CARDINAL COUPLE

CARDINAL COUPLE
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Tuesday, April 15, 2025

Steph Norman Bids Farewell -- WNBA Draft -- TUESDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

Photo by GoCards
In a surprise move yesterday, Louisville women's basketball associate head coach Stephanie Norman announced that she will be stepping down and leaving the program. Norman is headed to Arizona State to become an assistant coach under Molly Miller. Miller was recently named head coach for the Sun Devils after five seasons at Grand Canyon.

Norman played four seasons at Arizona State from 1985-1989, including being named a team captain in her junior and senior seasons. She completed her masters degree at Hawaii. Following the completion of her education, Norman spent time as an assistant coach at Oregon, Oregon State, and Vanderbilt before joining Louisville in the fall of 2007. She was the first hire under then-newly-named head coach Jeff Walz.

Photo by GoCards

During her 18 year stint with the Cards, Norman was a part of 12 Sweet Sixteen appearances, eight Elite Eight appearances, four Final Four appearances, and two National Runner-Up finishes. Norman has helped oversee the development of several key players in Louisville history such as Angel McCoughtry, Candyce Bingham, Becky Burke, Monique Reid, Myisha Hines-Allen, Shoni Schimmel, Asia Durr, Dana Evans, Emily Engstler, Asia Taylor, Antonita Slaughter, Sam Fuehring, Arica Carter, Sara Hammond, Bria Smith, and many more. 

Norman helped guide the Cardinals to 486 wins and 227 wins in respective conference play. Louisville's conference record and overall record were both over .750 during that period. 

Photo by GoCards

Jeff Walz took to social media yesterday regarding Norman's departure: "It's hard for me to put into words what Stephanie has meant to me, this program, and our players. Her loyalty, wisdom, and heart helped build Louisville women's basketball into what it is today. Wishing her nothing but the best on her next chapter - forever grateful."

It has not been made clearly how Louisville will restructure coaching assignments and fill the vacant position, but we expect to hear news in the coming days.

Graphic by GoCards

We at Cardinal Couple remain grateful for all of Norman's contributions during her time at Louisville and are excited to see what she brings to the table at Arizona State. We wish her the best!

WNBA Draft


Last night was the 2025 WNBA Draft. We saw 38 players get drafted over three rounds. To no surprise, Paige Bueckers went first overall. We also saw former Virginia Tech and Kentucky guard Georgia Amoore go in the middle of the first round. Former Louisville guard Hailey Van Lith was taken late in the first round.

The ACC saw six players from the 2024-2025 season drafted, three in the first round. Five international players that did not play in the most recent NCAA women's basketball season were drafted. 12 of the 38 players drafted were on teams that Louisville played in this most recent season.

Happy Tuesday and Go Cards!
Jared

5 comments:

  1. Does anyone else think there is more to this sudden stepdown by Norman than is being reported?

    Nick O.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I agree with you, Nick. I don’t have any evidence to support that there is something going on behind the scenes but it feels that way with a sudden announcement like this.
      -Jared

      Delete
  2. I will add to the fuel here, that Walz brought in a former head coach in Amanda Butler and that had to hit Norman the wrong way. Norman has been a lifelong assistant, and tried to land a head coaching job but failed...maybe Walz decided it was time to get a new #2 on his staff, Purcell moved on and is dong great. Norman was no Purcell, that's for sure...and maybe Butler can bring back what they lost when Sammy went to MSU. As long as they didnt lose Berry, Randolph, Elif or Roberts..that is the main thing

    Blue Lou

    ReplyDelete
  3. Time for Cortnee Walton to get an assistant job.

    ReplyDelete

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