The Washington Huskies women's basketball team is coming off its best season in nearly a decade.

The Huskies finished the 2025-26 season with a 22-11 overall record, advanced to the Round of 32 of the NCAA playoffs and fell just four points shy of advancing to the Sweet Sixteen in a three-point overtime loss against TCU in March 22.

Washington's opening round, 72-54 win against the South Dakota State Jackrabbits on March 20 was the program's first win in March Madness since 2017. It also marked the first tourney win for head coach Tina Langley in three career trips to the dance.

The Huskies' berth to the NCAA tournament was the first time the team has made March Madness in consecutive years since the Kelsey Plum-led teams in 2016-17.

For Langley's efforts, she was rewarded with a long-term commitment from the university.

Langley and Washington signed agreed to a six-year, $7.1 million contract Thursday. The deal will extend through the 2031-32 season and will pay her a base salary of $1.1875 million, according to a report from Seattle Times reporter Percy Allen.

The news was confirmed in a news release put out by Washington on Thursday.

"I'm so grateful to President Jones, Pat, (Erin O'Connell) and our entire administrative team for the opportunity to continue being a part of the amazing community here at Washington," Langley said in the release. "Their wholehearted commitment and support of our student-athletes and entire program is deeply felt. It is an honor and a blessing to serve alongside such a high-character group of young women and outstanding coaching staff. Washington is a special place, and we are so excited for what's to come."

Langley has an 83-71 overall record in five seasons as head coach of the Huskies. She's 19-17 in Big Ten competition since the program moved from the Pac-12 ahead of the 2024-25 season.

There was speculation this offseason that Langley could be pursued by the Alabama Crimson Tide. Their previous head coach, Kristy Curry, left after 13 years to take the head coaching job with South Florida.

Langley grew up in Jasper, Ala., just over an hour drive away from the Tide's campus in Tuscaloosa, Ala. She also played her college career in her home state with Bevill State Community College (1991-93) and West Alabama ('93-95).

In the modern age of college athletics, with Name, Image, Likeness deals (NIL) and the transfer portal, it's rare for a roster to retain players over the course of several years.

This past season, four of the five seniors honored on Washington's senior day were recruited by Langley.

That bodes well for the Huskies, who will attempt to take another step forward in the 2026-27 season. This past season, Washington boasted first-team All-Big Ten guard Sayvia Sellers, All-Big Ten honorable mention guard Avery Howell and All-Big Ten Freshman forward Brynn McGaughy.

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