Stanford Cardinal Faces NCAA Tournament Elimination After ACC Loss

Palo Alto, California – After an impressive 36 consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances, the Stanford Cardinal‘s historic streak is likely to end following a 63-46 defeat to Clemson in the first round of the ACC tournament Wednesday.

The Cardinal’s loss marks a significant downturn for a program that, up until this season, was a perennial contender in women’s collegiate basketball. With the defeat, Stanford concluded the season with an overall record of 16-14 and a disappointing 8-11 in conference play.

Stanford initially started strong, securing a 6-0 lead over Clemson, but the Tigers quickly took control of the game, dominating the scoreboard for the remainder of the match. Coach Kate Paye expressed hope despite the loss, stating, “We’re not going to let this one game define us or who we are. We’re hopeful we get to continue to play, and we’re grateful for the opportunity to be here today.”

This season has been a period of transition for the Cardinal, with Paye stepping in as head coach after the retirement of legendary coach Tara VanDerveer last spring. VanDerveer, who held the record for the NCAA’s all-time wins, had been at the helm for 38 seasons, guiding Stanford to 14 Final Four appearances.

Paye, a former Stanford player who spent 17 seasons as an assistant under VanDerveer, aimed to build upon the rich legacy of the program. However, the departure of key players, including All-American Cameron Brink, who was selected No. 2 in the WNBA Draft, and Katrina McClain Award winner Kiki Iriafen, who transferred to USC, presented significant challenges.

The Cardinal attempted to adapt despite featuring a roster with seven underclassmen and navigating through four different starting lineups throughout the season. After a promising 7-1 start, their performance faltered, and they struggled to regain momentum, failing to reach a ranking higher than No. 24 in the AP Top 25 poll.

Additionally, Stanford’s transition to the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) marked a new chapter for the program, moving away from the Pac-12, where it had competed since the mid-1980s. Paye will look for a turnaround in the coming seasons, with Stanford’s 2025 recruiting class currently ranked No. 3 by ESPN and including four ESPN top-100 commits.

The Cardinal’s anticipated absence from the upcoming NCAA Tournament could open the door for UConn, which is set to extend its own active tournament streak to 36 appearances, thereby assuming the second-longest streak in NCAA history.

As Stanford reflects on this season, the echoes of VanDerveer’s early years provide a glimmer of hope. During her first two seasons, Stanford also missed the NCAA Tournament before embarking on its impressive run, suggesting that brighter days could still lie ahead for the program.