993–94 Jeannie Milling 23–6 11–0 NCAA First Round 1994–95 Jeannie Milling 19–9 6–6 Conference USA (1995–2023) 1995–96 Jeannie Milling 18–11 9–5 1996–97 Jeannie Milling 14–14 5–9 1997–98 Jeannie Milling 9–19 4–12 1998–99 Jeannie Milling 13–14 8–8 1999–2000 Jeannie Milling 21–13 8–8 NCAA Sweet 16 2000–01 Jeannie Milling 20–11 10–6 WNIT Elite Eight 2001–02 Jeannie Milling 12–16 3–10 2002–03 Jeannie Milling 8–19 4–10 2003–04 Jeannie Milling 9–19 3–11 2004–05 Audra Smith 7–21 4–10 2005–06 Audra Smith 14–14 7–9 2006–07 Audra Smith 19–13 12–4 WNIT Second Round 2007–08 Audra Smith 14–16 10–6 2008–09 Audra Smith 10–20 5–11 2009–10 Audra Smith 17–15 8–8 2010–11 Audra Smith 20–15 7–9 WBI Champion 2011–12 Audra Smith 19–11 9–7 2012–13 Audra Smith 18–13 9–7 WNIT First Round 2013–14 Randy Norton 16–15 7–9 2014–15 Randy Norton 18–13 11–7 2015–16 Randy Norton 15–16 7–11 2016–17 Randy Norton 15–15 8–10 2017–18 Randy Norton 27–7 13–3 WNIT Second Round 2018–19 Randy Norton 26–7 12–4 WNIT Second Round 2019–20 Randy Norton 20–11 12–6 2020–21 Randy Norton 10–13 3–11 2021–22 Randy Norton 16–15 8–10 2022–23 Randy Norton 14–17 5–15 American (2023–present) 2023–24 Randy Norton 18–14 9–9 WNIT First Round 2024–25 Randy Norton 16–16 7–11 WNIT First Round

Postseason NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament The Blazers have appeared in the NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament twice. They have a record of 2-2. 1994 First Round George Washington L 66–74 2000 First RoundSecond RoundSweet SixteenOregonMississippi StateRutgers W 80–79 (OT)W 78–72L 45–60

UAB Basketball facilities

Bartow Arena

UAB moved their home games to an on-campus facility starting with the 1988–89 season.2010–11 UAB Basketball Information Guide, p. 60 Originally known as UAB Arena, the name was officially changed to Bartow Arena on January 25, 1997. The 8,508-seat arena is named after Coach Gene Bartow. In 2026 the arena will undergo a $15.4 Million renovation that will expand the lobby, add a premium club, and provide student seating along the sideline.

Basketball Practice Facility UAB's basketball practice facility, housed in a renovated 35,000-square-foot Physical Education Building, serves the men's and women's basketball programs. It includes two full-length practice courts, locker rooms, player lounges, film rooms, workout rooms, and coaching offices.

References

External links