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In what sport will Stanford win its first 2025-26 NCAA championship? - Printable Version

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RE: In what sport will Stanford win its first 2025-26 NCAA championship? - Nurdyguy - 04-05-2026

(04-05-2026, 09:43 PM)Jamesy Wrote:  
(04-05-2026, 06:34 PM)Nurdyguy Wrote:  
(04-05-2026, 01:42 PM)Spiny_Norman Wrote:  I don't think it will be MGym this year. They competed yesterday in the MPSF conference championship. The team posted its best score of the year and still finished 5 points behind Oklahoma. Michigan is also ahead of Stanford this year. 

The NCAA meet is up next in 2 weeks.

I've been training Grok to rank the most likely possibilities.  Here is Grok's latest ranking:

Ranked by Likelihood of Winning the NCAA Title
  1. Women’s Water Polo (still the top favorite) Record: 11-1 overall (5-1 in MPSF) Ranking: #2 nationally Natty Date: April 26, 2026 (NCAA championship game in La Jolla/San Diego).
  2. Beach Volleyball (excellent shot — rolling) Record: 27-2 overall Ranking: #1 nationally (AVCA Collegiate Beach Poll) Natty Date: May 1–3, 2026 (NCAA Championship in Gulf Shores, AL).
  3. Women’s Golf (very strong contender) Record: Extremely dominant in events (~70-3-0 style across competitive/match-play) Ranking: #1 nationally (unanimous, Clippd/Scoreboard) Natty Date: May 27, 2026 (NCAA finals at Omni La Costa).
  4. Women’s Rowing (elite perennial contender) Record: Regatta-based (no traditional W-L) Ranking: #1 nationally (Pocock CRCA Coaches Poll) Natty Date: May 31, 2026 (NCAA grand finals at Lake Lanier).
  5. Men’s Gymnastics (strong podium threat) Record: 9-1 overall Ranking: #3 nationally Natty Date: April 18, 2026 (NCAA Championships in Champaign, IL).
  6. Women’s Gymnastics (now officially advancing to nationals!) Record: 14-5 overall (6-0 in ACC) Ranking: #7 nationally / #7 overall NCAA seed Natty Date: April 16–18, 2026 (NCAA Championships in Fort Worth, TX).
  7. Women’s Lacrosse (solid dark horse) Record: 11-2 overall (7-1 in ACC) Ranking: #8–9 nationally (ESPN/Inside Lacrosse & NCAA RPI) Natty Date: May 24, 2026 (NCAA championship game in Evanston, IL).
  8. Women’s Tennis (postseason wild card) Record: 9-7 overall (5-3 in ACC) Ranking: ~#36 nationally (ITA) Natty Date: Mid-May 2026 (NCAA team finals window).

Need to keep the natty streak alive!

I think women's lax is better than the 7th most likely team to win a natty for us. WWP clearly 1, rowing and BVB just behind WWP (it's likely either us or Texas in rowing and BVB has beaten every other top team in the sport at least once this year), women's golf in the third tier solely because of match play format, then women's lacrosse, men's gymnastics, men's tennis, women's gymnastics, women's tennis.

Yeah.  I'd have women's golf at #1 if it weren't for that stupid match play format, and WWP is the team to beat, although they've been in some close games recently.  I hope the lacrosse team does better than Grok expects this year.  I've watched a few of their games, and I love their spirit. Just hoping that at least one of these teams can keep the streak alive!

RE: In what sport will Stanford win its first 2025-26 NCAA championship? - Nobadeer - 04-05-2026

Let's win all 8!

I hope to be at the W WP tournament at UCSD later this month. UCSD's Canyonview aquatic complex is pretty nice, not as amazing as Avery of course but will be a great venue for the tournament.

Also hope to attend the golf at LaCosta in May. Match play format may be too stressful to watch in person though :--)

RE: In what sport will Stanford win its first 2025-26 NCAA championship? - Spiny_Norman - 04-06-2026

I don't know if W Tennis will even make the NCAAs. They are 10-8 with 2 matches left against teams ranked higher than they are. It would be the first time EVER for Stanford not to play in the NCAA tournament. 

Chalk up another Stanford sport undone by injuries and transfers.

RE: In what sport will Stanford win its first 2025-26 NCAA championship? - Spiny_Norman - 04-06-2026

I don't think the men's tennis team has a chance to win it all. Undone by injuries to its top 2 players. 

But there was magic at the new tennis facility on Friday night. Stanford was playing #3 ranked (and defending national champ) Wake Forest. The Cardinal lost the doubles point and then 2 quick singles matches to face a 0-3 deficit. Then team MVP Alex Razeghi (15-1 in dual matches) won two tiebreakers to clinch Stanford's first point. Alex Chang lost the first set, then came back to win 6-4 in the 3rd. Hudson Rivera evened the match at #3 singles.

However Jagger Leach at #6 lost on his serve and was down 2-5 in the 3rd set. Then this happened. If you want to see why Stanford sports can be special, watch the rest of the match. Maybe you will get as fired up as the crowd was.

https://youtu.be/kZ9nQrLTPl4?si=rv6o8YVeKMdB5h8L&t=493

RE: In what sport will Stanford win its first 2025-26 NCAA championship? - BostonCard - 04-06-2026

Spiny, thanks for the link.  Quick question, what were the coaches (especially the Stanford coach) doing?  Several times they went onto the court; once it looked like he was having words with the chair umpire (after Leach won the point).  I would have thought there would be rules against this sort of thing (like the coach has to be on the sidelines, can only talk to the player on changeovers, etc).

BC

RE: In what sport will Stanford win its first 2025-26 NCAA championship? - Spiny_Norman - 04-06-2026

(04-06-2026, 06:39 PM)BostonCard Wrote:  Spiny, thanks for the link.  Quick question, what were the coaches (especially the Stanford coach) doing?  Several times they went onto the court; once it looked like he was having words with the chair umpire (after Leach won the point).  I would have thought there would be rules against this sort of thing (like the coach has to be on the sidelines, can only talk to the player on changeovers, etc).

BC

The coach who went to speak with the chair umpire was from Wake Forest. I think it was a subtle bit of gamesmanship to try to interrupt Leach's momentum. And apparently in college tennis the coaches are allowed to speak directly to the players between points.

RE: In what sport will Stanford win its first 2025-26 NCAA championship? - BostonCard - 04-06-2026

I’m talking about this encounter (https://youtu.be/kZ9nQrLTPl4?t=765) at 12:50 of the video; it was definitely the Stanford coach (red shirt, white cap, black shorts).

BC

RE: In what sport will Stanford win its first 2025-26 NCAA championship? - Spiny_Norman - 04-06-2026

(04-06-2026, 06:53 PM)BostonCard Wrote:  I’m talking about this encounter (https://youtu.be/kZ9nQrLTPl4?t=765) at 12:50 of the video; it was definitely the Stanford coach (red shirt, white cap, black shorts).

BC

Yes, I see now what you were referring to. I don't know what that was about. It appears that the Rivera match ended during that point so maybe something related to that match?

Here you see a Wake coach cross the court for no apparent reason other than to break up Leach's momentum.
https://youtu.be/kZ9nQrLTPl4?si=JVNeiB0cG-zUN-3Z&t=938

RE: In what sport will Stanford win its first 2025-26 NCAA championship? - StanfordMatt - 04-06-2026

(04-06-2026, 05:05 PM)Spiny_Norman Wrote:  https://youtu.be/kZ9nQrLTPl4?si=rv6o8YVeKMdB5h8L&t=493

WF's line call at 40-30 in the first game of the third set should be punishable by public flogging.

AlwaysRight - SearchingForTheTruth - 04-06-2026

(04-05-2026, 09:43 PM)Jamesy Wrote:  
(04-05-2026, 06:34 PM)Nurdyguy Wrote:  
(04-05-2026, 01:42 PM)Spiny_Norman Wrote:  I don't think it will be MGym this year. They competed yesterday in the MPSF conference championship. The team posted its best score of the year and still finished 5 points behind Oklahoma. Michigan is also ahead of Stanford this year. 

The NCAA meet is up next in 2 weeks.

I've been training Grok to rank the most likely possibilities.  Here is Grok's latest ranking:

Ranked by Likelihood of Winning the NCAA Title
  1. Women’s Water Polo (still the top favorite) Record: 11-1 overall (5-1 in MPSF) Ranking: #2 nationally Natty Date: April 26, 2026 (NCAA championship game in La Jolla/San Diego).
  2. Beach Volleyball (excellent shot — rolling) Record: 27-2 overall Ranking: #1 nationally (AVCA Collegiate Beach Poll) Natty Date: May 1–3, 2026 (NCAA Championship in Gulf Shores, AL).
  3. Women’s Golf (very strong contender) Record: Extremely dominant in events (~70-3-0 style across competitive/match-play) Ranking: #1 nationally (unanimous, Clippd/Scoreboard) Natty Date: May 27, 2026 (NCAA finals at Omni La Costa).
  4. Women’s Rowing (elite perennial contender) Record: Regatta-based (no traditional W-L) Ranking: #1 nationally (Pocock CRCA Coaches Poll) Natty Date: May 31, 2026 (NCAA grand finals at Lake Lanier).
  5. Men’s Gymnastics (strong podium threat) Record: 9-1 overall Ranking: #3 nationally Natty Date: April 18, 2026 (NCAA Championships in Champaign, IL).
  6. Women’s Gymnastics (now officially advancing to nationals!) Record: 14-5 overall (6-0 in ACC) Ranking: #7 nationally / #7 overall NCAA seed Natty Date: April 16–18, 2026 (NCAA Championships in Fort Worth, TX).
  7. Women’s Lacrosse (solid dark horse) Record: 11-2 overall (7-1 in ACC) Ranking: #8–9 nationally (ESPN/Inside Lacrosse & NCAA RPI) Natty Date: May 24, 2026 (NCAA championship game in Evanston, IL).
  8. Women’s Tennis (postseason wild card) Record: 9-7 overall (5-3 in ACC) Ranking: ~#36 nationally (ITA) Natty Date: Mid-May 2026 (NCAA team finals window).

Need to keep the natty streak alive!

I think women's lax is better than the 7th most likely team to win a natty for us. WWP clearly 1, rowing and BVB just behind WWP (it's likely either us or Texas in rowing and BVB has beaten every other top team in the sport at least once this year), women's golf in the third tier solely because of match play format, then women's lacrosse, men's gymnastics, men's tennis, women's gymnastics, women's tennis.

WLAX HC has only won one NCAA tournament game her entire coaching career (1-5). She will not win a Natty this year and probably never. She was blown out in 2022 with a running clock in the first half. Underperformed last season. Repeating it again with the loss to Villanova.

RE: In what sport will Stanford win its first 2025-26 NCAA championship? - BostonCard - 04-07-2026

(04-06-2026, 09:55 PM)StanfordMatt Wrote:  
(04-06-2026, 05:05 PM)Spiny_Norman Wrote:  https://youtu.be/kZ9nQrLTPl4?si=rv6o8YVeKMdB5h8L&t=493

WF's line call at 40-30 in the first game of the third set should be punishable by public flogging.

My first reaction was a John McEnroesque “You cannot be serious”, but then when I slowed it down to 0.25 speed and freeze framed it right where the ball bounces, the call is very defensible, if not outright correct.  See the attached screenshot (cropped to show th ball).

   

BC

RE: In what sport will Stanford win its first 2025-26 NCAA championship? - StanfordMatt - 04-07-2026

(04-07-2026, 12:31 AM)BostonCard Wrote:  
(04-06-2026, 09:55 PM)StanfordMatt Wrote:  
(04-06-2026, 05:05 PM)Spiny_Norman Wrote:  https://youtu.be/kZ9nQrLTPl4?si=rv6o8YVeKMdB5h8L&t=493

WF's line call at 40-30 in the first game of the third set should be punishable by public flogging.

My first reaction was a John McEnroesque “You cannot be serious”, but then when I slowed it down to 0.25 speed and freeze framed it right where the ball bounces, the call is very defensible, if not outright correct.  See the attached screenshot (cropped to show th ball).

BC

Wow! I stand corrected. That is a crazy optical illusion.

RE: AlwaysRight - Jamesy - 04-07-2026

(04-06-2026, 10:49 PM)AlwaysRight Wrote:  
(04-05-2026, 09:43 PM)Jamesy Wrote:  
(04-05-2026, 06:34 PM)Nurdyguy Wrote:  
(04-05-2026, 01:42 PM)Spiny_Norman Wrote:  I don't think it will be MGym this year. They competed yesterday in the MPSF conference championship. The team posted its best score of the year and still finished 5 points behind Oklahoma. Michigan is also ahead of Stanford this year. 

The NCAA meet is up next in 2 weeks.

I've been training Grok to rank the most likely possibilities.  Here is Grok's latest ranking:

Ranked by Likelihood of Winning the NCAA Title
  1. Women’s Water Polo (still the top favorite) Record: 11-1 overall (5-1 in MPSF) Ranking: #2 nationally Natty Date: April 26, 2026 (NCAA championship game in La Jolla/San Diego).
  2. Beach Volleyball (excellent shot — rolling) Record: 27-2 overall Ranking: #1 nationally (AVCA Collegiate Beach Poll) Natty Date: May 1–3, 2026 (NCAA Championship in Gulf Shores, AL).
  3. Women’s Golf (very strong contender) Record: Extremely dominant in events (~70-3-0 style across competitive/match-play) Ranking: #1 nationally (unanimous, Clippd/Scoreboard) Natty Date: May 27, 2026 (NCAA finals at Omni La Costa).
  4. Women’s Rowing (elite perennial contender) Record: Regatta-based (no traditional W-L) Ranking: #1 nationally (Pocock CRCA Coaches Poll) Natty Date: May 31, 2026 (NCAA grand finals at Lake Lanier).
  5. Men’s Gymnastics (strong podium threat) Record: 9-1 overall Ranking: #3 nationally Natty Date: April 18, 2026 (NCAA Championships in Champaign, IL).
  6. Women’s Gymnastics (now officially advancing to nationals!) Record: 14-5 overall (6-0 in ACC) Ranking: #7 nationally / #7 overall NCAA seed Natty Date: April 16–18, 2026 (NCAA Championships in Fort Worth, TX).
  7. Women’s Lacrosse (solid dark horse) Record: 11-2 overall (7-1 in ACC) Ranking: #8–9 nationally (ESPN/Inside Lacrosse & NCAA RPI) Natty Date: May 24, 2026 (NCAA championship game in Evanston, IL).
  8. Women’s Tennis (postseason wild card) Record: 9-7 overall (5-3 in ACC) Ranking: ~#36 nationally (ITA) Natty Date: Mid-May 2026 (NCAA team finals window).

Need to keep the natty streak alive!

I think women's lax is better than the 7th most likely team to win a natty for us. WWP clearly 1, rowing and BVB just behind WWP (it's likely either us or Texas in rowing and BVB has beaten every other top team in the sport at least once this year), women's golf in the third tier solely because of match play format, then women's lacrosse, men's gymnastics, men's tennis, women's gymnastics, women's tennis.

WLAX HC has only won one NCAA tournament game her entire coaching career (1-5). She will not win a Natty this year and probably never. She was blown out in 2022 with a running clock in the first half. Underperformed last season. Repeating it again with the loss to Villanova.

5th most likely Stanford team to win an NCAA title does not mean I think it's likely they will win a natty. I'd put the probability at < 5% and should move men's gymnastics ahead of them since I'd put them at at least a 10% chance of winning an NCAA title this year. Simply my own ranking of possibilities.

RE: In what sport will Stanford win its first 2025-26 NCAA championship? - SearchingForTheTruth - 04-10-2026

WLAX just lost to UNC 9-18. Running clock

3 loss in 4 games. Lost to an unseeded team.

Not winning a Natty this season.

RE: In what sport will Stanford win its first 2025-26 NCAA championship? - Nobadeer - 04-16-2026

M Gym NCAAs start tomorrow at U. of Illinois.

LSJU Let's Go!

RE: In what sport will Stanford win its first 2025-26 NCAA championship? - Spiny_Norman - 04-16-2026

Women's gymnastics NCAAs started today. Stanford is competing in the first group.

Scoring here - https://scores.virti.us/?s=wWUOt3bvBX

RE: In what sport will Stanford win its first 2025-26 NCAA championship? - 2006alum - 04-16-2026

Man I'm tempted to abuse my mod authority and close this thread. It is bad juju folks, bad juju.

RE: In what sport will Stanford win its first 2025-26 NCAA championship? - Jamesy - 04-17-2026

(04-16-2026, 05:45 PM)2006alum Wrote:  Man I'm tempted to abuse my mod authority and close this thread. It is bad juju folks, bad juju.

The athletic department did this to themselves with the whole hyperion BS at the beginning of the school year.

RE: In what sport will Stanford win its first 2025-26 NCAA championship? - Jamesy - 04-17-2026

Men's gymnastics with the highest score of the semis with a 327 compared to Oklahoma 322. Everything resets for tomorrow though.

RE: In what sport will Stanford win its first 2025-26 NCAA championship? - M T - 04-18-2026

As we fans sit here wondering if there will be a NCAA championship this year, we can recognize that Stanford has/had several decent chances at that goal this year, and last year, and the years before that, and probably into the future.  The amazing streak of national championships may end some year, perhaps even this year, but I believe that the AD is working hard to make sure Stanford has a lot of excellent teams.

While another thread has posters bashing the AD, maybe we ought to thank the AD here for keeping Stanford at or near the top in so many sports. 

In the academic year 2024-2025, if you went to every game between Stanford and one other team (ie, 21 of 34 sports listed at GoStanford - excluding teams that only participate in multi-team events (golf, etc.)), you'd have been happy with a win 2/3 of the time. They had a combined 333-161-4 record. (Anyone want to look at other schools to see if any are 172 games above 0.500?)  I suspect this year will be much the same.