Wisconsin women's basketball parts ways with head coach Marisa Moseley
Wisconsin women’s basketball is moving on from Marisa Moseley and will now begin the search for its next head coach.
A source indicated to Badgernotes that the University of Wisconsin has decided to part ways with women's basketball head coach Marisa Moseley after four seasons.
Moseley's tenure in Madison concluded with an overall record of 47-75, including a 21-51 mark in Big Ten conference play.
It’s since been announced that Moseley has "resigned" from her position—an outcome that had been widely anticipated for some time. Associate head coach Margaret McKeon is assuming the duties of interim head coach of the program.
“I notified Chris McIntosh of my decision to resign for personal reasons,” Moseley said in a statement. “It has been a privilege to lead the program at Wisconsin.
“I am grateful for the student-athletes, coaches and staff in our program who have put in so much time and effort. I am appreciative, also, of the Badger fans who supported us at the Kohl Center.”
Before taking over at Wisconsin, Moseley spent three seasons as the head coach at Boston University, where she posted a 45-29 record and was named Patriot League Coach of the Year in 2020. Moseley's career also includes assistant coaching roles at Denver, Minnesota, and UConn.
The 2024-25 season proved particularly challenging for the Badgers. They finished with a 13-17 overall record and a 4-14 conference record, placing them 14th in the new look Big Ten standings.
Their season ended with a decisive 81-54 loss to Iowa in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament, marking their 31st consecutive defeat to the Hawkeyes.
Under Moseley’s leadership, the program made small strides early on, increasing its win total in each of her first three seasons at the helm for Wisconsin before taking a noticeable step back this past year.
During the 2023–24 season, Wisconsin made its first postseason appearance since 2011, earning a spot in the Women’s National Invitation Tournament (WNIT). The Badgers advanced to the Great 8 round, marking a rare glimmer of hope in an otherwise difficult stretch.
That said, the Badgers have not qualified for the women’s NCAA Tournament since the 2009-10 season, extending the drought to 15 seasons and counting.
Adding to Wisconsin's struggles on the court, the program also dealt with some problematic internal issues as well.
In January 2025, former Badgers forward Tessa Towers, now at Ball State, publicly accused Moseley on TikTok of creating a toxic environment, alleging emotional abuse, threats, improper demands regarding mental health, and other forms of mistreatment during her tenure.
These allegations prompted an internal investigation by the university—although Wisconsin officials never did provided an update on any of its findings.
While Towers' claims were the most publicized, they weren’t the only example of alleged mistreatment within the program. Another source who requested anonymity shared that a different player was unfairly dismissed from the program earlier in Moseley’s tenure.
While the decision to cut ties with that player was largely tied to subjective concerns, it stemmed from health-related circumstances beyond their control.
The source disclosed that a non-disclosure agreement was signed to prevent those details from becoming public knowledge, further fueling concerns about the program’s culture under Moseley at Wisconsin.
"I cannot comment on any student-athletes health-related claims due to federal laws," Moseley told reporters. "Any of my player's physical and mental well-being will always come before basketball. My staff and I work hard and pride ourselves on trying to create an environment that welcomes everyone, and we try to build both positive and lasting relationships with these players.
"I have fully participated in the university’s procedures in regard to this matter, and I feel like that’s all that needs to be said.”
While Moseley technically “resigned,” the decision wasn’t exactly on her terms. Wisconsin was prepared to fire her, but this arrangement allowed both sides to move on and protect their reputations.
The search for Wisconsin’s next head coach now begins, with athletic director Chris McIntosh tasked with finding the right leader to bring the program back to relevance in the Big Ten.
Moseley’s tenure simply didn’t produce the necessary results—whether in the win column, recruiting, player development, or laying the foundation for a sustainable program. Now, the challenge falls on McIntosh to make a hire that can reverse Wisconsin's long-standing struggles.
Given Wisconsin’s prolonged NCAA Tournament drought and lack of competitiveness in conference play, it’s fair to question whether the administration has a clear vision for what’s needed to turn things around.
The blueprint for success is already on campus. Just look at Wisconsin’s volleyball and women’s hockey programs—both are national powers that consistently compete at the highest level. With the right leadership and buy in, there’s no reason basketball can’t follow a similar path.
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