The women's basketball program at Butler University began in the 1975-76 season, competing in the Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW). The Bulldogs' first winning season came two years later, earning a 9-5 record under the direction of coach Linda Mason. The Bulldogs played in the AIAW National Tournament for the first time in 1982, falling in the second round to William Penn, 77-94. The next season, 1982–83, the Bulldogs began competition at the NCAA Division II level, where they competed for four seasons until they joined the Horizon League and Division I competition for the 1986-87 season.
The Bulldogs qualified for Division I post-season play for the first time in 1993, competing in the WNIT under coach Paulette Stein, who revitalized the program following five losing records in six seasons in the late 1980s. Butler competed in the NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Tournament for the first time in 1996 under coach June Olkowski, Butler's only coach to never record a losing season. Their last post-season appearance in the 1990s was in the WNIT in 1998.
The Bulldogs began a new era during the 2002-03 season, in which Beth Couture was hired as the Bulldogs' seventh head coach, a position she still holds. Couture is Butler's longest-serving head women's basketball coach. From her first season at Butler through the 2012–2013 season, she compiled a 178–158 record including four total and three consecutive WNIT appearances, and four consecutive 20-win seasons. Under Couture, Butler recorded a 23–10 mark in 2010, the most wins in team history, and recorded its first WNIT win in 2009 with a 59–58 victory over Duquesne on a layup with 2.2 seconds remaining in the game.
The 2013-14 season will see the Bulldogs' third conference in as many years as Coach Couture guides the team in transitioning to the Big East from its only season in the Atlantic Ten. During that season, the Bulldogs posted an 8-6 conference record (17-14 overall), giving the team winning records in two conferences during Couture's tenure.
Points in a game: 116 — vs. Detroit, 1/30/99Points in a season: 2,434 — 1992–93Points per game: 78.5 — 1992–93Total points in a game: 217 — Butler (116) vs. Detroit (101), 1/30/99Rebounds in a game: 68 — vs. Indianapolis, 2/8/83Rebounds in a season: 1,256 — 1992–93Rebounds per game: 43.7 — 1982–83Field goals made in a game: 49 — vs. Southern Indiana, 1/28/83Field goals made in a season: 878 — 1992–93Field goals attempted in a game: 95 — vs. Southern Indiana, 1/28/83Field goals attempted in a season: 1,947 — 1992–93Field goal percentage in a half: .909 — vs. Vanderbilt, 2nd half (20–22), 11/24/90Field goal percentage in a game: .659 — vs. Vanderbilt (31–47), 11/24/90Field goal percentage in a season: .480 — 1982–83 (786–1638)3-point field goals made in a game: 15 — vs. Milwaukee, 2/22/073-point field goals made in a season: 260 — 2006–073-point field goals attempted in a game: 36 — vs. Green Bay, 1/25/073-point field goals attempted in a season: 711 — 2006–073-point field goal percentage in a game (min. 10 attempts): .700 — vs. Loyola (7–10), 1/6/963-point field goal percentage in a season: .393 — 2005–06 (223–567)Free throws made in a game: 42 — vs. Radford, 11/29/97Free throws made in a season: 659 — 1997–98Free throws attempted in a game: 50vs. UIC, 2/1/96vs. Radford, 11/29/97
Free throws attempted in a season: 864 — 1997–98Free throw percentage in a game (min. 10 attempts): 1.000 — vs. Xavier (13-13), 2/23/91Free throw percentage in a season: .771— 1998–99 (512–664)Wins in a season: 26 — 1980–81 (26–2)Consecutive victories: 23 — 1978–79Points: 37Sarah Bolten vs. Bowling Green, 12/4/01Elza Purvlicis vs. St. Joseph’s (Ind.), 1/24/84
Rebounds: 26, Elza Purvlicis vs. Indiana Central, 2/8/83Assists: 14Melissa Kilgore vs. Marian, 1/14/86Barb Skinner vs. Wright State, 2/5/83
Field goals made: 16, Elza Purvlicis vs. St. Joseph’s (Ind.), 1/24/84Field goals attempted: 32, Barb Skinner vs. Dayton, 3/2/83Field goal percentage (min. 7 made): 1.000(13–13), Alexis Proffitt vs. Milwaukee, 2/6/97(11–11), Chloe Hamilton vs. Green Bay, 1/27/11(8–8), Kelly Kuhn vs. Wright State, 2/20/99(7–7), Melanie Thornton vs. Cleveland State, 1/14/10(7–7), Beth Piepenbrink vs. Eastern Illinois, 2/24/83(7–7), Liesl Schultz vs. Maryland, 12/29/94
3-point field goals made: 7Jackie Closser at Green Bay, 3/11/07Jackie Closser vs. Wright State, 2/3/07Alyssa Pittman at Dayton, 12/21/09Maria Marchesano vs. Wright State, 2/27/02
3-point field goal attempts: 16, Lisa Pryor vs. Milwaukee, 1/25/033-point field goal percentage (min. 4 made): 1.000(4–4), Ellen Hamilton at Eastern Illinois, 11/30/05(4–4), Ellen Hamilton vs. Central Florida, 11/25/05(4–4), Jackie Closser vs. Austin Peay, 11/26/04(4–4), Maria Marchesano vs. UIC, 2/12/04(4–4), Jackie Closser vs. UIC, 2/21/04(4–4), Debbie Benziger vs. Wright State, 2/16/96(4–4), Sarah Hurrle vs. Milwaukee, 2/6/97(4–4), Jennifer Marlow vs. Bowling Green, 3/13/98(4–4), Pam Schiefelbein vs. Detroit, 1/18/88(4–4), Candace Jones vs. UIC, 1/12/08
Free throws made: 15, Julie VonDielingen vs. Loyola, 2/28/91Free throw attempts: 20, Lade Akande at Cleveland State, 12/28/06Free throw percentage (min. 11 made): 1.000(13–13), Shelley Roby vs. Evansville, 2/20/88(12–12), Jackie Closser vs. UIC, 3/9/07(12–12), Jackie Closser at Detroit, 1/18/07(12–12), Jackie Closser at Detroit, 2/6/06(12–12), Julie VonDielingen vs. Valparaiso, 12/4/90(11–11), Kelly Kuhn vs. Cleveland State, 1/28/99(11–11), Julie VonDielingen vs. Houston, 1/2/93(11–11), Julie VonDielingen vs. Loyola, 2/6/93(11–11), Julie VonDielingen vs. Marquette, 2/2/91
Steals: 12, Jenna Cobb vs. Loyola, 2/16/12Blocked shots: 10, Kelly Kuhn vs. Brown, 12/3/00Points: 622, Julie VonDielingen, 1992–93Scoring average: 20.2, Julie VonDielingen, 1990–91Rebounds: 302, Beth Piepenbrink, 1981–82Rebounding average: 13.7, Elza Purvlicis, 1983–84Assists: 195, Melissa Kilgore, 1987–88Assist average: 7.6, Barb Skinner, 1982–83Field goals made: 233, Julie VonDielingen, 1992–93Field goal attempts: 450, Julie VonDielingen, 1992–93Field goal percentage: .655 (55–84), Liesl Schultz, 1991–923-point field goals made: 85, Jackie Closser, 2006–073-point field goal attempts: 227, Jackie Closser, 2006–073-point field goal percentage: .517 (45–87), Jennifer Marlow, 1997–98Free throws made: 151, Julie VonDielingen, 1990–91Free throw attempts: 191, Sarah Schuetz, 1997–98Free throw percentage: .923 (72–78), Debbie Benziger, 1997–98Steals: 118, Liz Skinner, 1980–81Blocked shots: 103, Liesl Schultz, 1994–95Minutes played: 1,148, Jackie Closser, 2006–07Points: 2,018, Julie VonDielingen, 1989–93Scoring average: 18.0, Julie VonDielingen, 1990–93Rebounds: 1,050, Elza Purvlicis, 1980–84Rebounding average: 11.4, Elza Purvlicis, 1981–84Assists: 584, Melissa Kilgore, 1985–88Assist average: 5.5, Melissa Kilgore, 1985–88Field goals made: 744, Julie VonDielingen, 1989–93Field goal attempts: 1,442, Barb Skinner, 1980–83Field goal percentage: .600 (404–673), Liesl Schultz, 1992–953-point field goals made: 271, Jackie Closser, 2004–073-point field goal attempts: 697, Jackie Closser, 2003–073-point field goal percentage: .443 (128–289), Jennifer Marlow, 1995–99Free throws made: 518, Julie VonDielingen, 1990–93Free throw attempts: 643, Julie VonDielingen, 1990–93Free throw percentage: .841 (280–333), Jackie Closser, 2004–07Steals: 419, Liz Skinner, 1979–82Blocked shots: 254, Liesl Schultz, 1992–95Minutes played: 3,751, Jackie Closser, 2004–07The Bulldogs have appeared in one NCAA Tournament. Their record is 0–1.
The Bulldogs have appeared in five Women's National Invitation Tournaments. Their combined record is 3–6.
Horizon League Women's Basketball Coach of the Year
1989-90 - Paulette Stein1992-93 - Paulette Stein1994-95 - June Olkowski1995-96 - June Olkowski1997-98 - June OlkowskiHorizon League Women's Basketball Player of the Year
1992-93 - Julie Von Dielingen1997-98 - Sarah Schuetz2009-10 - Melanie ThorntonFirst Team All-League
1989-90 - Julie Von Dielingen1990-91 - Julie Von Dielingen1991-92 - Julie Von Dielingen1992-93 - Julie Von Dielingen1994-95 - Liesl Schultz1996-97 - Sarah Schuetz1997-98 - Jennifer Marlow1997-98 - Sarah Schuetz1998-99 - Jennifer Marlow2003-04 - Nancy Bowden2005-06 - Jackie Closser2006-07 - Jackie Closser2007-08 - Lade Akande2009-10 - Melanie Thornton2009-10 - Brigid MulroySecond Team All-League
1986-87 - Martha Kondalski1987-88 - Martha Kondalski1987-88 - Pam Schiefelbein1988-89 - Martha Kondalski1992-93 - Mary Majewski1993-94 - Liesl Schultz1995-96 - Debbie Benziger1996-97 - Jennifer Marlow1996-97 - Alexis Proffitt1998-99 - Sarah Hurrle1999-00 - Kristen Bodine2000-01 - Kelly Kuhn2005-06 - Lade Akande2006-07 - Lade Akande2010-11 - Chloe Hamilton2010-11 - Brittany Bowen2011-12 - Sarah HammHorizon League Women's Basketball Newcomer of the Year
1989-90 - Julie Von Dielingen1990-91 - Angela CottonHorizon League All-Newcomer Team
1989-90 - Mary Majewski1989-90 - Julie Von Dielingen1990-91 - Angela Cotton1991-92 - Lynn Bihn1995-96 - Jennifer Marlow1996-97 - Sarah Hurrle1997-98 - Lori Ives1998-99 - Kristen Bodine1998-99 - Kelly Kuhn1999-00 - Valerie Burg2001-02 - Maria Marchesano2003-04 - Ellen Hamilton2004-05 - Cassie Freeman2005-06 - Lade Akande2006-07 - Susan Lester2009-10 - Alyssa PittmanHorizon League Tournament MVP
1995-96 - Debbie BenzigerHorizon League All-Tournament Team
1989-90 - Mary Majewski1989-90 - Shelly Roby1990-91 - Brandi Kimble1990-91 - Julie Von Dielingen1991-92 - Lynn Bihn1991-92 - Julie Von Dielingen1992-93 - Mary Majewski1992-93 - Julie Von Dielingen1995-96 - Debbie Benziger1995-96 - Alexis Proffitt1997-98 - Jennifer Marlow1997-98 - Sarah Schuetz2003-04 - Nancy Bowden2005-06 - Lade Akande2006-07 - Jackie Closser2009-10 - Melanie Thornton2009-10 - Susan Lester2010-11 - Brittany BowenHorizon League Defensive Player of the Year
2009-10 - Melanie ThorntonHorizon League All-Defensive Team First awarded in 1995-96
1995-96 - Sarah Schuetz1996-97 - Sarah Schuetz1997-98 - Sarah Schuetz1998-99 - Sarah Schuetz2001-02 - Nancy Bowden2002-03 - Nancy Bowden2003-04 - Nancy Bowdrn2003-04 - Angel Mason2004-05 - Cortney Urquhart2008-09 - Melanie Thornton2009-10 - Melanie Thornton2011-12 - Jenna CobbMelani Thornton (Class of 2012) - Plays professionally in Brașov, Romania, for the BC Olimpia Brașov women's basketball team.Brittany Bowen (Class of 2011) - Played professionally in Horsens, Denmark, for the Horsens Pirates.Susan Lester (Class of 2010) - Plays professionally in Edirne, Turkey, for the Edirne Spor women's basketball team.Courtney Urquhart (Class of 2005) - Played professionally in Martigny, Switzerland, for the Ovronnaz-Martigny women's basketball team.Angel Mason (Class of 2004) - Played professionally in Reykjavik, Iceland, for team IS.