Last Updated on March 16, 2026 by Mat Diekhake

The Ohio State Buckeyes women’s basketball program has had stars across multiple eras, from early standouts who helped build the school’s reputation to modern scorers and floor generals who kept the Buckeyes nationally relevant. Here are some of the most notable Ohio State Buckeyes women’s basketball legends. (Ohio State)

1. Katie Smith

  • Years at Ohio State: 1993–1996
  • Position: Guard
  • Notable Achievements:
    • Ohio State and Big Ten all-time scoring great
    • Helped lead the Buckeyes to the NCAA title game as a freshman
    • Big Ten Freshman of the Year and National Freshman of the Year
    • First-team All-American as both a freshman and senior
    • Later added Hall of Fame-level accomplishments in professional basketball (Ohio State)

2. Jantel Lavender

  • Years at Ohio State: 2008–2011
  • Position: Center
  • Notable Achievements:
    • First Big Ten player, male or female, to win conference Player of the Year four times
    • Three-time All-American
    • One of the most dominant post scorers in program history
    • Finished her career as one of the defining stars of Ohio State’s modern era
    • Widely regarded as one of the greatest Buckeyes ever (Ohio State)

3. Jessica Davenport

  • Years at Ohio State: 2004–2007
  • Position: Center
  • Notable Achievements:
    • Ohio State’s first three-time All-American
    • Captained the Buckeyes to three straight conference championships
    • Scored 2,303 career points and grabbed 1,094 rebounds
    • Recorded Ohio State’s only two triple-doubles in points, rebounds, and blocked shots
    • One of the best interior players the program has ever produced (Ohio State)

4. Kelsey Mitchell

  • Years at Ohio State: 2014–2018
  • Position: Guard
  • Notable Achievements:
    • Four-time First Team All-Big Ten selection
    • Four-time All-American, the first in program history to do that
    • Big Ten Freshman of the Year in 2015
    • Big Ten Tournament MVP as a senior
    • One of the most explosive scorers Ohio State has ever had (Ohio State)

5. Samantha Prahalis

  • Years at Ohio State: 2009–2012
  • Position: Guard
  • Notable Achievements:
    • Big Ten career assists leader with 901
    • One of only three players in NCAA history with 2,000 points and 900 assists
    • Top-10 Buckeye in a long list of statistical categories
    • Dynamic playmaker who gave Ohio State one of its best point guards ever
    • Another key figure from the Buckeyes’ high-powered late-2000s and early-2010s run (Ohio State)

6. Lisa Cline

  • Years at Ohio State: 1986–1989
  • Position: Guard
  • Notable Achievements:
    • Helped Ohio State win three Big Ten championships
    • Reached the Sweet 16 in all four of her seasons
    • Big Ten Player of the Year in 1989
    • Four-time All-Big Ten selection
    • One of the most decorated Buckeyes of the late 1980s (Ohio State)

7. Caity Matter

  • Years at Ohio State: 2002–2005
  • Position: Guard
  • Notable Achievements:
    • One of the program’s best perimeter shooters
    • Set Ohio State’s single-season record with 106 made three-pointers
    • Earned Big Ten Player of the Week honors during a strong junior season
    • Invited to USA Basketball Women’s National Team trials
    • Later joined the Ohio Basketball Hall of Fame alongside other Buckeye standouts (Ohio State)

8. Courtney Coleman

  • Years at Ohio State: 1999–2003
  • Position: Forward
  • Notable Achievements:
    • Key piece on Ohio State’s 2001 WNIT championship team
    • Led the Buckeyes in scoring and rebounding during that run
    • Three-time second-team All-Big Ten selection
    • Ranked among Ohio State’s career leaders in rebounds and steals
    • Reliable frontcourt scorer who helped push the program forward in the early 2000s (Ohio State)

Ohio State’s best women’s basketball legends span very different styles and eras. Katie Smith brought superstar firepower, Lavender and Davenport gave the Buckeyes overpowering post dominance, Mitchell and Prahalis lit teams up in the backcourt, and players like Cline, Matter, and Coleman helped keep the program competitive across different generations. Put together, they form a strong cross-section of what Buckeye women’s basketball has looked like at its best. (Ohio State)

Sources:

Ohio State Buckeyes — Katie Smith (2001) | Hall of Fame Inductees (Ohio State)
Ohio State Buckeyes — Katie Smith Elected to Naismith Hall of Fame (Ohio State)
Ohio State Buckeyes — Jantel Lavender (2016) | Hall of Fame Inductees (Ohio State)
Ohio State Buckeyes — Jantel Lavender — 2016 Ohio State Athletics Hall of Fame Class (Ohio State)
Ohio State Buckeyes — Jessica Davenport (2012) | Hall of Fame Inductees (Ohio State)
Ohio State Buckeyes — Title IX: Player of the Year – Jessica Davenport, Jantel Lavender, Kelsey Mitchell (Ohio State)
Ohio State Buckeyes — Kelsey Mitchell (2023) | Hall of Fame Inductees (Ohio State)
Ohio State Buckeyes — Kelsey Mitchell – First Buckeye 4-Time All-American (Ohio State)
Ohio State Buckeyes — Samantha Prahalis (2021) | Hall of Fame Inductees (Ohio State)
Ohio State Buckeyes — Lisa Cline (2002) | Hall of Fame Inductees (Ohio State)
Ohio State Buckeyes — Q & A with Caity Matter (Ohio State)
Ohio State Buckeyes — Ohio State Basketball Players Caity Matter and Kim Wilburn Invited to USA Basketball Women’s National Team Trials (Ohio State)
Ohio State Buckeyes — Courtney Coleman Will Compete In USA Basketball National Team Trials (Ohio State)
Ohio State Buckeyes — Ohio State Basketball Player Courtney Coleman Named a Second Team Senior CLASS Member (Ohio State)