Coaches & Staff
In 2013, for the third time in program history, the Lady Lion program saw a pair of student-athletes selected in the WNBA Draft. Bentley went 13th overall to the Atlanta Dream and Nikki Greene was selected 26th overall by the Phoenix Mercury. Bentley has found a home with the Connecticut Sun after competing one season for the Atlanta Dream, and playing in the WNBA Finals that year. A WNBA All-Rookie selection in 2013, she was among the MVP candidates in 2015 before missing the final nine games of the season with an injury. Greene played two years in the league, suiting up for the Los Angeles Sparks in 2014 before teaming up with Bentley in Connecticut during the 2015 season. Tyra Grant capped off her Penn State career by being selected by the Phoenix Mercury in the second round of the 2010 WNBA Draft, and Washington was also instrumental in helping Kam Gissendanner sign a free agent contract with the WNBA’s Los Angeles Sparks following in the 2008 campaign. Edwards and Zhaque Gray have also signed free agent contracts with WNBA teams, inking deals with the Tulsa Shock and Chicago Sky, respectively, in 2014. During her time at Notre Dame, Washington saw seven players earn roster spots on WNBA teams. Dancing Shoes In 18 years as a collegiate coach, Washington has laced up her dancing shoes and headed to the postseason on 14 occasions, including 12 trips to the NCAA Tournament. While coaching the Blue and White, Washington has guided the program to four NCAA Tournament berths and a pair of appearances in the WNIT. From 2011-14, the Lady Lions advanced to the NCAA Tournament each season, reaching at least the second round on all four occasions. The 2012 and 2014 squads moved on to the Sweet Sixteen with a pair of postseason wins, before falling to top-five ranked opponents. The 2016-17 campaign marked a return to the postseason for Penn State, piling up a 21-11 overall record on its way to the third round of the WNIT. Penn State topped Ohio and Fordham, before bowing out to Virginia Tech. In their fourth straight NCAA Tournament appearance, the 2014 squad hosted the first and second rounds of the NCAA Tournament inside the Bryce Jordan Center for the 14th time in school history. Wins over Wichita State in the opening round and a 22-point rout of Florida in the second round sent the program to its 13th Sweet Sixteen. A date with No. 5/6 Stanford awaited in Palo Alto, as the No. 3 seed Lady Lions fell to the No. 2 seed Cardinal at Maples Pavilion to close out a 24-8 campaign, which included a Big Ten regular season title. In 2013, Penn State again advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament with a win over Cal Poly in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The 26-6 campaign ended with a loss to LSU on their home court. The Lady Lions advanced to the 2012 Sweet Sixteen with wins over UTEP and LSU in Baton Rouge before falling to No. 3/3 Connecticut en route to a 26-7 overall record. The Lady Lions worked their way back to the “Big Dance” for the first time since 2004-05 and advanced to the second round for the first time in seven years with a win over Dayton in the first round of the 2012 NCAA Tournament in front of a raucous Bryce Jordan Center crowd. Washington’s first appearances in the tournament as a head coach started with a 75-66 win over Dayton. Washington’s first taste of postseason play as a head coach came against Hofstra in the 2010 WNIT. The Lady Lions hosted the contest on the University Park campus, but the Pride got the best of a young Lady Lions squad in the opening round. During Washington’s eight years on the bench, Notre Dame reached the NCAA Tournament each season, including four Sweet Sixteen runs and the 2001 National Championship. Trophies & All-Americans Washington’s competitive side shines brightest on the biggest stages and that is a trait that her teams have taken on during her tenure on the University Park campus, as well. Washington’s teams have advanced out of the first round of the NCAA Tournament in all four of trips, while earning berths in the Sweet Sixteen twice.
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2017-18 PENN STATE WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
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