The Stanford Cardinal Women’s Basketball Team won against the University of Arizona’s Wildcats. This was also the first time the Pac-12 teams were playing each other.
What We Know:
- Stanford University played the University of Arizona at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas on Sunday night. The team has not won any championship since 1992. The title ties them with Baylor University for the third-most wins in women’s basketball history. CNN reports that the two institutions are behind the University of Connecticut, which has 11, and the University of Tennessee, which has 8.
- The team was spearheaded by coach Tara VanDerveer, who has been with Stanford since 1985. She is the one who has overseen each of the Stanford Cardinal’s wins. These include 27 Sweet Sixteens, 21 Elite Eights, and 14 Final Fours. After a 29-year hiatus, they returned to the winner’s circle this year.
- They ensured this year nothing would stop them, not even a pandemic. From Nov. 29- Jan. 31, nine weeks of their season, they had to relocate due to California’s COVID-19 regulations. They faced tough games against teams like the University of South Carolina’s Gamecocks in the Fina Four. However, they affirmed they were staying in the game.
“This is a dream come true for our team. I think it’ll probably hit me tomorrow,” exclaimed VanDerveer.
- It was a very close game. According to NPR, there were times where the Wildcats had the upper ground, especially as Arizona attempted multiple times to steal the game from Stanford. Additionally, CBS Sports claimed the Wildcats had the best defense for the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA)’s tournament and forced the Cardinal into 21 turnovers. It wasn’t until almost the end that Stanford made a comeback.
- Haley Jones, NCAA’s most outstanding player, ensured that the Cardinal would finish with 17 points and eight rebounds. Lexie Hull made an input with a 10-point, 10-rebound double-double. Cameron Brink brought in 10 points, six rebounds, and three blocks.
- The Wildcats did have a chance to win the championship. In the final seconds of the fourth quarter, Aari McDonald, Arizona’s star player, made three of four free throws needed to reduce Stanford’s lead to one point. The Wildcats also received a ball off a shot clock violation from the Cardinal. However, McDonald missed the last-second shot. Stanford won the game 54-53. McDonald stated she was proud of her teammates. They accomplished a lot that many didn’t believe they could, despite losing.
- The game was also a memorable one for the University of Arizona. It had been their first NCAA tournament appearance since 2005. It was also their first time playing in Final Four and championship games. The rancor between the teams remained friendly, although the Wildcats lost to Stanford 0-3 this season. Cardinal senior guard Kiana Williams said the team was great to play.
- Stanford’s win comes after a year of bombshells for the NCAA. Last month, they were criticized by Cardinal performance coach Ali Kershner. She pointed out on Instagram the disparities between the men’s and women’s March Madness facilities. Additionally, the Supreme Court had a hearing last week in which they had to determine if the organization was illegally “fixing” Athlete compensation. Players were upset that the association was attempting to impose restraints on education-related compensation. Currently, a majority of the justices agree with the students’ concerns, as they are skeptical about the NCAA’s claims that payments for things outside of the court will compromise the integrity of amateur competitions. A final decision on the trial, known as Shawne Alston v. NCAA, No. 20-512, will be made in June.
As expressed, the tournament and season were historic ones. This year alone, teams either ended their season early or opted to cancel it due to the pandemic. However, Stanford stayed and won the first NCAA Women’s tournament in two years; the NCAA canceled the 2020 event due to the coronavirus pandemic.
