An Evaluation of the Determinants of Performance in NCAA Division I Women's Basketball: A Dual-Season Investigation

Athletic success depends on several factors, including training, sleep, and mental state. The women's Basketball team at Sacred Heart University has been monitored over two consecutive seasons. The first season 21/22was relatively unsuccessful, followed by a much-improved performance in the 22/23 season, with a higher win percentage. Six metrics have been measured consistently: Training metrics, Sleep, mental state, game workload, jump analysis, and game performance. We compare those metrics over the two seasons, and our findings show the direct relationship between better training, better sleep, and mental health on the team's performance as a group. We also note the improvement of the common players over the two seasons, even before the games started, and the effect of the new players on their performance.