The 2018–19 American Athletic Conference women's basketball season began with practices in October 2017, followed by the start of the 2018–19 NCAA Division I women's basketball season in November. Conference play started in January 2018 and will conclude in March with the 2019 American Athletic Conference women's basketball tournament at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, CT.
Head coaches
Coaching changes
Cincinnati did not renew the contract of Jamelle Elliott upon its expiration at the end of the 2017–18 season. Michelle Clark-Heard, previously head coach at Western Kentucky, was named as her replacement.
Coaches TeamHead coachPrevious jobYears at schoolRecord at schoolAAC recordAAC titlesNCAA TournamentsNCAA Final FoursNCAA ChampionshipsCincinnatiMichelle Clark-HeardWestern Kentucky10–00–00000ConnecticutGeno AuriemmaVirginia (Assistant)341027–13586–05301911East CarolinaHeather MacyFrancis Marion9134–11726–420000HoustonRonald HugheyFlorida State (Assistant)544–7916–520000MemphisMelissa McFerrinAmerican11164–15237–490000SMUTravis MaysTexas (Associate HC)329–3511–210000South FloridaJose FernandezBarry University18335–24366–200600TempleTonya CardozaConnecticut (Assistant)11200–12847–360400TulaneLisa StocktonGeorgia Tech (Assistant)25493–25934–3401100TulsaMatilda MossmanNorman High School892–12328–400000UCFKatie Abrahamson-HendersonAlbany343–2321–110000Wichita StateKeitha AdamsUTEP214–179–70000 Notes:
Year at school includes 2018–19 season. Overall and AAC records are from time at current school and are through the end the 2017–18 season. NCAA Tournament appearances are from time at current school only. NCAA Final Fours and Championship include time at other schools
Preseason
AAC Women's Basketball Tip-off Prior to the start of the season, the AAC head coaches voted on the finishing order of the teams, a Preseason All-Conference First Team, Preseason All-Conference Second Team, and a Preseason Player of the Year.
In the vote, all eligible head coaches selected Connecticut to win the 2018–19 season. Connecticut head coach Geno Auriemma, barred by conference rules from voting for his own team, voted for South Florida.
AAC preseason poll 2018 AAC Women's Basketball Preseason PollHead coaches UConn – 121 (11) USF – 111 (1) Houston – 95 UCF – 92 Cincinnati – 74 Temple – 72 SMU – 55 ECU – 46 Tulane – 42 Wichita State – 35 Memphis – 25 Tulsa – 24 Note: First Place votes shown in ().
Preseason All-AAC Teams 2018 AAC Women's Basketball Preseason All-AAC TeamsPreseason All-Conference First TeamPreseason All-Conference Second Team Napheesa Collier – UConn Crystal Dangerfield – UConn Katie Lou Samuelson – UConn Jasmyne Harris – Houston Kitija Laksa – USF Angela Harris – Houston Laura Ferreira – USF Alicia Froling – SMU Alliya Butts – Temple Mia Davis – Temple
Preseason AAC Player of the Year 2018 AAC Women's Basketball Preseason Player of the YearHead coachesKatie Lou Samuelson – UConn
Regular season
Rankings +Legend Increase in ranking Decrease in ranking Not ranked previous week First Place votes shown in ()
PreWk2Wk3Wk4Wk5Wk6Wk7Wk8Wk9Wk10Wk11Wk12Wk13Wk14Wk15Wk16Wk17Wk18Wk19FinalCincinnatiAPCConnecticutAP22221 (31)1 (31)1 (31)1 (31)1 (31)3 (3)3 (1)3 (1)2 (2)5432222C2 (2)22 (1)21 (31)1 (32)1 (32)1 (31)1 (31)3 (6)4 (4)2 (4)2 (11)5422223East CarolinaAPCHoustonAPCMemphisAPCSMUAPCSouth FloridaAP222117RVRVRVRVC212117RVRVRVRVTempleAPCTulaneAPCTulsaAPCUCFAPRVRVRVRVRVRVRVRVRVCRVRVRVRVRVRVRVRVRVRVRVRVRVRVRVRVWichita StateAPC
Note: The Coaches Poll releases a final poll after the NCAA tournament, but the AP Poll does not release a poll at this time.
Conference matrix This table summarizes the head-to-head results between teams in conference play. Each team will play 18 conference games, and at least 1 against each opponent. CincinnatiConnecticutEast CarolinaHoustonMemphisSMUSouth FloridaTempleTulaneTulsaUCFWichita Statevs. Cincinnati–0–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–0vs. Connecticut0–0–0–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–0vs. East Carolina0–00–0–0–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–0vs. Houston0–00–00–0–0–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–0vs. Memphis0–00–00–00–0–0–00–00–00–00–00–00–0vs. SMU0–00–00–00–00–0–0–00–00–00–00–00–0vs. South Florida0–00–00–00–00–00–0–0–00–00–00–00–0vs. Temple0–00–00–00–00–00–00–0–0–00–00–00–0vs. Tulane0–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–0–0–00–00–0vs. Tulsa0–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–0–0–00–0vs. UCF0–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–0–0–0vs. Wichita State0–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–0–Total0–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–0
Player of the week Throughout the conference regular season, the American Athletic Conference offices named a Player(s) of the week and a Rookie(s) of the week.
WeekPlayer of the weekRookie of the weekReference
Postseason
AAC tournament
Note: * denotes overtime
NCAA tournament
SeedRegionSchool1st Round2nd RoundSweet 16Elite EightFinal FourChampionship 2 Albany Connecticut W 110–61 vs. #15 Towson – (Stoors) W 84–72 vs. #10 Buffalo – (Stoors) W 69–61 vs. #6 UCLA – (Albany) W 80–73 vs. #1 Louisville – (Albany) L 76–81 vs. #1 Notre Dame – (Tampa) 11 Portland UCF L 45–60 vs. #5 Arizona State – (Coral Gables)W–L (%): Total:
National Invitation tournament
School1st Round2nd Round3rd RoundQuarterfinalsSemifinalsChampionship Cincinnati W 76–62 vs. Youngstown State – (Cincinnati) W 72–65 vs. Minnesota – (Cincinnati) W 72–65 vs. Butler – (Cincinnati) L 55–69 vs. TCU – (Fort Worth) Houston L 80–88 (OT) vs. Arkansas – (Fayetteville) South Florida W 84–50 vs. Stetson – (Tampa) L 54–71 vs. James Madison – (Harrisburg)W–L (%): Total:
Honors and awards
AAC Awards
2018 AAC Women's Basketball Individual AwardsAwardRecipient(s)Player of the Year Napheesa Collier, ConnecticutCoach of the Year Geno Auriemma, ConnecticutDefensive Player of the Year Napheesa Collier, ConnecticutFreshman of the Year Christyn Williams, ConnecticutNewcomer of the Year Florence Sifa, CincinnatiSixth Player of the Year Kayla Thigpen, South Florida Most Improved Player Krystal Freeman, Tulane
2018 AAC Women's Basketball All-Conference TeamsFirst TeamSecond TeamThird TeamFreshman Team Napheesa Collier, ConnecticutCrystal Dangerfield, ConnecticutMia Davis, TempleKatie Lou Samuelson, ConnecticutIImar’I Thomas, CincinnatiKay Kay Wright, UCF Dorian Branch, HoustonAlliya Butts, TempleKrystal Freeman, TulaneAntoinette Miller, CincinnatiEnna Pehadžić, South Florida Alicia Froling, SMUAngela Harris, HoustonLashonda Monk, East CarolinaCrystal Polk, TulsaMegan Walker, Connecticut Carla Bremaud, Wichita StateSydni Harvey, South FloridaDynah Jones, TulaneJamirah Shutes, MemphisKayla White, SMUChristyn Williams, Connecticut
WNBA draft
PlayerTeamRoundPick #PositionSchool Katie Lou Samuelson Chicago Sky 1 4 G/F Connecticut Napheesa Collier Minnesota Lynx 1 6 F Connecticut
References