[81alum]

It’s interesting that you think a number 1 recruit , 2 time national team player and McDonalds All American would be happy just being Brinks back up for 2 more years possibly . 

Tara tried the Brink at the 4 experiment and didn’t like it . 

Maybe she has career goals too?? Wants to he happy ??

A Stanford degree doesn’t trump everything in life..

First, Brink is not staying for two years.  She was eligible to leave after this year and chose to stay, and responded in a press conference "one of the reasons you go to Stanford is to get a degree."  She will do so next year.  It doesn't make sense to me that you imagine that she would be here two more years.  She will go pro with the Stanford degree under her belt.

Second, the reason Tara did not like Brink at the 4 was that putting her there bumped Haley Jones out of her best (4) spot--given that Jones could not develop a longer range shot.  With Jones graduating, there is every reason to expect that Tara would return to her preference and put Brink at the 4 again.  You could even say that Brink made a sacrifice for the team, this year, playing at the five so that our #1 recruit (Jones) could play at her natural position, when it would have been in Brink's best interest to be developing her midrange and long range game a little further away from the basket.

As far as career goals and happiness, I'll certainly give you that, particularly if you know Betts and are not speculating like all the rest of us.  Every player needs to make decisions that comport with their long term goals and their happiness and well being. 

As for a Stanford degree "trumping" other things in life, I agree.  There are students who are not suited to Stanford, and some who don't really take advantage of what Stanford offers them.  However, this has not often been the case with WBB.  Looking at the record of the alums of Stanford WBB, most of them have done spectacularly well as students and then used their degrees long after their professional playing days were over.  They received a superior education that prepared them broadly for the many different opportunities.  We have college professors, medical doctors, lawyers, business leaders, broadcasters, social workers, optometrists, coaches at all levels--who had a blast playing basketball--often made some money at it in the pros--and then made careers both in and outside basketball after their playing days. 

Every player is one injury away from the end to their basketball career, and every player should have a plan for what comes next--since it almost always comes sooner than expected.  Ally Beebe is a case in point.  I would wish that any daughter of mine would face that transition with a Stanford degree, particularly given that the very best paid WBB pro players make a tiny fraction of the average NBA pro.  How many NBA players moonlighted in Russia to make extra income?  The degree is potentially far more important to WBB players than to the elite male players.

Of course, if Betts happens to be one of those who were made unhappy by the Stanford experience, then she is doing the right thing by leaving.  I just hope she has good support as she considers the ramifications of her decision--and that the decision is genuinely her own and made unencumbered by pressure of any kind, from anyone.

[81alum]

It’s interesting that you think a number 1 recruit , 2 time national team player and McDonalds All American would be happy just being Brinks back up for 2 more years possibly . 

Tara tried the Brink at the 4 experiment and didn’t like it . 

Maybe she has career goals too?? Wants to he happy ??

A Stanford degree doesn’t trump everything in life..

First, Brink is not staying for two years.  She was eligible to leave after this year and chose to stay, and responded in a press conference "one of the reasons you go to Stanford is to get a degree."  She will do so next year.  It doesn't make sense to me that you imagine that she would be here two more years.  She will go pro with the Stanford degree under her belt.

Second, the reason Tara did not like Brink at the 4 was that putting her there bumped Haley Jones out of her best (4) spot--given that Jones could not develop a longer range shot.  With Jones graduating, there is every reason to expect that Tara would return to her preference and put Brink at the 4 again.  You could even say that Brink made a sacrifice for the team, this year, playing at the five so that our #1 recruit (Jones) could play at her natural position, when it would have been in Brink's best interest to be developing her midrange and long range game a little further away from the basket.

As far as career goals and happiness, I'll certainly give you that, particularly if you know Betts and are not speculating like all the rest of us.  Every player needs to make decisions that comport with their long term goals and their happiness and well being. 

As for a Stanford degree "trumping" other things in life, I agree.  There are students who are not suited to Stanford, and some who don't really take advantage of what Stanford offers them.  However, this has not often been the case with WBB.  Looking at the record of the alums of Stanford WBB, most of them have done spectacularly well as students and then used their degrees long after their professional playing days were over.  They received a superior education that prepared them broadly for the many different opportunities.  We have college professors, medical doctors, lawyers, business leaders, broadcasters, social workers, optometrists, coaches at all levels--who had a blast playing basketball--often made some money at it in the pros--and then made careers both in and outside basketball after their playing days. 

Every player is one injury away from the end to their basketball career, and every player should have a plan for what comes next--since it almost always comes sooner than expected.  Ally Beebe is a case in point.  I would wish that any daughter of mine would face that transition with a Stanford degree, particularly given that the very best paid WBB pro players make a tiny fraction of the average NBA pro.  How many NBA players moonlighted in Russia to make extra income?  The degree is potentially far more important to WBB players than to the elite male players.

Of course, if Betts happens to be one of those who were made unhappy by the Stanford experience, then she is doing the right thing by leaving.  I just hope she has good support as she considers the ramifications of her decision--and that the decision is genuinely her own and made unencumbered by pressure of any kind, from anyone.