Stanford Cardinal's Elena Bosgana (20) dribbles against Indiana Hoosiers' Lexus Bargesser (1) in the second quarter at Maples Pavilion in Stanford, Calif., on Sunday, Nov. 12, 2023. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
STANFORD WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
Last season: 30-6, 15-3 (first in Pac-12; lost to USC in the Pac-12 Tournament final and reached Sweet 16 of NCAA Tournament)
Coach: Kate Paye, first season, 0-0
Season opener: Monday vs. Le Moyne, 7 p.m.
Projected starters: Senior guard Elena Bosgana (6.7 points, 3.5 rebounds, 1.6 assists), junior guard Tess Heal (19.5 points, 4.9 assists, 3.9 rebounds at Santa Clara), sophomore forward Nunu Agara (5.4 points, 2.9 rebounds), senior forward Brooke Demetre (6.3 points, 3.6 rebounds, 1.6 assists), sophomore forward Mary Ashley Stevenson (9.7 points, 5.1 rebounds at Purdue)
Key reserves: Junior guard Jzaniya Harriel (3.9 points, 1.2 rebounds, 1.3 assists), sophomore guard Chloe Clardy (2.0 points, 1.2 assists, 0.9 rebounds), sophomore forward Courtney Ogden (3.2 points, 1.9 rebounds, 1.2 assists), junior guard Talana Lepolo (4.8 points, 4.1 assists, 1.9 rebounds), freshman guard Shay Ijiwoye, freshman center Kennedy Umeh
Strengths: Though the top level of the roster departed, several depth options remain. Agara and Demetre are poised to step into bigger frontcourt roles, while a mix of transfers and returnees, headlined by Santa Clara transfer Heal, will provide options in the backcourt.
Weaknesses: The Cardinal lost their top three scorers from 2023-24. Forward Kiki Iriafen (19.4 points, 11 rebounds, 2.3 assists) transferred to USC for her senior season. Forward Cameron Brink (17.4 points, 11.9 points, 2.8 assists) was picked second overall in the WNBA draft by the Los Angeles Sparks. Fifth-year guard Hannah Jump (10.6 points, 2.2 assists, 1.9 rebounds) exhausted her eligibility.
Outlook: Stanford will have to rely on pace and space this season after years of tossing the ball into dominant post players Brink and Iriafen. There are signs the up-tempo approach could work, and it will have to if the Cardinal are to outperform their lowest offseason prognostications in generations. Stanford was picked to finish seventh in the ACC and starts the season unranked for the first time since 1999 after the retirement of legendary coach Tara VanDerveer.
– Christian Babcock
Originally published at Christian Babcock