Least Surprising News of the Season

These may be the two least surprising news items of the season:

• Tara signs six-year contract extension.

  More than two decades after she arrived, Tara VanDerveer feels as if she's hitting her stride as the Stanford women's basketball coach. And VanDerveer will stride into the next decade after signing a six-year contract extension that will keep her at the helm of the Cardinal program through the 2011-12 season. (More ... )

• Stanford picked to win Pac-10 title.

  For the seventh year in a row, six-time defending conference champion Stanford has been voted as the favorite to win the 2006-07 Pac-10 women's basketball title, according to the preseason coaches poll. (More ... )

Looking Forward to This Season

By: Michelle Smith, Chronicle Staff Writer

The memory has lingered with Candice Wiggins through spring, summer and into the fall.

She sees her push up the court and then Krista Rappahahn getting free on the right wing. She watches LSU's Seimone Augustus sliding into her path. Then there's the pass, the contact and the whistle.

Stanford coach Tara VanDerveer said not a day goes by that she doesn't think about that play either. After all, it might well have cost the Cardinal its first trip to the Final Four since 1997.

"Let it be something that sticks in our craw a little bit," VanDerveer said. "That's not a bad thing. But it's not going to be our focus."

There are so many compelling reasons for the Cardinal to look forward instead. (More ...)

Preseason Picks by ESPN Analysts

From: ESPN.com

A consensus for preseason No. 1? Easy. But ESPN.com experts all had different answers when it came to naming their preseason player of the year. (More ...)

Smith, Wiggins Earn Street & Smith's Preseason Recognition

The preseason accolades continue to pile up for Brooke and Candice, as both have been recognized among the nation's best players by Street & Smith's College Basketball Yearbook.

Here is the article from GoStanford.com

And another from Maryland Women's Basketball, which includes complete Street & Smith lists

Practice Notes

Enjoy Don Anderson's pictures and comments on Spring Practice.

Tara Announces the 2006-07 Schedule

By: GoStanford.com
September 20, 2006

An early SEC road trip, a first-ever appearance in the Preseason WNIT and 14 opponents that participated in postseason play last year highlight Stanford's 2006-07 women's basketball schedule, as announced today by head coach Tara VanDerveer. (More ...)

Brooke & Candice on Wade Trophy Watch List

From: GoStanford.com
August 26, 2006



Senior center Brooke Smith and junior guard Candice Wiggins have been named to the 25-player watch list for the Wade Trophy, which is presented to the Women's Basketball Coaches Association's NCAA Division 1 player of the year. (More ...)

This is the WBCA Press Release

2006-07 Pac-10 Women's Basketball Prospectus

From: Pac-10.org
August 11, 2006

The basketball season is just around the corner. Read up on what you can expect from each team. It's going to be a challenging season. (More ...)

Ladies, This is Your Year

By: Jake Kelman, The Stanford Daily
August 10, 2006

Cardinal fans anxious to see the team get over the hump should gear up, as the 2006-2007 outfit looks to have the best shot at breaking the national title drought. This team is stronger and deeper than last year’s, but the collection of talent assembled will only be around for so long. This is the year. (More ...)

Wiggins Named to Bootleg's 2005-06 Honor Roll

By: Daniel Novinson, Bootleg Staff Writer
August 5, 2006

For the fourth straight year, we present The Bootleg's Honor Roll to recognize the 10 top Cardinal student-athlete performers of the previous year. For the second straight year, we tab Candice Wiggins to nobody's surprise. The basketball megastar floored us as a freshman but improved herself and Stanford Women's Basketball in her sensational sophomore season. (More ...)