MADISON, Wis. -- In a significant development for the Wisconsin women's basketball program, head coach Marisa Moseley has officially stepped down after a challenging four-year tenure. Moseley concluded her time with a record of 47-75, struggling to elevate the team in a highly competitive Big Ten Conference environment that has seen the Badgers face challenges for over a decade.
This past season, the Badgers finished with a 13-16 record and faced a disappointing defeat, losing 81-54 to Iowa in the opening round of the Big Ten Tournament on Wednesday. Throughout her four seasons, Moseley was unable to secure more than one-third of her Big Ten games, which ultimately led to her decision to resign. In a statement released by the university, Moseley expressed her gratitude, stating, "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 and around the country."
Following Moseley's resignation, associate head coach Margaret McKeon has been appointed as the interim head coach as Wisconsin embarks on a national search for a new leader for the women's basketball program. Athletic director Chris McIntosh acknowledged Moseley's commitment to the team, stating, "I want to thank Marisa for the commitment she demonstrated as head coach of our women's basketball program. She had a clear passion for coaching our student-athletes and worked hard to bring success to our program." He wished her well in her transition to the next chapter of her life.
In late January, Wisconsin had announced an investigation into allegations made by former player Tessa Towers regarding mistreatment by Moseley and her staff. Towers, who played as a center for Wisconsin from 2022 to 2024, made serious claims in a TikTok post, expressing that during her freshman year, she felt like a "lab rat" due to the constant changes in her medications. She also alleged that her coach required her to sign a release form for access to her therapy sessions, threatening her position on the team if she refused.
Towers further claimed that she was coerced into testing for autism and faced an ultimatum between voluntary hospitalization or being removed from the team. When questioned about these allegations following a game, Moseley stated she couldn't comment on individual health-related claims but emphasized that the mental and physical well-being of her players would always take precedence over basketball. "My staff and I work hard to create an environment that welcomes everyone," Moseley remarked at the time.
Before taking the helm at Wisconsin, Marisa Moseley enjoyed a successful stint at Boston University, where she posted a commendable record of 45-29 over three seasons. Moseley also served as an assistant coach on five national championship teams led by renowned coach Geno Auriemma at the University of Connecticut. Despite her impressive background, she was unable to reverse the fortunes of a Wisconsin program that has not seen a winning season since 2010-11, when the team finished 16-15.
Under Moseley’s leadership, Wisconsin achieved its best winning percentage since the 2010-11 season, reaching a WNIT quarterfinal with a 15-17 record last year. However, the team has not made an appearance in the NCAA Tournament since 2010, highlighting the ongoing struggles faced by the Badgers.
