Washington State University Director of Athletics Pat Chun announced that women’s head basketball coach Kamie Ethridge has signed a one-year contract extension keeping her in Pullman through the 2027-28 season.
“Coach Ethridge continues to lead our women’s basketball program to unprecedented heights,” said Chun. “Kamie’s commitment to building a program centered on excellence has been inspiring to watch. We are appreciative of the incredible achievements these past few years and excited for what the future holds.”
Coach Ethridge, who came to WSU in April 2018, has continually raised the bar for the Cougar women’s basketball program every season she has been on the Palouse. Washington State has seen its win total increase each season under Ethridge’s direction and she guided the Cougs to back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances for the first in program history (2021, 2022). With Ethridge at the helm, WSU has set program records for most wins in a regular season (19 in 2021-22), most Pac-12 Conference wins in a season (11 in 2021-22), posted the program’s highest finish in the Pac-12 standings (T-2nd in 2021-22) and earned the program’s first AP Top-25 ranking.
“I want to thank WSU President Kirk Schulz, WSU Pullman Chancellor Elizabeth Chilton and Director of Athletics Pat Chun for extending my contract another year,” said Ethridge. “With so much uncertainty surrounding athletics across the country, there is zero uncertainty in my belief in this great university and the leadership we have in place. I love Pullman and this community, and I look forward to continuing to build and grow the success of our program. Go Cougs!”
Washington State continued to reach new heights in her fourth season in 2021-22, as the Cougars set numerous program records and made a return trip to the NCAA Tournament. WSU ended the 2021-22 season with a 19-11 record, which set the program record for most wins in a season in the NCAA Era (post-1981-82). Washington State finished tied for second in the Pac-12 in 2021-22 with an 11-6 conference record. The 11 victories are a program record for most Pac-12 wins in a season, while the second-place finish marked the Cougars’ highest finish in the Pac-12 standings in program history.
Ethridge’s 51 overall wins are the most by a WSU women’s basketball coach during their first four seasons. The Cougars’ 20 Pac-12 wins collected over the last two seasons (2020-21, 2021-22) are the most conference wins in a two-year stretch in program history. Ethridge has also dominated the Boeing Apple Cup Series during her tenure on the Palouse, as she is 7-1 against Washington. The seven wins over the Huskies are the most by a WSU head coach in program history.
Academically, the Cougars have achieved in the classroom under Ethridge. WSU women’s basketball posted its highest cumulative grade point average in program history in 2020-21 with a team GPA of 3.629. Washington State was selected to the 2020-21 Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) Academic Top 25 Team Honor Roll for the first time in program history, posting the 20th-best team GPA in all of NCAA Division I women’s basketball that season.
Ethridge has recruited elite talent from all over the globe during her tenure at Washington State, which includes New Zealand native and two-time All-American Honorable Mention selection Charlisse Leger-Walker. WSU players such as Ula Motuga (Australia), Johanna Teder (Estonia), Bella Murekatete (Rwanda), Krystal Leger-Walker (New Zealand) Jessica Clarke (Canada), Tara Wallack (Canada), Astera Tuhina (Kosovo) have gone on to play for their national team programs.
Ethridge was named the head coach of WSU women’s basketball on April 15, 2018. She came to Pullman following four seasons as the head coach at the University of Northern Colorado, where she posted a combined 83 victories and led the Bears to their first NCAA Tournament appearance in her final season.
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