The school's team currently competes in the Atlantic 10 Conference.

The University of Dayton first sponsored women's basketball in 1968 playing in the NCAA's Division II until 1984.

During their tenure in Division II the team won the AIAW National Championship in 1980, was the national runner-up in 1979, as well as winning the 1982 AIAW Midwest Regional Championship, advancing to the NCAA Division II Final Four in 1984, and winning the OAISW State Championship in 1977.

In 2014–2015 season the team made it to the Regional Finals (Elite 8), the farthest the team has ever gone in the tournament, defeating Iowa State, Kentucky, and Louisville, before losing to the eventual National Champion University of Connecticut Huskies.

The Flyers made five appearances in the AIAW National Division II basketball tournament, with a combined record of 7–4.