Old Dominion Lady Monarchs basketball
The Old Dominion Lady Monarchs basketball team represents Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia. The team currently competes in the NCAA Division I as a member of Conference USA.
The ODU Monarchs women's basketball team contributed to the initial rise in popularity of women's intercollegiate basketball in the United States in the 1970s. Women's college basketball was organized under the auspices of the AIAW in the early 1970s, at a time when competitive power was distributed among small colleges that had established a niche.
ODU won two AIAW national championships in 1979 and 1980 in dominating fashion with star players, Nancy Lieberman and Anne Donovan. Led by Medina Dixon and Tracy Claxton, ODU won the NCAA Division 1 championship in 1985, defeating the University of Georgia 70-65.
ODU along with UCLA and Tennessee, among others, led the rise to prominence of large schools with national reputations to the top intercollegiate level, before the NCAA began sponsoring sports for women.Rivalries
James Madison
| Games played | First meeting | Last meeting | ODU wins | ODU losses | Win % |
| 77 | 1969–70 | February 28, 2013 | 52 | 25 | |
Tennessee
| Games played | First meeting | Last meeting | ODU wins | ODU losses | Win % |
| 45 | 1976–77 | December 28, 2011 | 9 | 36 | |
VCU
| Games played | First meeting | Last meeting | ODU wins | ODU losses | Win % |
| 70 | 1969–70 | November 17, 2012 | 56 | 14 | |
Virginia
| Games played | First meeting | Last meeting | ODU wins | ODU losses | Win % |
| 32 | 1973–74 | March 25, 2008 | 18 | 14 | |
Virginia Tech
| Games played | First meeting | Last meeting | ODU wins | ODU losses | Win % |
| 31 | 1972–73 | November 9, 2012 | 24 | 7 | |
Home venues
Players
