Penn Quakers Tickets

The Penn Quakers may not be a household name in college women’s basketball, but this Ivy League program has been making strides in recent years.

Under head coach Mike McLaughlin, the Quakers have become a perennial contender in the Ivy League, with three conference titles and four NCAA tournament appearances in the last six seasons. In 2020-21, Penn finished with a 9-2 record, including wins over eventual WNIT champion Memphis and NCAA tournament team Albany.

One of the keys to Penn’s success has been its defense. The Quakers led the Ivy League in scoring defense from 2015-16 through 2019-20, holding opponents to an average of under 55 points per game in each of those seasons. In 2020-21, they allowed just 56.5 points per game.

Offensively, Penn has relied on a balanced attack, with multiple players capable of leading the way on any given night. This season, junior guard Kayla Padilla was the team’s leading scorer at 18.3 points per game, but she was far from the only threat. Senior center Eleah Parker averaged a double-double with 12.5 points and 10.8 rebounds per game, while sophomore guard Brianna Hahn contributed 11.7 points and 2.5 steals per game.

Like many Ivy League programs, the Quakers haven’t had the luxury of awarding athletic scholarships to their players. But that hasn’t stopped McLaughlin and his staff from recruiting high-level talent. Parker, who was named the Ivy League Player of the Year in 2018 and 2019, chose Penn over offers from multiple Power 5 programs. Padilla, a two-time first-team All-Ivy selection, was also highly sought-after as a recruit.

Penn’s success on the court has translated to individual accolades as well. Parker and Padilla have both earned honorable mention All-America honors from the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association, while McLaughlin has been named the Ivy League Coach of the Year four times.

But perhaps the most impressive aspect of Penn’s program is its commitment to academics. The Quakers have consistently had one of the highest team GPA’s in the country, and several players have received academic honors from the Ivy League and/or the National Association of Basketball Coaches.

In a sport where many top programs prioritize winning at all costs, it’s refreshing to see a program like Penn thrive while also prioritizing the complete student-athlete experience. As the Quakers continue to establish themselves as a force to be reckoned with in college women’s basketball, they serve as an inspiration for other programs looking to build sustainable success.