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RE: WBB 2026-2027 season - chimera - 04-29-2026

I did not get an invite so did not hear it.  Based on what you all have written, I am bowing out totally as a fan of Stanford WBB until they get their you know what together.  I can't root for this stuff.

RE: 76lsjumb - stopandpop - 04-29-2026

(04-29-2026, 12:26 PM)crackpot Wrote:  
(04-29-2026, 11:17 AM)PalmTree Wrote:  There was with heavy emphasis on program history and the "Sisterhood", with KP shown front and center in many of the posts (e.g. with the Ogwumike'; with Cameron, Shay and Nora before the Sparks - Nigerian NT game, and with Tavita Pritchard). The machine was operating in full on high gear, pedal to the metal mode for sure.   

Yeah, the "I just started my 20th year" as if that's reason enough not to get rid of someone.

I had to run out to my yard and pull weeds (and I HATE pulling weeds) to try to calm down after this gaslighting session. While I didn't expect they would answer every question, I thought they would make an effort to at least answer some of them, with a side of humility (even false) and mea culpa. Instead it was "You're stupid for even asking!" "Everything is great."

And if I had a drink every time KP said "exciting" I would've been dead before the EMTs got here.



Yes, "extremely excited" was voiced multiple times along with KP's signature response to everything: "we're in the gym".

Aside from a total lack of transparency, too much unnecessary talking by both coaches and not budgeting any time for questions, I found several comments revealing:

Mission Statement(s) - You'll recall that in KP's first press conference (as new head coach), she stated:  "We will compete for national championships."  The first half of Donahoe's mission statement seemed to be consistent: "To be a national force in women's basketball", neither of those statements is remotely realistic given the significant drop in the talent level of players and the incompetency of the coach.  But then he ended with: "Be a top-25 team", which has never been associated with "a national force"; but I find the statement interesting because it IS somewhat realistic for Stanford to once again be a top-25 team, provided that KP can truly learn and grow as a coach.

Everything's OK- Both Donahoe and KP sent an unmistakable message that all is well with Stanford women's basketball, when of course it wasn't.  This is where the total lack of transparency was most evident.

Navigating the portal and NIL - Donahoe spent significant time explaining the challenges of the new world of college basketball.  What he didn't dare mention was the fact that so many women's basketball programs have successfully adapted to the changing landscape and are doing quite well.  

Inflated talent level- KP made several overly-inflated comments about the returnees; that they were all highly recruited.  Some of you will know this better than me, but this latest recruitment class may be the lowest-rated class in Stanford WBB in decades.

Encouraging comments- I was surprised and somewhat encouraged by a couple of KP's comments:  She acknowledged that this past season was "learning lessons" for her and her fellow coaches to become better.  The second comment related to 'the offense' when she said: "We need to adapt our style of play; open things up and give Alex more space to operate."  Reading between the lines, I got the feeling that KP sees Eschmeyer as a critical offensive player Stanford needs to use more effectively.  

That's one piece of encouraging news in an otherwise wasted webinar.

RE: 76lsjumb - 2006alum - 04-29-2026

(04-29-2026, 09:57 AM)crackpot Wrote:  
(04-29-2026, 09:37 AM)76lsjumb Wrote:  Just got through listening to the basketball webinar. The world’s largest elephant in the room…never mentioned once from what I heard.

I want that hour of my life back.

In summary:
  • coaching college basketball is HARD. You should be grateful we're taking the time
  • You should be grateful for KP
  • Donahoe isn't paying attention and/or thinks we aren't

He said Lara was the only freshman to leave. I guess Carly doesn't count? And that all of our incoming freshman are nationally ranked. He thanked us for our questions but didn't answer one.

Haha. That was an excellent summary of the high (low?) lights. I wrote a lot more on the paid board, but yeah, nothing I heard today moved the needle for me one inch. In fact, at times I felt vaguely insulted. The AD reminded me of Alan Alda's character in 30 Rock (Jack Donoghy's biological father). A nice enough, likable guy who's way too easily taken in and has no absolutely zero zeal to attack a problem with specifics, credibility, or a game plan.

RE: 76lsjumb - 76lsjumb - 04-29-2026

(04-29-2026, 03:33 PM)2006alum Wrote:  
(04-29-2026, 09:57 AM)crackpot Wrote:  
(04-29-2026, 09:37 AM)76lsjumb Wrote:  Just got through listening to the basketball webinar. The world’s largest elephant in the room…never mentioned once from what I heard.

I want that hour of my life back.

In summary:
  • coaching college basketball is HARD. You should be grateful we're taking the time
  • You should be grateful for KP
  • Donahoe isn't paying attention and/or thinks we aren't

He said Lara was the only freshman to leave. I guess Carly doesn't count? And that all of our incoming freshman are nationally ranked. He thanked us for our questions but didn't answer one.

Haha. That was an excellent summary of the high (low?) lights. I wrote a lot more on the paid board, but yeah, nothing I heard today moved the needle for me one inch. In fact, at times I felt vaguely insulted. The AD reminded me of Alan Alda's character in 30 Rock (Jack Donoghy's biological father). A nice enough, likable guy who's way too easily taken in and has no absolutely zero zeal to attack a problem with specifics, credibility, or a game plan.
]

Can someone explain to me the benefits to be gained from having Donahoe, in a public forum such as this was, throw Paye under the bus given that the decision to retain her for next season has already obviously been made? I entirely agree that Paye should have owned up to the problem, rather than making a number of comments about last season that would have caused Pollyanna to roll her eyes, but I don’t get the piling on of Donahoe at this point and how him being openly critical of Paye would make things better for the team, recruiting, etc

RE: WBB 2026-2027 season - qwerty49 - 04-29-2026

Sigh. I’ve become too much of a cynic. Why should Stanford WBB news be any different than developments in the rest of today’s universe - ie “why the heck am I not surprised?”

RE: 76lsjumb - crackpot - 04-29-2026

(04-29-2026, 04:04 PM)76lsjumb Wrote:  
(04-29-2026, 03:33 PM)2006alum Wrote:  
(04-29-2026, 09:57 AM)crackpot Wrote:  
(04-29-2026, 09:37 AM)76lsjumb Wrote:  Just got through listening to the basketball webinar. The world’s largest elephant in the room…never mentioned once from what I heard.

I want that hour of my life back.

In summary:
  • coaching college basketball is HARD. You should be grateful we're taking the time
  • You should be grateful for KP
  • Donahoe isn't paying attention and/or thinks we aren't

He said Lara was the only freshman to leave. I guess Carly doesn't count? And that all of our incoming freshman are nationally ranked. He thanked us for our questions but didn't answer one.

Haha. That was an excellent summary of the high (low?) lights. I wrote a lot more on the paid board, but yeah, nothing I heard today moved the needle for me one inch. In fact, at times I felt vaguely insulted. The AD reminded me of Alan Alda's character in 30 Rock (Jack Donoghy's biological father). A nice enough, likable guy who's way too easily taken in and has no absolutely zero zeal to attack a problem with specifics, credibility, or a game plan.
]

Can someone explain to me the benefits to be gained from having Donahoe, in a public forum such as this was, throw Paye under the bus given that the decision to retain her for next season has already obviously been made? I entirely agree that Paye should have owned up to the problem, rather than making a number of comments about last season that would have caused Pollyanna to roll her eyes, but I don’t get the piling on of Donahoe at this point and how him being openly critical of Paye would make things better for the team, recruiting, etc

What WOULD make things better for the team?

That was one of the questions to which I wanted an answer. Instead, no questions were answered. To even start off saying that we could put questions in the chat and they'd be answered if there was enough time was disingenuous. 

Isn't this why he gets paid the big bucks?

RE: 76lsjumb - SearchingForTheTruth - 04-29-2026

Can you clarify what problem did you want Kate Paye to own?

(04-29-2026, 04:04 PM)76lsjumb Wrote:  
(04-29-2026, 03:33 PM)2006alum Wrote:  
(04-29-2026, 09:57 AM)crackpot Wrote:  
(04-29-2026, 09:37 AM)76lsjumb Wrote:  Just got through listening to the basketball webinar. The world’s largest elephant in the room…never mentioned once from what I heard.

I want that hour of my life back.

In summary:
  • coaching college basketball is HARD. You should be grateful we're taking the time
  • You should be grateful for KP
  • Donahoe isn't paying attention and/or thinks we aren't

He said Lara was the only freshman to leave. I guess Carly doesn't count? And that all of our incoming freshman are nationally ranked. He thanked us for our questions but didn't answer one.

Haha. That was an excellent summary of the high (low?) lights. I wrote a lot more on the paid board, but yeah, nothing I heard today moved the needle for me one inch. In fact, at times I felt vaguely insulted. The AD reminded me of Alan Alda's character in 30 Rock (Jack Donoghy's biological father). A nice enough, likable guy who's way too easily taken in and has no absolutely zero zeal to attack a problem with specifics, credibility, or a game plan.
]

Can someone explain to me the benefits to be gained from having Donahoe, in a public forum such as this was, throw Paye under the bus given that the decision to retain her for next season has already obviously been made? I entirely agree that Paye should have owned up to the problem, rather than making a number of comments about last season that would have caused Pollyanna to roll her eyes, but I don’t get the piling on of Donahoe at this point and how him being openly critical of Paye would make things better for the team, recruiting, etc


RE: WBB 2026-2027 season - jacket3ree - 04-29-2026

At this point, it's Levin

RE: 76lsjumb - martyup - 04-29-2026

(04-29-2026, 05:40 PM)SearchingForTheTruth Wrote:  Can you clarify what problem did you want Kate Paye to own?

I would guess that the big "problem" is missing the NCAA tourney two years in a row and a mass exodus of players from the team via the portal.

RE: WBB 2026-2027 season - Treebound - 04-29-2026

(04-29-2026, 07:59 PM)jacket3ree Wrote:  At this point, it's Levin

Can you please explain this statement?

RE: WBB 2026-2027 season - BostonCard - 04-29-2026

(04-29-2026, 09:29 PM)Treebound Wrote:  
(04-29-2026, 07:59 PM)jacket3ree Wrote:  At this point, it's Levin

Can you please explain this statement?

AS Truman put it, that’s where the buck stops.

BC

RE: WBB 2026-2027 season - needle - 04-29-2026

I'm probably the only one, but I do not believe it is 100% certain that KP is coaching Stanford next season.

RE: 76lsjumb - qwerty49 - 04-29-2026

(04-29-2026, 09:20 PM)martyup Wrote:  
(04-29-2026, 05:40 PM)SearchingForTheTruth Wrote:  Can you clarify what problem did you want Kate Paye to own?

I would guess that the big "problem" is missing the NCAA tourney two years in a row and a mass exodus of players from the team via the portal.

Well, those were the consequences. The problems causing them were not playing consistently, not playing to our potential.

The underlying reasons could have been lack of player development and/or lack of viable offensive and defensive systems. In this case, “viable” means best suited to the various talents on the roster.

As HC, she owns those reasons. I don’t know her at all but from what I’ve seen, I honestly doubt if her personality lets her express that ownership in a tactful or gracious fashion.

RE: WBB 2026-2027 season - Treebound - 04-30-2026

(04-29-2026, 09:57 PM)BostonCard Wrote:  
(04-29-2026, 09:29 PM)Treebound Wrote:  
(04-29-2026, 07:59 PM)jacket3ree Wrote:  At this point, it's Levin

Can you please explain this statement?

AS Truman put it, that’s where the buck stops.

BC

Agreed, but put me in the camp of Levin being a brobdingnagian improvement over MTL.  Kate's seat is super hot and well should be.  Navigating the Tara factor is no doubt a big part of this and she was instrumental in getting John D to join as AD.

RE: WBB 2026-2027 season - SkiBum80 - 04-30-2026

(04-30-2026, 07:53 AM)Treebound Wrote:  ... but put me in the camp of Levin being a brobdingnagian improvement over MTL.

Truth. (even with the ongoing autoreplace of h.uge with brobdingnagian just to mess with us...)

RE: 76lsjumb - 76lsjumb - 04-30-2026

(04-29-2026, 10:41 PM)qwerty49 Wrote:  
(04-29-2026, 09:20 PM)martyup Wrote:  
(04-29-2026, 05:40 PM)SearchingForTheTruth Wrote:  Can you clarify what problem did you want Kate Paye to own?

I would guess that the big "problem" is missing the NCAA tourney two years in a row and a mass exodus of players from the team via the portal.

Well, those were the consequences. The problems causing them were not playing consistently, not playing to our potential.

The underlying reasons could have been lack of player development and/or lack of viable offensive and defensive systems. In this case, “viable” means best suited to the various talents on the roster.

As HC, she owns those reasons. I don’t know her at all but from what I’ve seen, I honestly doubt if her personality lets her express that ownership in a tactful or gracious fashion.

Could not have said it better, so thanks for doing so and saving me the time. :-)

RE: 76lsjumb - martyup - 04-30-2026

(04-29-2026, 10:41 PM)qwerty49 Wrote:  
(04-29-2026, 09:20 PM)martyup Wrote:  
(04-29-2026, 05:40 PM)SearchingForTheTruth Wrote:  Can you clarify what problem did you want Kate Paye to own?

I would guess that the big "problem" is missing the NCAA tourney two years in a row and a mass exodus of players from the team via the portal.

Well, those were the consequences. The problems causing them were not playing consistently, not playing to our potential.

The underlying reasons could have been lack of player development and/or lack of viable offensive and defensive systems. In this case, “viable” means best suited to the various talents on the roster.

As HC, she owns those reasons. I don’t know her at all but from what I’ve seen, I honestly doubt if her personality lets her express that ownership in a tactful or gracious fashion.

Yes, well I interpreted Searchingfortruth's question as seeking criticism of KP that he/she could then shoot down.  My point is that you don't have to look under the hood.  All you need to know is that the car lost the race and then the wheels came off.

RE: WBB 2026-2027 season - BostonCard - 04-30-2026

I do want to note that Johnny Dawkins lasted eight middling seasons with a sub-.500 pac-12 record and exactly one NCAA appearance before being fired, and Haase also lasted eight bad seasons with a sub-.500 record overall and no NCAA tournament seasons.

2 down, 6 to go.

BC

RE: WBB 2026-2027 season - Treebound - 04-30-2026

Ugh - thank you for that reminder BC!

Let's not forget that both of the those esteemed coaches were under Bernard's "gentle touch" tenure and we lost the excitement of the Montgomery years in Maples.  

To counter that - No Fault/quick kick Walt Harris was fired after two ugly seasons by the wonderful Bob Bowlsby.   Not thrilled at all about entitled KP, but JD is new and navigating challenging waters in college athletics.   I love the Luck and Skov hires as there is a strong touch of EUTM there.

RE: WBB 2026-2027 season - Jamesy - 04-30-2026

(04-30-2026, 09:58 AM)Treebound Wrote:  Ugh - thank you for that reminder BC!

Let's not forget that both of the those esteemed coaches were under Bernard's "gentle touch" tenure and we lost the excitement of the Montgomery years in Maples.  

To counter that - No Fault/quick kick Walt Harris was fired after two ugly seasons by the wonderful Bob Bowlsby.   Not thrilled at all about entitled KP, but JD is new and navigating challenging waters in college athletics.   I love the Luck and Skov hires as there is a strong touch of EUTM there.

I agree that Bowlsby was great, fired Walt and hired Harbaugh, but I would think even incompetent Muir would have fired Harris after going 1-11.