WBB news - Printable Version
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RE: WBB news - chimera - 04-13-2026
(04-13-2026, 04:37 PM)AlwaysRight Wrote: I came here to find out if there were any factual allegations against the program. I have yet to find any.
Discredited tweets, misread and misinterpreted social media posts and secret information are not facts.
I will keep monitoring to see if any facts do come out. Hoping for the best.
--------------------------
Also on the coaching front:
Scott Rueck is 3 - 22 against Stanford. Finished fourth this season. In 2024 8 players transferred out (why wasn't he fired?).
CTT. Have you seen her offense? or lack there of.
All the info is not on here. Reporting on the pay site has the info. It is not a secret. You pay your whatever it is now, $10 a month, and you can read all about it. Fact - a player went to HR to complain about team environment and specifically about Paye. That player has now transferred. Fact - players have told the powers that be in the athletic department that they are leaving because of Paye. Fact - several of the goodbye posts on Instagram were indeed pointed in who they thanked and what they said about why they were leaving. There is more specific info on Rivals. There are people who know players and know parents who have talked to them about the program. Now that doesn't mean that every single player feels the same about the coaches. Enough are showing their feelings by leaving to see that what is alleged has some truth to it. People who do know have been deliberately trying not to divulge too much, to let the process play out however it does. Not trying to air dirty laundry is not the absence of facts. You can believe whatever you like but misrepresenting what info we have is not cool.
RE: WBB news - Card10Fan - 04-13-2026
Good post chimera. And many of us supporters/donors/fans that reached out to the athletic department did receive an email from AD Donahoe. He did confirm in his response that he’s been talking with all of the WBB players and in many cases the parents. There will be some sort of statement/release this week presumably after their investigation ends.
I guess some uninformed posters can choose to ignore all that. While the rest of us are all impatiently waiting to see if it’s enough to cost Kate Paye her job.
RE: WBB news - KartyFan - 04-13-2026
I think it's worth mentioning that Stanford football and men's basketball have significantly expanded use of the transfer portal in the last two years. Below are the numbers per On3:
Football:
2022: 1 in, 9 out (-8)
2023: 5 in, 21 out (-16)
2024: 4 in, 13 out (-9)
2025: 18 in, 27 out (-9)
2026: 6 in, 10 out (-4) - fewer inbound transfers but much better retention
Men's Basketball:
2022: 0 in, 4 out (-4)
2023: 1 in, 5 out (-4)
2024: 4 in, 4 out (0)
2025: 1 in, 2 out (-1)
We still lost more than we gained in all but one of the above years. However, in my opinion the portal is open enough to allow a program to build momentum and be successful. Maybe not national championship contenders, but certainly meaningful postseason participants.
The challenge is that all that momentum can go away in one fell swoop with a coaching change or scandal, as we are witnessing with WBB. You can see the same above in football in 2023 and 2025 after coaching changes (we did a little better making up for losses in 2025). Because we are unlikely to ever bring in a whole new team of high quality players through the portal, whoever is left picking up the pieces will have a long road to recovery.
RE: WBB news - Papa John - 04-13-2026
(04-13-2026, 04:37 PM)AlwaysRight Wrote: I came here to find out if there were any factual allegations against the program. I have yet to find any.
Discredited tweets, misread and misinterpreted social media posts and secret information are not facts.
I will keep monitoring to see if any facts do come out. Hoping for the best.
<snip>
I think you're going to be disappointed, AlwaysRight. This might not be like the Rittman mess in softball where there was Stanford's internal inquiry, a determination of NCAA violations and other facts that were made public. With the current situation, all of us, myself included, are probably biased by the underperformance of the women's basketball team the past two seasons. When you combine that with the unprecedented exodus of starters and major contributors to the transfer portal, we are going to read and believe things according to our biases.
It's not that any of us are intentionally trying to deceive you or anyone else. We're fans on a sports discussion board. We're not current athletes, we're not current coaches or administrators. We're not neutral, we're not always right--yeah, I said it--but we all want what's best for the student-athletes, the sports teams for which they play and Stanford University.
RE: WBB news - SearchingForTheTruth - 04-13-2026
Thanks for the reply. I don’t think anyone is trying to deceive, but I agree that there is a lot of bias in the comments and opinions. I’m trying not to be biased and be fair to everyone in this situation.
My handle seems to irritate many people. It is not that I’m always right, but it was selected when registering due to an interaction with my friends. I am here just trying to find the truth. Maybe I will change my handle to searchingforthetruth if that is possible.
(04-13-2026, 09:26 PM)Papa John Wrote:(04-13-2026, 04:37 PM)AlwaysRight Wrote: I came here to find out if there were any factual allegations against the program. I have yet to find any.
Discredited tweets, misread and misinterpreted social media posts and secret information are not facts.
I will keep monitoring to see if any facts do come out. Hoping for the best.
<snip>
I think you're going to be disappointed, AlwaysRight. This might not be like the Rittman mess in softball where there was Stanford's internal inquiry, a determination of NCAA violations and other facts that were made public. With the current situation, all of us, myself included, are probably biased by the underperformance of the women's basketball team the past two seasons. When you combine that with the unprecedented exodus of starters and major contributors to the transfer portal, we are going to read and believe things according to our biases.
It's not that any of us are intentionally trying to deceive you or anyone else. We're fans on a sports discussion board. We're not current athletes, we're not current coaches or administrators. We're not neutral, we're not always right--yeah, I said it--but we all want what's best for the student-athletes, the sports teams for which they play and Stanford University.
RE: WBB news - 2006alum - 04-13-2026
The only thing I'm Always Right about is my own plans. If they keep KP after two failed seasons, 7 portal entrants, and a program on the verge of going from national champion to bottom dweller in a mere 5 years, this season ticket holder is out. Those are also FACTS.
RE: WBB news - martyup - 04-13-2026
I have a question for AlwaysRight. Do you want Stanford to retain KP as the WBB coach?
RE: WBB news - M T - 04-14-2026
(10-15-2014, 10:43 AM)admin Wrote: The Cardboard is designed to be a fun, amicable place for discussion of all Stanford sports.
RE: WBB news - JohnR34231 - 04-14-2026
There are always a few people who like to come on the board and tweak what they refer to as the "Pollyanna's". You have to remember that this board was founded because a few people got tired of the negativism on the "other" board. So the majority have always been optimists. However, right now it is tough to be optimistic about Stanford women's basketball, especially because of its so many years of excellence.
As far as "facts" are concerned, very few of us are insiders so our posts tend to be speculation and wishful thinking. If that bothers anyone, maybe this board isn't the place for them.
Concerning the WNBA draft, four out of five UCLA starters made the top ten, and the fifth the top 15. Any wonder why they won the NC?
RE: WBB news - Lorcan - 04-14-2026
UCLA is also already beginning to reload for next year. Donovyn Hunter (TCU & Oregon State) and Aarinsalo (UCLA->UNC->UCLA) have committed to the Bruins.
RE: WBB news - SearchingForTheTruth - 04-14-2026
M T thanks for making this a welcoming place.
(04-14-2026, 12:44 AM)M T Wrote:(10-15-2014, 10:43 AM)admin Wrote: The Cardboard is designed to be a fun, amicable place for discussion of all Stanford sports.
RE: WBB news - fullmetal - 04-14-2026
Kate Paye and some on her staff are also fellow Stanford alumna and ought to be given a measure of respect befitting those with whom you might end up rubbing elbows with at some future Stanford function. While the WBB team has fallen on hard times, and while KP might not have the answers...she's still one of us. I don't mean to exclude the non-Stanford alumni who grace us with their support, but it has never escaped my mind that KP is living out my dream of one day coaching my alma mater in my sport, even if the results have been rough.
Here's a list of the top ten programs with the most number of outgoing transfers, in case you think Stanford has it the worst:
1. Pittsburgh (13)
2. Penn State (10)
3. Arkansas (9)
4. Florida (9)
5. Georgia (9)
6. Oklahoma State (9)
7. Alabama (8)
8. Miami (8)
9. Tennessee (8)
10. UCF (8)
Many of those coaches have already been fired. It's a seller's market out there for coaching talent, and if you want to change coaches, you'd better be darn well sure that you're getting someone with positive wins above replacement.
RE: WBB news - Nurdyguy - 04-14-2026
(04-14-2026, 06:46 AM)Lorcan Wrote: UCLA is also already beginning to reload for next year. Donovyn Hunter (TCU & Oregon State) and Aarinsalo (UCLA->UNC->UCLA) have committed to the Bruins.
Yup. UCLA certainly knows how to reload in the transfer era.
It sucks that we're on the outside looking in, but I must admit that UCLA's adaptation to the new transfer environment has been extremely impressive.
RE: WBB news - Hieronymus - 04-14-2026
(04-14-2026, 10:02 AM)fullmetal Wrote: Kate Paye and some on her staff are also fellow Stanford alumna and ought to be given a measure of respect befitting those with whom you might end up rubbing elbows with at some future Stanford function. While the WBB team has fallen on hard times, and while KP might not have the answers...she's still one of us. I don't mean to exclude the non-Stanford alumni who grace us with their support, but it has never escaped my mind that KP is living out my dream of one day coaching my alma mater in my sport, even if the results have been rough.
Here's a list of the top ten programs with the most number of outgoing transfers, in case you think Stanford has it the worst:
1. Pittsburgh (13)
2. Penn State (10)
3. Arkansas (9)
4. Florida (9)
5. Georgia (9)
6. Oklahoma State (9)
7. Alabama (8)
8. Miami (8)
9. Tennessee (8)
10. UCF (8)
Many of those coaches have already been fired. It's a seller's market out there for coaching talent, and if you want to change coaches, you'd better be darn well sure that you're getting someone with positive wins above replacement.
I get your general point but as the Facebook commenters note that list is a bit suspect. Iowa St had 10 for example and I believe is now at 9, but they aren’t on the list.
It doesn’t damage your general point though.
As discussed above though, almost every other school can transfer 10 players in and we basically can’t. Which means retention of players is far more critical at Stanford and KP obviously isn’t managing that part effectively this year. 7 players outbound probably should be a no brainer coach firing at Stanford, but I also agree with others that it is becoming too late to do so this year - at lest without a clear misconduct finding.
RE: WBB news - 2006alum - 04-14-2026
Most of those programs also had coaching changes, which I think is perhaps the most telling fact vis a vis our being right up there with them. And then there's Tennessee - dubious but unfortunately apt company.
To be clear, I have always been super impressed with KP. I like her a lot and have only had pleasant interactions with her. I feel I was basically one of the last people to abandon ship (long after most of you) - go back and see my posts even after the end of this season.
It was only after it became clear the issues were actually off court at least as much as on, and how unhappy the players were, that my view changed. This entire saga is incredibly sad, and I really hoped it would work. But it hasn't, and I don't see how it can, given everything.
So we are where we are.
RE: WBB news - stopandpop - 04-14-2026
(04-14-2026, 10:12 AM)Nurdyguy Wrote:(04-14-2026, 06:46 AM)Lorcan Wrote: UCLA is also already beginning to reload for next year. Donovyn Hunter (TCU & Oregon State) and Aarinsalo (UCLA->UNC->UCLA) have committed to the Bruins.
Yup. UCLA certainly knows how to reload in the transfer era.
It sucks that we're on the outside looking in, but I must admit that UCLA's adaptation to the new transfer environment has been extremely impressive.
UCLA checked all the boxes (quickly) when they saw what was on the horizon (NIL and the portal) and took decisive action.
First, a question- Does anyone know whether there will be a press conference (and when) or whether there will simply be a press release by Mr. Donahoe?
Second, I hope your program finds a good landing spot; a place for it to be supported and grow into some semblance of a competitive team; maybe not elite like before, but more competitive than in the last two seasons. I have always liked Stanford WBB during the Tara years. The only situation I can compare (what's happening) with is when Pat Summit left Tennessee and the years that followed.
Lastly, I'm watching players leaving Stanford for the portal (and for a few, new homes) from a distance. I know no details. But what I do know is, your athletic department has done all the wrong things with respect to an obvious crisis in the WBB program. I spent much of my career observing and (later) helping small and large organizations of all types successfully manage change. For some, high turnover; for others, a leadership issue; for others, a systemic or even a cultural problem. But in all these cases, I noticed 4 critical things needed to happen: 1) a sense of urgency; 2) transparency; 3) a feeling of potency- that we could manage this change effectively. And lastly- a consensus of reward at the end; that if we make this change now, we will come out of it successful and reap the benefits of change.
It seems to me that Stanford leadership has failed to do any of these four. It's a textbook example of how not to run a program.
I hope for the best!
RE: WBB news - BostonCard - 04-14-2026
(04-13-2026, 09:26 PM)Papa John Wrote: I think you're going to be disappointed, AlwaysRight. This might not be like the Rittman mess in softball where there was Stanford's internal inquiry, a determination of NCAA violations and other facts that were made public. With the current situation, all of us, myself included, are probably biased by the underperformance of the women's basketball team the past two seasons. When you combine that with the unprecedented exodus of starters and major contributors to the transfer portal, we are going to read and believe things according to our biases.
Funny you should mention Rittman, as there are a number of people on this board who feel like Rittman was done wrong, that the outside investigation was designed to railroad him and that we ushered out a perfectly good coach out the door due to a whisper campaign started by a rival coach. I have no idea whether that is true or not, and it is possible that everything being alleged about Paye is true and that despite an outside investigation and a show-cause finding by the NCAA that the allegations against Rittman were overblown, but I do have to wonder how much winning factors into things: Rittman had been successful at Stanford and thus some people want to give him the benefit of the doubt, while Paye has not been and thus confirmation bias being what it is, people are likely to believe the worst about her (Taylor also fits into that pattern).
BC
RE: WBB news - magnus - 04-14-2026
Just noticed Indya Nivar got drafted #28. Appears to have surprised the pundits but for good for her.
RE: WBB news - Spiny_Norman - 04-14-2026
(04-14-2026, 11:23 AM)stopandpop Wrote: Lastly, I'm watching players leaving Stanford for the portal (and for a few, new homes) from a distance. I know no details. But what I do know is, your athletic department has done all the wrong things with respect to an obvious crisis in the WBB program. I spent much of my career observing and (later) helping small and large organizations of all types successfully manage change. For some, high turnover; for others, a leadership issue; for others, a systemic or even a cultural problem. But in all these cases, I noticed 4 critical things needed to happen: 1) a sense of urgency; 2) transparency; 3) a feeling of potency- that we could manage this change effectively. And lastly- a consensus of reward at the end; that if we make this change now, we will come out of it successful and reap the benefits of change.
It seems to me that Stanford leadership has failed to do any of these four. It's a textbook example of how not to run a program.
I hope for the best!
Not what you expect from a guy who has been a management consultant, president and CEO of Bain, and the CEO of Nike, is it? Just based on his background, you would think he would have the perfect profile to address this kind of management challenge.
RE: WBB news - fullmetal - 04-14-2026
Top talent in the WBB coaching market that fits the Stanford environment is not easily obtainable or even identifiable sometimes. Also, rocking the boat by replacing TVD's hand-picked successor might upset big donors who may still be in the KP + TVD camps. There's a lot that goes into that kind of decision.