No current Cardinal at Kezar

The San Francisco Bay Area Pro_Am summer basketball league has posted the 2013 rosters, and the only Cardinal who has signed up to play is alum Markisha Coleman ('07).

Trina transfers to ODU

Stanford Athletics announced today that Trina Patterson, after two seasons as assistant coach at Stanford, has accepted a job as assistant coach at Old Dominion in her home state of Virginia.

Click here for the announcement.

If you can play, you can play

The Stanford Athletic Department has published this video:

28 Stanford Athletes, Coaches, Staff and Administrators join Stanford Athletic Director Bernard Muir to produce the "You Can Play" Project.

Stanford University has seen at least one of its varsity athletic programs win a national championship in 37 consecutive years. With 121 team national titles, 104 of them NCAA championships, Stanford student-athletes are also championing numerous social causes including the You Can Play Project.

A student-led group, Stanford Athletes and Allies Together (StAAT), supports the You Can Play Project to show that at Stanford, an athlete's performance is what counts, not one's sexual identity, gender identity, or gender preference. In its latest project, StAAT partnered with the Stanford Athletic Department to produce a video which is available on the department's website and YouTube's the Cardinal Channel. It is also available for distribution.

Co-founded by Toni Kokenis (Women's Basketball), Smriti Sridhar (Women's Rugby), Noah Garcia (Men's Swimming and Diving), and Annie Graham (Women's Club Soccer), StAAT works alongside the athletic department to strengthen the support of LGBT athletes at the University.

Stanford University prides itself on both its academic and athletic excellence, fostering an inclusive community that cherishes all forms of diversity, including ethnicity, race, disabilities, and sexualities.

Appearing in the video are Stanford coaches, administrative staff and numerous varsity athletes. As Kokenis says, "We welcome all athletes, no matter your identity or your sport. At Stanford, if you can play, you can play!"

Video participants include: Hope Burke (Field Hockey), Morgan Fuller (Synchronized Swimming), Katie Nelms (track and field), Carly Wopat (Volleyball), Alexis Lee (Water Polo), Mariah Stackhouse (Golf), Theresa Shropshire (Squash), Chioma Ubogagu (Soccer), Tylyn Wells (Softball), Merideth Kalinowski (Lacrosse), Kay Rusher (Rowing), Lindsey Kotsas (Tennis), Cale Robinson (Gymnastics), Kristian Ipsen (Swimming and Diving), Eric Mochalski (Volleyball), Mike Carter (Water Polo), Josh Huestis (Basketball), Mike Atchoo (Cross Country), Sahil Bloom (Baseball), Barry Sanders (Football), Dominick Franks (Golf), Tara VanDerveer (Head Coach, Women's Basketball), Jason Borrelli (Head Coach, Men's Wrestling), Kristen Smyth (Head Coach, Women's Gymnastics), John Dunning (Head Coach, Women's Volleyball), Earl Koberlein (Senior Associate Athletic Director), Taylor Lynn (Sports Performance Coordinator), Allison Vendt (Academic Advisor for Student-Athletes), and Bernard Muir (Athletic Director).

Chiney is chasing her dreams

Chiney blogs about being a student-athlete at Stanford and her spring quarter in Nigeria: Chasing my wildest dreams abroad

Getting to know Lili

Jacob Rayburn (Cardinal Sports Report)  has written a fine introduction to Lili Thompson,  who will join the women's basketball team this season.

Click here for "From Texas with Toughness".

No second-time charm for Amber

USA Basketball announced the 2013 World University Games Team today, and Amber didn't make the cut.

Seven of the twelve selected are returning USA Basketball gold medallists, including guards Ariel Massengale, Bria Hartley and Odyssey Sims.

I'm sure that the Cardinal will benefit next season from Amber's experience against such tough competition.

Amber hopes second time is the charm

Amber didn't make the cut when she tried out for the USA Women's U18 National Team summer three years ago. But, she said, "I think it made me want to become a better player. I wanted to prove to myself that one day I could represent the United States."

Now she has a second chance as she tries out for the World University Games Team, and she came to Colorado Springs prepared.

Click here for USA Basketball's story about Amber at the trials.

Chiney sends love to her mother from Nigeria

In her blog for espnW, Chiney pays tribute to her mother, Ify, for always protecting her and her sister's best interests with basketball, life and everything in between.

Click here.

Between seasons

No basketball games at Maples for six months, but there'll be a lot of other Cardinal hoopster action. Stay in touch for news of:

WNBA

Will Diggins, Wiggins, Pedersen and Powell put Tulsa on the road to success? Coach Klopp is thinking playoffs.

Has Jeanette recovered from her torn ACL and Katie Douglas from her ankle injury? Will the Fever be back-to-back champions? Coach Dunn is living in the present.

It will be a tough season for San Antonio with six rookies and without star Sophia Young, who tore her ACL in January. Jayne, in her third season with the Silver Stars, will provide valuable experience and leadership. Jayne comments from training camp.

What superlative will Nneka provide for the Los Angeles Sparks in her sophomore season? It's hard to improve on WNBA Rookie of the Year and Polish Player of the Year! Perhaps she'll continue to expand her game beyond the perimeter. She made just one 3-pointer with the Sparks last summer, but made 25 in 42 Polish League and EuroLeague games at a rate of 38%.

The WNBA season begins on May 24th. Click here for the schedule.

USA Basketball

Will Amber shine in the World University Game trials? Will Team USA bring home its eighth consecutive gold medal?

SF Bay Area Pro-Am

Will any Cardinal hoopsters participate in the SF Bay Area Pro-Am League at Kezar this year? It's entirely up to them, and none chose to do so last year. We won't find out until the rosters are posted early in June. Click here for the schedule.

PAC-12

What can we expect in the Pac-12 next season? Read Bob Kinder's preview of each team beginning in August.

2013-14 Schedule

The official complete schedule probably won't be announced until late in the summer, but we already know some things about next season.

The Cardinal will participate in the Puerto Vallarta Hardwood Tournament of Hope, November 26-28. Click here for a report of last year's tournament.

In conference play, the Cardinal will play just one game against Oregon, Oregon State, Colorado and Utah either at home or away.

Our non-conference opponents will include UConn (in Hartford) and Tennessee (at Maples).

National Awards

Will Chiney be on all the national award preseason watch lists?

PREDICTIONS AND PROSPECTS

Charlie Creme (espnW) put the Cardinal at #4 in his first preseason top 25. Will they stay in the favored top five until November?

Foreign Travellers

Look for news from Chiney, who may blog again about her Nigerian adventures. You can keep track of her on her Facebook page.

The team is planning a trip to Italy in September, pending final approval from the NCAA. Fans are welcome to go with them, but must take care of their own travel and lodging arrangements. Look for the itinerary and contact information after the NCAA gives its OK.

Amber invited to World University Games trials

Amber is among the 31 players to accept an invitation to participate in the trials for the 2013 USA Basketball World University Games Team, which will be held May 16-19 in Colorado Springs.

The 12-player roster is expected to be announced the morning of May 19.

The 2013 World University Games will take place July 8-15 in Kazan, Russia.

Click here for the USA Basketball announcement.