The award was first given following the 1986–87 season, the first year in which the league then known as the Pacific-10 Conference (Pac-10) officially sponsored women's sports.

[1] As is the case with the corresponding men's award, coaches were not allowed to vote for their own players.

Starbird and Tanja Kostić of Oregon State tied for the coaches' award in 1996.

The Pac-12 lost all but two of its members after the 2023–24 season, leading the remaining members, Oregon State and Washington State, to become affiliates of the West Coast Conference in most sports, including women's basketball, in 2024–25 and 2025–26.

[13][14][15] With eight confirmed members, conference play is expected to resume in 2026, with the award to again be presented starting in 2027.