Missouri State Women

Missouri State, known as Southwest Missouri State (SMSU) until 2005, began play in women's basketball in 1969. The Lady Bears played in the Missouri AIAW state tournaments from 1970 to 1982, post-season AIAW regional tournaments in 1974, 1975 and 1981, and the AIAW Division II national tourney in 1981. In 1982, the Lady Bears joined the ranks of Division I programs in the NCAA. From 1982 to 1992, the Lady Bears played in the Gateway Collegiate Athletic Conference before that conference was absorbed by the Missouri Valley Conference in 1992. They joined Conference USA in 2025.

Missouri State has made 17 appearances in the NCAA Tournament including six straight appearances from 1991 to 1996, four straight appearances from 1998 to 2001, as well as appearances in 2003, 2004, 2006, 2016, 2019, 2021, and 2022. The Lady Bears' tournament success is highlighted by two trips to the Final Four (1992, 2001), two Elite Eight appearances (1992, 2001) and five trips to the Sweet Sixteen (1992, 1993, 2001, 2019, 2021).

The Lady Bears have made 9 appearances in the WNIT (2002, 2005, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2023). They won the 2005 WNIT, 78–70, over West Virginia.

As of the end of the 2023–2024 season, they have an all-time record of 993–639 (.608).

1992 Final Four

In 1992, Missouri State as an 8-seed became the lowest women's seed at the time to make the Final Four. The Lady Bears beat Kansas 75–59, Iowa 61–60 in overtime, UCLA 83–57 and Ole Miss 94–71. They were defeated 84–72 by Western Kentucky in the National Semifinals.

2001 Final Four

In 2001 Missouri State earned a 5-seed in the West Region. The Lady Bears went to the Final Four in St. Louis after winning the West Region Missouri State defeated Toledo 89–71, Rutgers 60–53, Duke 81–71, and Washington 104–87. They were beaten in the National Semifinals by Purdue 81–64.

NCAA Tournament appearances

The Bears have made seventeen appearances in the NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament, with a combined record of 18–17.

Year	Seed	Round	Opponent	Result
1991	#8	First Round Second Round	#9 Tennessee Tech #1 Tennessee	W 94–64 L 47–55
1992	#8	First Round Second Round Sweet Sixteen Elite Eight Final Four	#9 Kansas #1 Iowa #5 UCLA #2 Ole Miss #4 Western Kentucky	W 75–59 W 61–60 W 83–57 W 94–71 L 72–84
1993	#7	First Round Second Round Sweet Sixteen	#10 Oklahoma State #2 Maryland #6 Louisiana Tech	W 86–71 W 86–82 L 43–59
1994	#6	First Round Second Round	#11 Northern Illinois #3 Virginia	W 75–56 L 63–67
1995	#9	First Round Second Round	#8 Utah #1 Colorado	W 49–47 L 34–78
1996	#12	First Round	#5 Texas	L 55–73
1998	#8	First Round	#9 Notre Dame	L 64–78
1999	#7	First Round Second Round	#10 UC Santa Barbara #2 Colorado State	W 72–70 L 70–86
2000	#10	First Round	#7 Auburn	L 74–78
2001	#5	First Round Second Round Sweet Sixteen Elite Eight Final Four	#12 Toledo #4 Rutgers #1 Duke #6 Washington #3 Purdue	W 89–71 W 60–53 W 81–71 W 104–87 L 64–81
2003	#15	First Round	#2 Texas Tech	L 59–67
2004	#12	First Round	#5 Notre Dame	L 65–69^OT
2006	#13	First Round	#4 Purdue	L 52–73
2016	#13	First Round	#4 Texas A&M	L 65–74
2019	#11	First Round Second Round Sweet Sixteen	#6 DePaul #3 Iowa State #2 Stanford	W 89–77 W 69–60 L 46–55
2021	#5	First Round Second Round Sweet Sixteen	#12 UC Davis #13 Wright State #1 Stanford	W 70–51 W 64–39 L 62–89
2022	#11	First Four First Round	#11 Florida State #6 Ohio State	W 61–50 L 56–63

WBIT results

The Bears have made two appearances in the Women's Basketball Invitation Tournament (WBIT), with a combined record of 1–2.

Year	Round	Opponent	Result
2024	First Round	Illinois	L 69–74
2025	First Round Second Round	Oral Roberts Minnesota	W 107–76 L 71–78

AIAW Division II tournament results

The Bears made one appearance in the AIAW National Division II basketball tournament, with a combined record of 0–1.

Year	Round	Opponent	Result
1981	First Round	College of Charleston	L 55–70

WNCAAB	11/22 20:00	-	Tulsa (W) v Missouri State Women	-	View
WNCAAB	11/28 21:00	-	Florida State (W) v Missouri State Women	-	View
WNCAAB	12/05 00:30	-	Tulane (W) v Missouri State Women	-	View
WNCAAB	12/07 20:00	-	Missouri State Women v Kansas (W)	-	View
WNCAAB	12/13 19:00	-	Missouri State Women v Arkansas (W)	-	View
WNCAAB	12/20 00:30	-	Missouri State Women v Gonzaga (W)	-	View
WNCAAB	12/22 19:00	-	Missouri State Women v Central Arkansas Women	-	View
WNCAAB	01/04 18:00	-	Florida Intl Women v Missouri State Women	-	View
WNCAAB	01/09 00:30	-	Missouri State Women v Kennesaw State (W)	-	View
WNCAAB	01/10 18:00	-	Missouri State Women v Jacksonville State Women	-	View
WNCAAB	01/16 02:00	-	UTEP (W) v Missouri State Women	-	View
WNCAAB	01/17 19:00	-	New Mexico State (W) v Missouri State Women	-	View
WNCAAB	01/23 00:30	-	Missouri State Women v Louisiana Tech Women	-	View
WNCAAB	01/24 19:00	-	Missouri State Women v Sam Houston State (W)	-	View
WNCAAB	01/30 00:00	-	Delaware (W) v Missouri State Women	-	View
WNCAAB	01/31 19:00	-	Liberty (W) v Missouri State Women	-	View
WNCAAB	02/06 00:30	-	Missouri State Women v Middle Tenn St Women	-	View
WNCAAB	02/07 19:00	-	Missouri State Women v Western Kentucky (W)	-	View
WNCAAB	02/13 00:30	-	Sam Houston State (W) v Missouri State Women	-	View
WNCAAB	02/14 19:00	-	Louisiana Tech Women v Missouri State Women	-	View
WNCAAB	02/20 00:30	-	Missouri State Women v Liberty (W)	-	View
WNCAAB	02/21 19:00	-	Missouri State Women v Delaware (W)	-	View
WNCAAB	02/27 00:30	-	Missouri State Women v Florida Intl (W)	-	View
WNCAAB	03/06 00:30	-	Western Kentucky (W) v Missouri State Women	-	View
WNCAAB	03/07 20:00	-	Middle Tenn St Women v Missouri State Women	-	View