BY BOB SHERWIN • CONTRIBUTING WRITER
With a new coach and new 6-9 center, UW women look at a turnaround 2021 campaign
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ancy Mulkey came into the 2021-22 basketball season never having scored a point for the Washington women’s team, yet she may be considered among the best players ever to put on a Husky uniform. At the very least, no Husky player has ever reached the height the 6-foot-9 Mulkey has achieved. In a most uncommon circumstance, the Huskies women’s team this season will be built around Mulkey, a newcomer entering her fifth (COVID added) season. The center — the tallest player ever to play for the Huskies — is a highly decorated transfer from Rice University. This past spring, she followed her former Owls’ coach, Tina Langley, to Seattle. Langley, named UW’s head coach in April, takes over the declining Husky program (7-14 last season) after six successful seasons at Rice. She finished with a school record .674win percentage (126-61) that included a 44-4 conference record over the past three years. PAGE 6
Mulkey, essential during those past three years (after playing one season at Oklahoma), has played in 108 career games, amassing 1,160 points with 447 rebounds, 105 assists and a remarkable 328 blocks. Last season, Mulkey averaged 15.7 points, 8.3 rebounds and 3.5 blocks. She was the MVP of the 2021 Women’s NIT tournament, won by Rice. “Nancy is someone who can do so many things well. She can shoot the ball, handle the ball on the perimeter and, obviously, can be very effective in the post,” Langley said. “She makes her team better at both ends of the floor. Her skill set is pretty tremendous.” Mulkey, who announced her transfer on May 2, is one of 20 candidates on the Watch List for the Lisa Leslie Award (nation’s top center). She was a semifinalist last season.
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