University of Hawai'i at Manoa Athletics

2021-22 RAINBOW WAHINE BASKETBALL

SEASON HIGHLIGHTS

• Became the first team in program history to win both the Big West Conference regular season and tournament championships in the same season, while also earning a berth into the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2016.

• The ‘Bows received a No. 15 seed and traveled to Waco Texas to take on No. 2 seed Baylor in the opening round.

• Senior Amy Atwell became the first Rainbow Wahine to be named Big West Conference Player of the Year after averaging a conference-high 17 points and six rebounds per game. Over the course of the season she recorded 13 games of 20 points or more, and two games of 30-plus points.

• Head coach Laura Beeman was named the Big West Conference Coach of the Year for the second time in her career at UH. Beeman led the ‘Bows to a 20-10 record overall and 13-3 mark against conference opponents.

• UH recorded two five-game win streaks during the regular season, both against conference foes. The second of the streaks capped the regular season, leading to the ‘Bows clinching the regular-season championship at home on Senior Night with a 58-52 win over UC Santa Barbara.

• Including the Big West Tournament, UH won 13 of 14 games, along with an eight-game win streak going into the NCAA Tournament.

• Atwell was named Big West Conference Player of the Week a program record four times during her senior campaign.

AWARDS & HONORS

RETURN TO THE TOP

On March 5th in front of a rowdy crowd at SimpliFi Arena, UH captured its first Big West Conference regular season championships since 2015. A week later on May 12th,  the Rainbow Wahine returned to the top of the Big West Conference mountain by capturing the tournament championship, their first since 2016.

RETIRE #25

The 2021-2022 campaign was one for the record books as senior forward Amy Atwell cemented herself as one of the best to ever wear a Rainbow Wahine basketball jersey. 

• Big West Conference Player of the Year
• Selected 27th overall in the 2022 WNBA draft by the Los Angeles Sparks.
• Named to the Big West Conference first team.
• 13th member of the 1,000 point and 500 rebound club
• 23rd member of the 1,000 point club.
• Only player in Rainbow Wahine history to finish in the top three for career made three-points, attempts, and percentage.
• Broke records for three-pointers made in a career (205) and in a season (76).

Finished career ranked in the following categories

• No. 1 in career starts with 126
• No. 1 in made three-pointers with 205
• No. 1 in three-point attempts with 539
• No. 2 in free throw percentage at .806
• No. 2 in three-point field goal percentage .380.
• No. 5 in 20 point games with 20.
• No. 7 in points scored in a career with 1,270
• No. 8 in defensive rebounds with 442
• No. 13 in scoring average with 10.1 points per game.

PICTURE PERFECT

Some the of the top shots of the year.

Love the New Threads

The Rainbow Wahine were one of few teams to make a full switch over to Adidas to start the season and unveiled their new threads in a dramatic fashion. 

Once Upon a Time in Waco

For the first time since 2016, when coach Beeman led the Rainbow Wahine to its first NCAA tournament appearance in over 20 years, the 'Bows were back as a No. 15 seed in the Wichita bracket. UH traveled to Waco, Texas, to take on No. 2 seeded Baylor at the Ferrell Center, the same arena Simplifi Arena at Stan Sheriff Center was modeled after over 25 years ago. The familiar settings of the venue didn't lead to an upset over the heavily favored Bears, but the 'Bows took in the experience and documented their memorable journey.

MARCH 22, 2022 RAINBOW WAHINE BASKETBALL DAY

Following the ‘Bows memorable season, they returned home to the island of O'ahu to tremendous fanfare congratulating them on a special season. The mayor of Honolulu, Rick Blangiardi wanted to properly recognize UH's season by declaring March 22, 2022, Rainbow Wahine Basketball Day. 

#GoBows