Some unconventional names are emerging in the rumor mills after initial targets have taken themselves out of the running. Conventional wisdom was that the first target would be UNLV head coach Lindy La Rocque,

Two years earlier, Arizona — led by star guard Aari McDonald — won the WNIT championship at McKale Center. Barnes leaves Arizona with a 169-114 record. She compiled the second-most victories in program history behind Joan Bonvicini (297), who coached Barnes when she played for the Wildcats from 1994-98.

SMU named Adia Barnes, formerly of Arizona, as its head women's basketball coach. In nine seasons at Arizona, the 48-year-old Barnes led the Wildcats to four consecutive postseason appearances and five straight 20-win seasons.