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Ladies first

UA women's teams enjoyed an unprecedented amount of

A few years back, the WNBA introduced a series of commercials with their female athletes proclaiming to their NBA counterparts, "We've got next."

The popularity of women's sports skyrocketed to even greater heights last summer when the U.S. soccer team captured the women's World Cup.

In a matter of three years, little-known Lisa Leslie, Cynthia Cooper, Mia Hamm and Brandi Chastain all became household names after the positive impact they had on their respective sports.

The same boom in women's athletics popularity that happened on the professional level also occurred on the collegiate scene - especially at the University of Arizona.

While many men's teams had successful seasons, the women clearly outperformed their male counterparts this year, which will go down as one of the best ever for UA female programs.

Leading the way for the UA women's teams are the softball and golf team, both of which are at the head of a very small pack that is hunting for a national championship.

The golf team, led by Jenna Daniels, the nation's top collegiate golfer, has been ranked No. 1 for most of the season. The softball team, meanwhile, has been locked in the No. 2 spot for a while, but could move up after upsetting top-ranked Washington 3-2 Friday in Tucson.

"Our athletic department is so prestigious, I just feel honored to be able to come here and participate in women's athletics for the University of Arizona," senior golfer Jill Gomric said.

While UA Athletic Director Jim Livengood said he doesn't like to compare men's and women's programs, he acknowledged that he gets a sense of pride knowing how many women's programs are among the country's elite.

"I love it," Livengood said. "I get excited every time I put on something that says 'Arizona' on it."

When considering the statistics, the buzz about women's sports on campus this year should not come as a surprise.

The volleyball team made its first-ever Sweet 16 appearance last fall, and even though they fell to Stanford, NCAA tournament victories against Virginia and Texas capped off an impressive season.

The women's basketball team made it as far as the men's team - the second round of the NCAA Tournament. And, although a tough 75-60 defeat at the hands of the Tennessee Volunteers left the team with a sour taste in its mouth, the Wildcats still won more games - 25 - than any previous season.

Much of the team's success can be attributed to head coach Joan Bonvicini, who has successfully turned Arizona into a school with a solid women's basketball program, Livengood said.

"Joan has done a great job in her time here," said Livengood, adding that Bonvicini's commitment to recruitment has benefited the team.

Since her arrival in Tucson in 1991, Bonvicini has helped the Wildcats equal or surpass their win total in every season but two - 1994-95 and 1998-99.

"Good programs stay good year after year," Livengood said.

When the curtain rose on the spring semester, female teams continued to roll and - in most cases - do better than the men's teams.

Paced by a well-balanced attack of seniors and freshmen, the UA women's swimming and diving team placed second in the country March 18.

UA freshman Amanda Beard had a strong rookie campaign, as she finished second and fourth in the NCAA Championship 200- and 100-meter breaststroke events, respectively.

Arizona is one of only a handful of universities where the men's and women's swimming and diving teams practice together, and Beard this helped create a friendly rivalry between the two.

"We wanted to place higher than the boys, and the boys wanted to place higher than us," Beard said.

And the women's team did just that, as the men placed third in the nation on March 25.

Like the swimming programs, the UA golf teams are in a similar situation. While both are among the country's elite, the women's team enjoyed more success this season. They are ranked No. 1, while the men currently sit at No. 10.

Both are expected to make strong runs at the NCAA team title later this month, but it is the women's team that finds itself labeled the heavy favorite.

So, while the football and men's basketball teams will likely receive a large portion of the attention on the local and national levels, several women's programs could make a strong case for their own teams.

With strong coaches including Mike Candrea (softball), David Rubio (volleyball), Todd McCorkle (golf), Frank Busch (swimming and diving) and Bonvicini, the women's programs should be at the national forefront for a long time to come.

Brett Erickson can be reached at sports@wildcat.arizona.edu.