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WBB 2026-2027 season - Printable Version

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WBB 2026-2027 season - stopandpop - 04-20-2026

Starting line-up:

Alex Eschmeyer (6'5) so. post
Ines Sotelo (6'3) jr. forward
Hailee Swain (5'11) so. guard
? forward
? wing

I'm not sure Shay Ijiwoye starts if Paye wants some experience coming off the bench.  I don't see Ezike starting unless Coach is unsuccessful acquiring another experienced/talented forward or wing via the portal.  Stanford desperately needs a very good 3-point shooter.

Hopefully, we'll see a different offense.

Am I correct in assuming that people currently in the portal (which closes today) can still sign on with a team or return to their former team?

RE: WBB 2026-2027 season - BobK - 04-20-2026

Those in the portal after today yes can sign or return

RE: WBB 2026-2027 season - BostonCard - 04-20-2026

(04-20-2026, 12:12 PM)stopandpop Wrote:  Starting line-up:

Alex Eschmeyer (6'5) so. post
Ines Sotelo (6'3) jr. forward
Hailee Swain (5'11) so. guard
? forward
? wing

I'm not sure Shay Ijiwoye starts if Paye wants some experience coming off the bench.  I don't see Ezike starting unless Coach is unsuccessful acquiring another experienced/talented forward or wing via the portal.  Stanford desperately needs a very good 3-point shooter.

Hopefully, we'll see a different offense.

Am I correct in assuming that people currently in the portal (which closes today) can still sign on with a team or return to their former team?

I would think given the dearth of other options, Shay Ijiwoye starts.  Agree on the need for a 3-point shooter; I guess we will see if we get one.

You are correct that the portal closing just means players cannot enter the portal.  Those in the portal can return to their former team or commit to a new one after the portal closes.

By the way, now that the portal is closing, I will say that it is a bit ironic that Alex Eschmeyer, who many people on this board were convinced would be transferring out due to lack of playing time, is one of the few players not to enter the portal.  It goes to show that the decision to enter the portal (or not) is complicated and dependent on a lot more than just playing opportunities (and yes, it is probably fair to note that Eschmeyer might have looked at all the players entering the portal and become convinced that she was going to be featured next year).

There are much bigger issues that Kate Paye has to fix, but I don’t think that playing a player just to prevent that player from entering the portal makes sense.  The more important thing is to ensure that the coach is communicating well with the player, no matter their status (and it certainly is something that, at least based on rumors, Paye struggles with), and explain why they aren’t getting as much playing time as they might hope and what they would need to do to get more playing time.

BC

RE: WBB 2026-2027 season - 2006alum - 04-20-2026

(04-20-2026, 12:34 PM)BostonCard Wrote:  
(04-20-2026, 12:12 PM)stopandpop Wrote:  Starting line-up:

Alex Eschmeyer (6'5) so. post
Ines Sotelo (6'3) jr. forward
Hailee Swain (5'11) so. guard
? forward
? wing

I'm not sure Shay Ijiwoye starts if Paye wants some experience coming off the bench.  I don't see Ezike starting unless Coach is unsuccessful acquiring another experienced/talented forward or wing via the portal.  Stanford desperately needs a very good 3-point shooter.

Hopefully, we'll see a different offense.

Am I correct in assuming that people currently in the portal (which closes today) can still sign on with a team or return to their former team?

I would think given the dearth of other options, Shay Ijiwoye starts.  Agree on the need for a 3-point shooter; I guess we will see if we get one.

You are correct that the portal closing just means players cannot enter the portal.  Those in the portal can return to their former team or commit to a new one after the portal closes.

By the way, now that the portal is closing, I will say that it is a bit ironic that Alex Eschmeyer, who many people on this board were convinced would be transferring out due to lack of playing time, is one of the few players not to enter the portal.  It goes to show that the decision to enter the portal (or not) is complicated and dependent on a lot more than just playing opportunities (and yes, it is probably fair to note that Eschmeyer might have looked at all the players entering the portal and become convinced that she was going to be featured next year).

There are much bigger issues that Kate Paye has to fix, but I don’t think that playing a player just to prevent that player from entering the portal makes sense.  The more important thing is to ensure that the coach is communicating well with the player, no matter their status (and it certainly is something that, at least based on rumors, Paye struggles with), and explain why they aren’t getting as much playing time as they might hope and what they would need to do to get more playing time.

BC
Thanks, I had been planning to post something very similar to this but out of respect for the woofing gods wanted to wait. She also posted on socials that she rushed and is pledging a sorority (I think Pi Phi?), which was also a clue she was planning to stay.

I have never loved transfer speculation and I think it's pretty funny that everyone was worried MAS's playing time early in the season would cause Eschmeyer to leave when in fact the exact opposite unfolded. 

I'm sad the situation has ended up this way because absent an explanation from the AD, which doesn't seem to be forthcoming, I don't see myself supporting the women's team next year. OTOH, we have a great men's class coming in, and Kyle Smith seems like a real A+ guy, so at least I can find something else to do with my time for a year...

RE: WBB 2026-2027 season - amytmueller - 04-20-2026

Will Umeh be back at full strength next year? Hope she works hard during the off season and comes back strong. She and Eschmeyer could complement each other inside.

RE: WBB 2026-2027 season - BostonCard - 04-20-2026

(04-20-2026, 02:51 PM)2006alum Wrote:  I have never loved transfer speculation and I think it's pretty funny that everyone was worried MAS's playing time early in the season would cause Eschmeyer to leave when in fact the exact opposite unfolded. 

I think too often people substitute their own feelings for the players’.  In other words, the posters who wanted to see her playing more and were disappointed by her perceived underutilization were pretty overlapping with the posters who were convinced she would leave, and my suspicion is that they projected their own disappointment about the situation on Eschmeyer.

BC

RE: WBB 2026-2027 season - stopandpop - 04-20-2026

(04-20-2026, 12:34 PM)BostonCard Wrote:  
(04-20-2026, 12:12 PM)stopandpop Wrote:  Starting line-up:

Alex Eschmeyer (6'5) so. post
Ines Sotelo (6'3) jr. forward
Hailee Swain (5'11) so. guard
? forward
? wing

I'm not sure Shay Ijiwoye starts if Paye wants some experience coming off the bench.  I don't see Ezike starting unless Coach is unsuccessful acquiring another experienced/talented forward or wing via the portal.  Stanford desperately needs a very good 3-point shooter.

Hopefully, we'll see a different offense.

Am I correct in assuming that people currently in the portal (which closes today) can still sign on with a team or return to their former team?

I would think given the dearth of other options, Shay Ijiwoye starts.  Agree on the need for a 3-point shooter; I guess we will see if we get one.

You are correct that the portal closing just means players cannot enter the portal.  Those in the portal can return to their former team or commit to a new one after the portal closes.

By the way, now that the portal is closing, I will say that it is a bit ironic that Alex Eschmeyer, who many people on this board were convinced would be transferring out due to lack of playing time, is one of the few players not to enter the portal.  It goes to show that the decision to enter the portal (or not) is complicated and dependent on a lot more than just playing opportunities (and yes, it is probably fair to note that Eschmeyer might have looked at all the players entering the portal and become convinced that she was going to be featured next year).

There are much bigger issues that Kate Paye has to fix, but I don’t think that playing a player just to prevent that player from entering the portal makes sense.  The more important thing is to ensure that the coach is communicating well with the player, no matter their status (and it certainly is something that, at least based on rumors, Paye struggles with), and explain why they aren’t getting as much playing time as they might hope and what they would need to do to get more playing time.

BC


I was one of those who believed Alex would go into the portal and boy, I'm so glad I was wrong!  I'm extremely happy she's with the team.  She has so much potential, but whether we see the development of that potential largely depends on what kind of offense Paye chooses to run.

RE: WBB 2026-2027 season - PVTree - 04-20-2026

I would have bet that out of the 5 frosh, it would have been Swain who transfers (pure speculation on my part). 

We actually lost 2 out of the 5. One is a hiuge loss, the other a potential big loss, depending on how she develops as a weeniette.

Best case is that she becomes a Karlie or a Jump; terrific shooter, not great at creating her own shot nor at defending quick players.

What really hurt is losing all our experienced upperclass: NuNu, Ogden, and Clardy... Throw in MAS too.

RE: WBB 2026-2027 season - crackpot - 04-21-2026

Don't forget to order your group tickets! https://gostanford.com/group-tickets-and-experiences#basketball

And, apparently, a time machine.
(04-20-2026, 04:51 PM)amytmueller Wrote:  Will Umeh be back at full strength next year? Hope she works hard during the off season and comes back strong. She and Eschmeyer could complement each other inside.

IIRC, she was nearly at full strength at the end of the season, so barring, say, some awkward experience with a gourd, she should be back at full strength.

And the thought of Umeh and Eschmeyer out on the floor at the same time makes me cry. I'm just not sure if it is tears of joy (as with an effective offense), or sadness (continue with the Princeton)...

RE: WBB 2026-2027 season - crackpot - 04-21-2026

Possibly another new signee, if the smoke signals are correct...

RE: WBB 2026-2027 season - martyup - 04-21-2026

(04-21-2026, 01:43 PM)crackpot Wrote:  Possibly another new signee, if the smoke signals are correct...

You might just be seeing the smoke from the dumpster fire.

[Image: ?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gifcen.com%2Fwp-con...73377cea64]

RE: WBB 2026-2027 season - SearchingForTheTruth - 04-21-2026

Another commit. 

https://www.instagram.com/p/DXaHHmbD6JF/?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==

RE: WBB 2026-2027 season - triangle2 - 04-21-2026

de Vries is a quality pickup. Big body 6'3" who can block shots and shoot.

RE: WBB 2026-2027 season - BillBradley - 04-21-2026

(04-21-2026, 02:11 PM)triangle2 Wrote:  de Vries is a quality pickup. Big body 6'3" who can block shots and shoot.

https://miamiredhawks.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/ilse-de-vries/10196

RE: WBB 2026-2027 season - 2006alum - 04-21-2026

I suppose one way around the NIL problem is to recruit foreign players who aren't eligible for NIL due to their student visas...

RE: WBB 2026-2027 season - BosCard - 04-21-2026

(04-21-2026, 02:11 PM)triangle2 Wrote:  de Vries is a quality pickup. Big body 6'3" who can block shots and shoot.

Impressed at her 3-point shooting.  She was a volume 3-point shooter (153 on the season) which is comparable to our top two in terms of 3-point shots from last year (Clardy at 164 and Somfai at 124).  But de Vries shot the 3 at a very respectable 38.6% vs 30.5% for Clardy and 29% for Somfai.  If she starts at the 3, we may need to play more zone defense because all the bigs on the floor will have a hard time defending ACC guards in man coverage.

RE: WBB 2026-2027 season - martyup - 04-21-2026

(04-21-2026, 02:11 PM)triangle2 Wrote:  de Vries is a quality pickup. Big body 6'3" who can block shots and shoot.

Nice news.  Seems like a quality pick up.  This will help quench the dumpster fire.

[Image: ?u=https%3A%2F%2Fgifdb.com%2Fimages%2Fth...43f1804cb4]

RE: WBB 2026-2027 season - triangle2 - 04-21-2026

(04-21-2026, 02:29 PM)BosCard Wrote:  
(04-21-2026, 02:11 PM)triangle2 Wrote:  de Vries is a quality pickup. Big body 6'3" who can block shots and shoot.

Impressed at her 3-point shooting.  She was a volume 3-point shooter (153 on the season) which is comparable to our top two in terms of 3-point shots from last year (Clardy at 164 and Somfai at 124).  But de Vries shot the 3 at a very respectable 38.6% vs 30.5% for Clardy and 29% for Somfai.  If she starts at the 3, we may need to play more zone defense because all the bigs on the floor will have a hard time defending ACC guards in man coverage.

I think de Vries is a 4. She's a lot bigger physically than Sotelo so I suspect we'll see de Vries at 4/5. 65 blocks with good timing. Sotelo looks more like a wing.

RE: WBB 2026-2027 season - Nurdyguy - 04-21-2026

(04-21-2026, 02:07 PM)SearchingForTheTruth Wrote:  Another commit. 

https://www.instagram.com/p/DXaHHmbD6JF/?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==

I like her!

76lsjumb - 76lsjumb - 04-21-2026

(04-21-2026, 02:18 PM)2006alum Wrote:  I suppose one way around the NIL problem is to recruit foreign players who aren't eligible for NIL due to their student visas...

While it doesn’t appear that we have gotten Scott Rueck as our new coach, it’s looking like we may have gotten Rueck’s foreign recruiting apparatus…
I don’t envy Betty having to brush up on so many foreign accents to get the names right (although I suppose she doesn’t need to worry about Australia-Hungarian any more.)