Northwest Notes Oct. 19, 2022

Ethridge signs one-year contract extension with WSU through '27-28

PULLMAN — Washington State head women's basketball coach Kamie Ethridge signed a one-year contract extension keeping her in Pullman through the 2027-28 season, WSU athletic director Pat Chun announced Tuesday.

"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."

Washington State has seen its win total increase each season since Ethridge came to Pullman in April 2018, 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.

"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," Ethridge said. "I love Pullman and this community, and I look forward to continuing to build and grow the success of our program."

In 2021-22, the Cougars set numerous program records and made a return trip to the NCAA Tournament. WSU finished 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 is 7-1 against Washington. The seven wins over the Huskies are the most by a WSU head coach in program history.

Academically, WSU women's basketball posted its highest cumulative grade point average in program history in 2020-21 with a team GPA of 3.629.

Ethridge has recruited elite talent from all over the globe during her tenure at Washington State, including 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.