The program’s inaugural head coach was Mary Littlewood, who led the team with a 6-11 record in its debut season. She coached volleyball and softball as a powerhouse in women’s athletics at ASU. 1990 she was inducted into the Sun Devil Hall of Distinction for her contributions. 

Joanie Smith emerged as one of the program’s first stars, becoming the first Sun Devil to make headlines on the court. Smith played from 1976–78, averaging 23.5 points per game, and was the first female Sun Devil to sign a professional contract. In 1978, she was drafted by the Milwaukee Does.

Leadership transitions and continued growth marked the late 70s. Linda Spradley took the reins in 1976, guiding the team through two seasons of development. Paul Long followed in 1979, leading the squad to a 13-16 record, before Juliene Simpson stepped in to close the decade and usher in an era of promise and legacy.

The 1980s were a transformative decade for Sun Devil Women’s Basketball, as the program rose to national prominence behind standout athletes and strong leadership. Juliene Simpson, who served as head coach from 1979–87, became the program’s longest-tenured coach and led the Sun Devils to rapid success.

In 1981, she guided the team to a 21-11 record and a runner-up finish at the National Women’s Invitational Tournament (NWIT). The following season, ASU made its first-ever NCAA Sweet Sixteen appearance, finishing 25-7. The team returned to the Sweet Sixteen the following year. Between 1981 and 1984, ASU posted an 86-37 record, culminating in a No. 11 national ranking in 1983. 

Kym Hampton, one of the most celebrated players in Sun Devil Women’s Basketball history, was central to this success. A two-time consensus All-American and four-time All-Conference selection, Hampton played at ASU from 1981–84 and remains the only basketball player in ASU history to record over 2,000 points and 1,000 rebounds.

Averaging 28 points and 15 rebounds per game, she ended her career with a 44-point performance against rival Arizona. Upon graduation, she held 49 school records and was inducted into the Sun Devil Hall of Fame in 1989. 

Alongside Hampton, several other remarkable players helped define the decade.

• Olivia Jones, a 1983 All-Conference and Kodak All-District honoree, led ASU with 19 points per game in 1982–83.
  
• Cassandra Lander, an All-Selection member in 1980 and 1982, was a quick playmaker with career highs of 35 points and 12 rebounds. She was inducted into the Sun Devil Hall of Fame in 2006.
• Jodi Rathburn set assist records in 1983–84 and entered the Hall of Fame in 2000.
• Robin Connolly averaged 14.3 points and became the first in ASU women’s basketball history to record a triple-double.

Together, these athletes established a lasting culture of excellence.

Nearly a decade after its first NCAA appearance, Sun Devil Women’s Basketball returned to the national stage in 1991–92, advancing to the First Round with talented individuals. Guiding the program through this competitive period was head coach Maura McHugh, who led ASU from 1987 to 93. McHugh was known for instilling an aggressive, high-energy style of play into the game.

Ryneldi Becenti, a sharp-shooting point guard, was at the forefront of this comeback. She currently ranks No.5 for all-time assists (396) and No. 1 for assists per game (7.1) for school bests. Becenti earned All-American honorable mention accolades in 1992 and 1993 and was named Pac-10 Player of the Week four times. She played for the Phoenix Mercury of the WNBA during its opening season. She was inducted into the Sun Devil Hall of Fame in 2004.

Another standout of the decade was forward Molly Tuter, who played from 1994–97. Tuter was inducted into the Sun Devil Hall of Fame as a relentless competitor in 2011. At ASU, she earned All-Pac-10 honors and currently ranks No. 4 all-time in both points scored (1,374) and steals (221).  

Following McHugh’s departure in 1993, former Dartmouth Head Coach Jacqueline Hullah led the team for three seasons. Then, in 1996, ASU welcomed a new leader who would soon become the winningest coach in Sun Devil Women’s Basketball history — Charli Turner Thorne. 

During her first season, Turner Thorne guided a team of six seniors to the program’s most wins in four years, signaling the start of a journey that would elevate Sun Devil Women’s Basketball to unprecedented heights in the years to come.

The new millennium ushered in a defining era for Sun Devil Women’s Basketball. Under Head Coach Charli Turner Thorne, in 2000–01, the team posted a 20-11 record and set a school-best 12-6 conference mark, earning its first Pac-10 regular season title, its first NCAA Tournament appearance in nine years and its first return to the national Top 25 for the first time since 1992.  

Momentum continued in 2001–02, as ASU outperformed second-ranked Stanford to win the first-ever Pac-10 Conference Tournament. The Sun Devils finished 25-9 and earned their first NCAA postseason win in 19 years. 

Exceptional players included first-team All-Pac-10 selections Amanda Levens and Melody Johnson. Levens played only two seasons at ASU and became the first in nine years to earn back-to-back first-team honors. She was inducted into the Sun Devil Hall of Fame after returning as an associate head coach in 2012.

Emily Westerberg became ASU’s first three-time all-conference selection and was inducted into the Sun Devil Hall of Fame in 2017. 

Kylan Loney earned the Pac-10 Medal of Honor and ASU’s Heather Farr Award for excellence in academics, athletics, community service and leadership. 

Briann January emerged as a program icon, holding one of ASU’s honored jerseys alongside Ryneldi Becenti and Kym Hampton and ranking in 21 top-10 lists.

2002–03, Amy Denson and Jill Noe made the Pac-10 All-Freshman First Team, while Kristen Kovesdy earned honorable mention — the first time multiple Sun Devils made the list. Noe became the first to record 11 assists in a game two separate times, while Kovesdy ranked No. 1 in both field goal and effective field goal percentage.

ASU extended its postseason streak in 2003–04 with a WNIT bid. The following season, Turner Thorne led ASU to its first NCAA Sweet Sixteen appearance in 22 years and a school-record .929 home win percentage. That season included a 73-53 win against No. 7 Stanford. 

The program reached new heights in the 2006-07 season, winning 31 games with a school-record 16 Pac-10 wins en route to its first NCAA Elite Eight appearance. That year, ASU finished No. 8 in the final USA Today/ESPN Coaches Poll and No. 10 in the AP rankings — both program bests then.

In 2009, Turner Thorne led ASU to its second Elite Eight appearance in three years. Though the team fell to No. 1-ranked Connecticut, the run cemented the 2000s as one of the most successful and transformative decades in Sun Devil Women’s Basketball history.

The 2010s opened strongly, with ASU finishing the 2010–11 season 20–11 and reaching the NCAA Tournament First Round. Interim Head Coach Joseph Anders guided the team to the WNIT the following year during Charli Turner Thorne’s leave.

Throughout the decade, postseason appearances remained a consistent theme. ASU reached the NCAA Second Round in 2014, 2016, 2017 and 2018 and advanced to the Sweet Sixteen in 2015 and 2019. The 2015–16 season stood out as the Sun Devils captured their second-ever regular-season Pac-12 title.

Certain players helped define this period of success. Katie Hempen graduated as the program’s all-time leader in three-pointers (185). Sophie Brunner started 117 of 128 games and was named an All-America honorable mention twice. Charnea Johnson-Chapman appeared in 122 games and earned Pac-12 All-Academic honorable mention thrice.

On March 3, 2022, a pivotal chapter closed as Charli Turner Thorne announced her retirement after 25 seasons. Ranking No. 2 in all-time wins among Pac-12 coaches, her legacy includes 14 NCAA Tournament appearances, three Pac-12 titles and two Elite Eight runs. ASU reached the postseason in all but one season under her leadership when postseason play was held.

Natasha Adair was hired in March 2023, bringing 10 years of head coaching experience and the honor of CAA Coach of the Year.

On March 2, 2025, ASU named Molly Miller Head Coach, signaling the start of a new era.

Previously, Miller led Grand Canyon University to its first WAC title and NCAA appearance. Her inaugural season at ASU begins in November 2025, with high excitement and expectations.