04-11-2026, 07:41 AM
(This post was last modified: 04-11-2026, 09:12 AM by North Sonoma Coast.)
Kate Paye's 2025 statements after her promotion about Stanford avoiding the portal, either through attrition to the portal or acquisition from the portal, presumed that, in light of its academics and prestige, Stanford could recruit excellent recruits who would improve over time and win championships.
Kate's assumption may have been true 10 years ago when recruits more highly valued a Stanford education, understood the 40 year decision, did not have access to lucrative basketball financial deals either during or after college, and faced penalties for transfers within their PAC 12 conference. Tara's reputation was golden after her three NCAA thrchampionships. The celebrations surrounding her record setting 1202+ win total in January 2024 suggested her former as well as her current players, at least, highly valued her.
Kate's assumption that Stanford's players would not use the portal, now, has collapsed. Stanford's institutional advantages have turned into structural disadvantages. We no longer play against traditional rivals within one time zone to large crowds. We no longer can control recruits' finances or transfers. Our rigorous academics may repel many potential recruits since their focus now is more on current financial rewards and less on 40 year choices. Why choose Stanford when other excellent colleges offer easier academics, higher payments, less travel, excited fans, media exposure and. most important, good, friendly coaches.
Of course Stanford's success now depends upon its offering an absolutely stellar Head Coach and Assistant Coaches with impeccable reputations. Stanford does not have to know to a certainty whether Kate is a good, bad, or absolutely terrible coach to decide her fate. The unparalleled mass portal exodus of seven current players, leaving only five returnees, plus three recruits, will be the contemporary commentary on Stanford women's basketball that kills both our present and future.
We no longer have Stanford's and Tara's reputation; we have Kate's. We need someone else’s.
Kate's assumption may have been true 10 years ago when recruits more highly valued a Stanford education, understood the 40 year decision, did not have access to lucrative basketball financial deals either during or after college, and faced penalties for transfers within their PAC 12 conference. Tara's reputation was golden after her three NCAA thrchampionships. The celebrations surrounding her record setting 1202+ win total in January 2024 suggested her former as well as her current players, at least, highly valued her.
Kate's assumption that Stanford's players would not use the portal, now, has collapsed. Stanford's institutional advantages have turned into structural disadvantages. We no longer play against traditional rivals within one time zone to large crowds. We no longer can control recruits' finances or transfers. Our rigorous academics may repel many potential recruits since their focus now is more on current financial rewards and less on 40 year choices. Why choose Stanford when other excellent colleges offer easier academics, higher payments, less travel, excited fans, media exposure and. most important, good, friendly coaches.
Of course Stanford's success now depends upon its offering an absolutely stellar Head Coach and Assistant Coaches with impeccable reputations. Stanford does not have to know to a certainty whether Kate is a good, bad, or absolutely terrible coach to decide her fate. The unparalleled mass portal exodus of seven current players, leaving only five returnees, plus three recruits, will be the contemporary commentary on Stanford women's basketball that kills both our present and future.
We no longer have Stanford's and Tara's reputation; we have Kate's. We need someone else’s.