The CardBoard
WBB: Final Four Games - Printable Version

+- The CardBoard (https://thecardboard.org/board)
+-- Forum: C-House! (https://thecardboard.org/board/forum-4.html)
+--- Forum: The CardBoard (https://thecardboard.org/board/forum-5.html)
+--- Thread: WBB: Final Four Games (/thread-26144.html)

Pages: 1 2 3

RE: WBB: Final Four Games - M T - 04-06-2026

(04-06-2026, 05:08 AM)JohnR34231 Wrote:  What would you bet Cori Close got up early this morning to call Lara Somfai about transferring to UCLA?
Nope. She's too young.

UCLA's unconventional strategy to win a national title — all seniors, all the time

RE: 76lsjumb - stopandpop - 04-06-2026

(04-06-2026, 08:27 AM)76lsjumb Wrote:  
(04-06-2026, 08:25 AM)crackpot Wrote:  
(04-06-2026, 05:08 AM)JohnR34231 Wrote:  What would you bet Cori Close got up early this morning to call Lara Somfai about transferring to UCLA?

She's probably been calling her since last August.

+1


A UCLA front court of Sienna Betts, Timea Gardiner and Lara Somfai isn't too bad.

RE: WBB: Final Four Games - Jskass - 04-06-2026

https://www.cbssports.com/womens-college-basketball/news/ucla-cori-close-championship-title-nil/

RE: WBB: Final Four Games - M T - 04-06-2026

Gives a new interpretation of One and Done.

Not a team I could cheer for.  For that matter, not a team, just temp help.

RE: 76lsjumb - old spanish trail - 04-06-2026

(04-06-2026, 01:54 PM)stopandpop Wrote:  
(04-06-2026, 08:27 AM)76lsjumb Wrote:  
(04-06-2026, 08:25 AM)crackpot Wrote:  
(04-06-2026, 05:08 AM)JohnR34231 Wrote:  What would you bet Cori Close got up early this morning to call Lara Somfai about transferring to UCLA?

She's probably been calling her since last August.

+1


A UCLA front court of Sienna Betts, Timea Gardiner and Lara Somfai isn't too bad.

That's my #1 guess. SC is second. Gottlieb was described to me as a "lovely person" by a Cal coach. Then there's Texas Tech, whose team is relying on transfers, including one of Cal's main scorers last year, and Olivia Miles. Their goal is to offer plenty to quickly challenge UT Athletics as the big dog in Texas. Would also expect Geno to make a play.

RE: WBB: Final Four Games - Jskass - 04-07-2026

I think TCU Olivia Miles (Campbell former UO Assistant) distinct from the TT money. Lara apparently was down to Stanford, UConn, and Duke. Now that her family is in Hungary and not Australia, the East Coast might re-interest her. If academics still matter, then Duke may be back in the running too. But still wish we could have nipped this before it became an issue.

RE: WBB: Final Four Games - fullmetal - 04-07-2026

That would have required a wholesale change much earlier with indications from the AD that all the issues from this season would be meaningfully addressed going forward...

RE: WBB: Final Four Games - Treebound - 04-07-2026

I sure hope JD and company are doing some very detailed exit interviews to get some indication of what is going on within the program.  His corporate background from Bain, eBay, Nike, etc... should be helpful here and he's surrounded himself with some quality people.

RE: WBB: Final Four Games - 82lsju - 04-07-2026

(04-07-2026, 08:07 AM)Treebound Wrote:  I sure hope JD and company are doing some very detailed exit interviews to get some indication of what is going on within the program.  His corporate background from Bain, eBay, Nike, etc... should be helpful here and he's surrounded himself with some quality people.

I would not expect any exit interviews to provide any great revelations, I would expect answers like "not as good a fit here as I expected", "more playing time elsewhere", "closer to home/family"

RE: WBB: Final Four Games - Card10Fan - 04-07-2026

(04-07-2026, 08:07 AM)Treebound Wrote:  I sure hope JD and company are doing some very detailed exit interviews to get some indication of what is going on within the program.  His corporate background from Bain, eBay, Nike, etc... should be helpful here and he's surrounded himself with some quality people.

Supposedly he met with players that are leaving as some of those student athletes reached out to him to voice their concerns/displeasure with current staff. Some of the parents of players leaving reacted out to AD as well. It’s not as simple as just wanting more playing time or money.  

 Everyone is still waiting for what comes next. But Donahoe is very involved in this.

RE: WBB: Final Four Games - Treebound - 04-07-2026

(04-07-2026, 09:07 AM)Card10Fan Wrote:  
(04-07-2026, 08:07 AM)Treebound Wrote:  I sure hope JD and company are doing some very detailed exit interviews to get some indication of what is going on within the program.  His corporate background from Bain, eBay, Nike, etc... should be helpful here and he's surrounded himself with some quality people.

Supposedly he met with players that are leaving as some of those student athletes reached out to him to voice their concerns/displeasure with current staff. Some of the parents of players leaving reacted out to AD as well. It’s not as simple as just wanting more playing time or money.  

 Everyone is still waiting for what comes next. But Donahoe is very involved in this.

Thanks for this and I'm glad to hear it.  This is what I would have expected from this new team.   Very curious to see how this unfolds.  I always thought that Kate would have been better served leaving the Stanford staff some years ago to go and get experience elsewhere.  Many of us knew that Tara would remain at Stanford for some time.

RE: WBB: Final Four Games - stopandpop - 04-07-2026

(04-07-2026, 09:26 AM)Treebound Wrote:  
(04-07-2026, 09:07 AM)Card10Fan Wrote:  
(04-07-2026, 08:07 AM)Treebound Wrote:  I sure hope JD and company are doing some very detailed exit interviews to get some indication of what is going on within the program.  His corporate background from Bain, eBay, Nike, etc... should be helpful here and he's surrounded himself with some quality people.

Supposedly he met with players that are leaving as some of those student athletes reached out to him to voice their concerns/displeasure with current staff. Some of the parents of players leaving reacted out to AD as well. It’s not as simple as just wanting more playing time or money.  

 Everyone is still waiting for what comes next. But Donahoe is very involved in this.

Thanks for this and I'm glad to hear it.  This is what I would have expected from this new team.   Very curious to see how this unfolds.  I always thought that Kate would have been better served leaving the Stanford staff some years ago to go and get experience elsewhere.  Many of us knew that Tara would remain at Stanford for some time.


I believe the time has come and gone for Mr. Donahoe to announce a leadership change.  It should have been done shortly after Stanford's bad loss to BYU.  Making a change now (right in the middle of the portal period), doesn't seem to make sense.  Transferring players want to know who their coach is.  I've been posting for a long time for coach Paye to be replaced, but at this moment, I'd be extremely surprised if coach Paye does not return.

RE: WBB: Final Four Games - 2006alum - 04-07-2026

(04-07-2026, 10:28 AM)stopandpop Wrote:  
(04-07-2026, 09:26 AM)Treebound Wrote:  
(04-07-2026, 09:07 AM)Card10Fan Wrote:  
(04-07-2026, 08:07 AM)Treebound Wrote:  I sure hope JD and company are doing some very detailed exit interviews to get some indication of what is going on within the program.  His corporate background from Bain, eBay, Nike, etc... should be helpful here and he's surrounded himself with some quality people.

Supposedly he met with players that are leaving as some of those student athletes reached out to him to voice their concerns/displeasure with current staff. Some of the parents of players leaving reacted out to AD as well. It’s not as simple as just wanting more playing time or money.  

 Everyone is still waiting for what comes next. But Donahoe is very involved in this.

Thanks for this and I'm glad to hear it.  This is what I would have expected from this new team.   Very curious to see how this unfolds.  I always thought that Kate would have been better served leaving the Stanford staff some years ago to go and get experience elsewhere.  Many of us knew that Tara would remain at Stanford for some time.


I believe the time has come and gone for Mr. Donahoe to announce a leadership change.  It should have been done shortly after Stanford's bad loss to BYU.  Making a change now (right in the middle of the portal period), doesn't seem to make sense.  Transferring players want to know who their coach is.  I've been posting for a long time for coach Paye to be replaced, but at this moment, I'd be extremely surprised if coach Paye does not return.

So what, keep her a year as a lame duck and pray allegations don't come to light that force am embarrassing mid-season firing? We all saw how well that worked with Taylor and the football program. If she needs to go, she needs to go now. (again, IF.)

If I were the AD and the allegations seemed substantiated, my first call is to see if Tara would come back to smooth things out. I don't think she would, for a variety of reasons, but it's worth a try. (Ala Bog Iger at Disney when his first successor crashed and burned.)

Another stopgap option could be CTT. She's got a connection to the program and tons of coaching experience and only recently stepped out of the coaching limelight. 

But if the conclusion is change needs to be made, let's make it now.

RE: WBB: Final Four Games - martyup - 04-07-2026

Agree.  Rip the bandaid off and start the healing process.  Another year with KP will only put us another year behind in the rebuild.  I love the idea of TV coming back as interim HC for one season to give us time to land a quaiity HC.  I'm praying for that outcome.

[Image: ?u=https%3A%2F%2Fc.tenor.com%2FtwnlkYkC6...16e4c01a19]

RE: WBB: Final Four Games - stopandpop - 04-07-2026

(04-07-2026, 10:47 AM)2006alum Wrote:  
(04-07-2026, 10:28 AM)stopandpop Wrote:  
(04-07-2026, 09:26 AM)Treebound Wrote:  
(04-07-2026, 09:07 AM)Card10Fan Wrote:  
(04-07-2026, 08:07 AM)Treebound Wrote:  I sure hope JD and company are doing some very detailed exit interviews to get some indication of what is going on within the program.  His corporate background from Bain, eBay, Nike, etc... should be helpful here and he's surrounded himself with some quality people.

Supposedly he met with players that are leaving as some of those student athletes reached out to him to voice their concerns/displeasure with current staff. Some of the parents of players leaving reacted out to AD as well. It’s not as simple as just wanting more playing time or money.  

 Everyone is still waiting for what comes next. But Donahoe is very involved in this.

Thanks for this and I'm glad to hear it.  This is what I would have expected from this new team.   Very curious to see how this unfolds.  I always thought that Kate would have been better served leaving the Stanford staff some years ago to go and get experience elsewhere.  Many of us knew that Tara would remain at Stanford for some time.


I believe the time has come and gone for Mr. Donahoe to announce a leadership change.  It should have been done shortly after Stanford's bad loss to BYU.  Making a change now (right in the middle of the portal period), doesn't seem to make sense.  Transferring players want to know who their coach is.  I've been posting for a long time for coach Paye to be replaced, but at this moment, I'd be extremely surprised if coach Paye does not return.

So what, keep her a year as a lame duck and pray allegations don't come to light that force am embarrassing mid-season firing? We all saw how well that worked with Taylor and the football program. If she needs to go, she needs to go now. (again, IF.)

If I were the AD and the allegations seemed substantiated, my first call is to see if Tara would come back to smooth things out. I don't think she would, for a variety of reasons, but it's worth a try. (Ala Bog Iger at Disney when his first successor crashed and burned.)

Another stopgap option could be CTT. She's got a connection to the program and tons of coaching experience and only recently stepped out of the coaching limelight. 

But if the conclusion is change needs to be made, let's make it now.


Have great respect for you, but in this exchange you are missing my point.  Coach Paye is not good for the future of Stanford women's basketball.  But the leadership change should have occurred EARLIER.  It reminds me how slow your program was in adjusting to the portal and NIL.  I consult and help organizations address and plan for change, whether it's at the top or something systemic.  Changes must be strategic in nature; not scrambling, which is what this appears to be.  I wanted Kate Paye fired after the completion of the ACC Tournament and have Tempie step in as an interim coach.  That would have given Mr. Donahoe some time to form a national search committee and attempt to recruit a high-caliber coach who has a track record in rebuilding/building WBB programs.  It's conceivable that coach could have been on-board before the portal season opened.  That coach could have done her/his best and talk with the players and share their coaching style, vision and to give them a chance.  Even if Somfai, Nunu and the others still left, there would have been a chance for the new coach to assess the program's needs and work the portal.

Again, I repeat- Coach Paye is not the right coach for your storied program.  I was questioning the TIMINING of her departure.

RE: WBB: Final Four Games - PalmTree - 04-07-2026

(04-07-2026, 02:29 PM)martyup Wrote:  Agree.  Rip the bandaid off and start the healing process.  Another year with KP will only put us another year behind in the rebuild.  I love the idea of TV coming back as interim HC for one season to give us time to land a quaiity HC.  I'm praying for that outcome.

[Image: ?u=https%3A%2F%2Fc.tenor.com%2FtwnlkYkC6...16e4c01a19]

I'm sorry.  I am am forever indebted to TVD for building the program over the years but her tenure is over and we/DAPER need to move the program forward and out of her shadow.  I even think it was a big mistake for Muir, and apparently now Donahoe, to allow her to stay on in an "advisory" capacity - even if it's to DAPER, and not WBB specifically - with office space no less.  It just makes things harder for any manager to make tough and necessary moves when s**t hits the fan if you've got a former incumbent looking over your shoulder.  I've seen the exact same situation in two other organizations and just the mere presence of a previous incumbent in the same building, purportedly reporting to "work", delayed effective crisis response/recovery efforts in both situations.  To paraphrase Dawn Staley - JUST.MOVE.ON!

RE: WBB: Final Four Games - Nobadeer - 04-07-2026

TVD seems to like the spotlight? Teaching the MasterClass, name on the court, being introduced at football games, basketball games, lecturer at GSB, special advisor to AD Donahoe, etc. She's a fixture on campus and will probably be forever involved with LSJU WBB!

RE: WBB: Final Four Games - martyup - 04-07-2026

If TVD agreed to a 1 season interim HC, would any of the players in the portal decide to stay?

And, what if we added . . .

[Image: ?u=https%3A%2F%2Fmedia1.tenor.com%2Fm%2F...c9bd07790c]

RE: WBB: Final Four Games - PalmTree - 04-07-2026

(04-07-2026, 05:05 PM)Nobadeer Wrote:  TVD seems to like the spotlight? Teaching the MasterClass, name on the court, being introduced at football games, basketball games, lecturer at GSB, special advisor to AD Donahoe, etc. She's a fixture on campus and will probably be forever involved with LSJU WBB!

And is that a good thing? What would your opinion be if she advised Donahue to keep KP in place "until things turn around"? Sure TVD can be a "campus fixture" but that doesn't mean she should be involved in personnel decisions - especially in this case when there's an inherent conflict of interest.

RE: WBB: Final Four Games - Griffins78 - 04-07-2026

(04-07-2026, 03:02 PM)stopandpop Wrote:  Have great respect for you, but in this exchange you are missing my point.  Coach Paye is not good for the future of Stanford women's basketball.  But the leadership change should have occurred EARLIER.  It reminds me how slow your program was in adjusting to the portal and NIL.  I consult and help organizations address and plan for change, whether it's at the top or something systemic.  Changes must be strategic in nature; not scrambling, which is what this appears to be.  I wanted Kate Paye fired after the completion of the ACC Tournament and have Tempie step in as an interim coach.  That would have given Mr. Donahoe some time to form a national search committee and attempt to recruit a high-caliber coach who has a track record in rebuilding/building WBB programs.  It's conceivable that coach could have been on-board before the portal season opened.  That coach could have done her/his best and talk with the players and share their coaching style, vision and to give them a chance.  Even if Somfai, Nunu and the others still left, there would have been a chance for the new coach to assess the program's needs and work the portal.

Again, I repeat- Coach Paye is not the right coach for your storied program.  I was questioning the TIMINING of her departure.
I agree with you and I have been a season ticket holder for over 30 years. 

I have not been a fan of KP for years and have been critical of her coaching for most of this season but when the senior night behind the bench was cancelled I thought something was seriously wrong and we needed to move on. Then when the banquet was cancelled it seemed over. That JD didn’t step in then was a big mistake. Now it looks too late.