Basketball
Loyola's first women's basketball team was formed in 1973. Originally this team was organized under the Intramurals Office as opposed to the Athletics Department. Games were played against other local colleges, such as the University of Illinois-Chicago and Mundelein College. There were no offical team uniforms, and the team received little time to practice in the gym.
The following year, 1974, the women's basketball team was scratched for a reported lack of interest. A team was fielded again in 1975, and from 1975-1979 the team competed against other schools in the area, as well as making the State Basketball Tournament in the 1977-1978 season.
Lady Ramblers 1979-1980 Team
Kneeling left to right: Mary Smythe, Mgr., Candy Mitchell, Colleen Monckton, Eileen McMahon, Mary Ellen Trychta, Laura Rice, Patti Sanchez, Mgr.
Back Row: Coach Sloger, Mary Niego, Karen Stack, Mary Mahady, Erin Foley, Coach Hawkins Not pictured: Sue Dewar and Roz Iasillo
Women's basketball did not earn official athletic sponsorship from Loyola until the 1979-1980 season. That same year, Gene Sullivan was hired as the Athletic Director. Sullivan helped to rebuild and develop a successful women's athletics program at Loyola.
Under the guidance of head coach Marty Hawkins, the 1979-1980 team completed the season with a record of 3-10. That season, Loyola finished in third place at the IAIAW State Tournament held at Eastern Illinois University. Hawkins would go on to coach to the Loyola women's basketball team until 1992.
These early teams were members of the Illinois Association for Inter-Collegiate Athletics for Women (IAIAW). This association, separate at the time from the National Collegiate Athletic Assoication (NCAA), allowed women's teams to participate in state tournamnets. At this time, the NCAA had less opportunities and tournaments for women's teams. Eventually, the IAIAW merged with the NCAA in the early 1980s.
Following their departure from the IAIAW, the women's basketball team began as an NCAA team in the North Star Conference. They were in this conference from the 1983 until 1986. After a stint in the North Star Conference, the team switched to the Midwestern Collegiate Conference (MCC) for the 1986-1987 season. The MCC was a precursor to the Horizon League. Loyola athletics departed from the Horizon League in 2013 and currently compete in the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC).
With the jump to the MVC in 2013 came head coach Sheryl Swoopes. Swoopes, a former Olympic athlete and WNBA champion, was head coach for a short three year stint. Following Swoopes' departure current head coach Kate Achter was hired. During the 2018-2019 season, Achter improved the team's final record to 13-18.