Stanford Women's Basketball Ranked Once Again

2023 Season Preview

Returning Players

The Stanford Cardinal women's basketball team is ranked No. 1 in the preseason AP Poll, the eighth time in the past nine seasons that the Cardinal have been ranked No. 1 in the preseason. Stanford is coming off a 30-4 season in which they won the Pac-12 regular season and tournament titles and advanced to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament.

The Cardinal return three starters from last season's team, including All-American forward Cameron Brink. Brink is one of the best players in the country and is expected to be a leading candidate for the Naismith Trophy this season. She averaged 13.1 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 3.6 blocks per game last season.

Newcomers

Stanford also welcomes a talented group of newcomers this season, including five-star recruit Kiki Rice. Rice is a 6-foot-1 guard who is considered one of the best prospects in the country. She averaged 23.9 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game last season at Sidwell Friends School in Washington, D.C.

Other newcomers include 6-foot-4 forward Lauren Betts, 6-foot-2 forward Talana Lepolo, and 5-foot-11 guard Brooke Demetre. Betts and Lepolo are both four-star recruits, while Demetre is a three-star recruit.

Schedule

The Cardinal open their season on November 7th against Cal State Northridge. They will then play a challenging non-conference schedule that includes games against No. 2 South Carolina, No. 3 UConn, and No. 4 Louisville.

Stanford will open Pac-12 play on December 30th against Arizona. They will play a home-and-home series against each of their Pac-12 rivals this season.

Expectations

The Cardinal are expected to be one of the top contenders for the national championship this season. They have a talented roster, a proven coach in Tara VanDerveer, and a tough schedule that will prepare them for the NCAA Tournament.

Stanford will be looking to win their first national championship since 2021. They have been to the Final Four in each of the past three seasons, but they have come up short each time.

The Cardinal are confident that they have the team to win it all this season. They have a lot of experience and talent, and they are hungry to win a national championship.