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OR, do you think she's going to settle with the players currently on the roster with no additions?

What Tara wants and whether she is willing to "settle" is completely immaterial.  What counts is what Admissions will permit.  I think there may be a few bleak years while Stanford figures out whether it can adjust, and by then Tara will certainly be gone.  Next year could be a good one, with Brink and Jump coming back.  Maybe they won't be enough, and we would have to get lucky with a transfer or a near miraculous improvement in other players to have a reasonably good season.  But my gut tells me this may be Tara's last.

In short, she would gladly take players right now who could contribute--and I am positive she knows who they are.  But it took Stanford decades to figure out how to recruit and develop freshmen to its athletic teams while staying true to its academic mission.  I don't think Stanford will have figured out to work the NIL/ transfer revolving door in time for next year.  Maybe one player from an Ivy will arrive, but surely no one else.  I anticipate Tara will go out during this unholy transition, and whether Stanford continues to dwell at the top or sinks to mediocrity in WBB has yet to be determined.  Honestly, I expect the latter, hope for the former.  Those several posters who long for the end of the Tara era may be rudely surprised to learn that she is the only reason we have been competitive for this long.  It is her name that has drawn as much talent to Stanford as we have received, and no one else will be able to replicate that for a long time, if ever.  Not with Stanford's unique challenges.

For someone like myself who is not close to the University and its workings (as you are), I found your comments very enlightening; that the root cause of Stanford not using the portal is not because of Tara's reluctance, but rather Stanford's Admissions restrictions.  There has been a lot of debate about the portal.  I only wish you would have posted your comments ("What Tara wants and whether she is willing to 'settle' is completely immaterial. What counts is what Admissions will permit.") much earlier because that shifts the conversation (and blame) away from Tara, who is doing the best job she can.  I appreciate these insights.

From my perspective, your Admissions Department and the University have been slow to see the impact of the portal and have not been nimble in adjusting, or perhaps (pardon my ignorance), they may not want to adjust.

Brink and Jump coming back will not be enough unless there are key reinforcements at guard and post and that (as you and Bob K have articulated) is unlikely.  I feel very sad for Brink, a consensus All-American with elite skills and who wants to win so badly.  There simply will not be sufficient firepower to support her.

I am curious to know 1) How exactly does Stanford's academic mission conflict with WBB's use of the portal? and 2) Is there an inherent conflict between Stanford WBB striving to become/remain a championship caliber team and Stanford's academic mission?   

By the way, my question was not answered:  When does the portal season end?  Thank you.

[stopandpop]

OR, do you think she's going to settle with the players currently on the roster with no additions?

What Tara wants and whether she is willing to "settle" is completely immaterial.  What counts is what Admissions will permit.  I think there may be a few bleak years while Stanford figures out whether it can adjust, and by then Tara will certainly be gone.  Next year could be a good one, with Brink and Jump coming back.  Maybe they won't be enough, and we would have to get lucky with a transfer or a near miraculous improvement in other players to have a reasonably good season.  But my gut tells me this may be Tara's last.

In short, she would gladly take players right now who could contribute--and I am positive she knows who they are.  But it took Stanford decades to figure out how to recruit and develop freshmen to its athletic teams while staying true to its academic mission.  I don't think Stanford will have figured out to work the NIL/ transfer revolving door in time for next year.  Maybe one player from an Ivy will arrive, but surely no one else.  I anticipate Tara will go out during this unholy transition, and whether Stanford continues to dwell at the top or sinks to mediocrity in WBB has yet to be determined.  Honestly, I expect the latter, hope for the former.  Those several posters who long for the end of the Tara era may be rudely surprised to learn that she is the only reason we have been competitive for this long.  It is her name that has drawn as much talent to Stanford as we have received, and no one else will be able to replicate that for a long time, if ever.  Not with Stanford's unique challenges.

For someone like myself who is not close to the University and its workings (as you are), I found your comments very enlightening; that the root cause of Stanford not using the portal is not because of Tara's reluctance, but rather Stanford's Admissions restrictions.  There has been a lot of debate about the portal.  I only wish you would have posted your comments ("What Tara wants and whether she is willing to 'settle' is completely immaterial. What counts is what Admissions will permit.") much earlier because that shifts the conversation (and blame) away from Tara, who is doing the best job she can.  I appreciate these insights.

From my perspective, your Admissions Department and the University have been slow to see the impact of the portal and have not been nimble in adjusting, or perhaps (pardon my ignorance), they may not want to adjust.

Brink and Jump coming back will not be enough unless there are key reinforcements at guard and post and that (as you and Bob K have articulated) is unlikely.  I feel very sad for Brink, a consensus All-American with elite skills and who wants to win so badly.  There simply will not be sufficient firepower to support her.

I am curious to know 1) How exactly does Stanford's academic mission conflict with WBB's use of the portal? and 2) Is there an inherent conflict between Stanford WBB striving to become/remain a championship caliber team and Stanford's academic mission?   

By the way, my question was not answered:  When does the portal season end?  Thank you.