From: ESPN.comESPN has named their Preseason All-Americans. Candice is on the first team. (More ...)
November 11, 2006
November 10, 2006
Stories from the Stanford Daily
Over the Hump
Experienced Cardinal squad aims high after postseason disapointmentBy: Scott Bland, Stanford Daily
After three years of agonizing near-misses, the No. 4 Stanford women’s basketball team comes into the 2006-2007 campaign with the talent, confidence and focused energy necessary to finally capture their first NCAA championship since 1992.
“We’ve learned a lot about sticking with things, going through the ups and the downs,” senior forward Brooke Smith said. “Hopefully this year we can get over the hump and get into the Final Four.” (More ...)
Crashing the Boards
Senior Brooke Smith eyes a final shot at postseason gloryBy: Christian Torres, Stanford Daily
Just a few months ago, “Brooke with the hook” was dominating the court in the regional semifinal of the women’s basketball NCAA Tournament. Redshirt senior center Brooke Smith was having an epic night, scoring a career-high 35 points against Oklahoma, and in the process toppling the Sooners’ star player: then-freshman center Courtney Paris.
One game later, the Cardinal saw their Final Four dreams come to an end in the final seconds of a 62-59 loss to Louisiana State. This season, Smith is looking finish out her career at the NCAA championship game. (More ...)
The Freshmen
By: Haley Murphy, Stanford DailyWhile junior Candice Wiggins and senior Brooke Smith have been the focus of most of Stanford’s preseason excitement, four fresh faces will grace the court with their esteemed teammates. With four years of eligibility before them, the freshmen are hopeful about the season and the ways in which they will contribute to the Cardinal program. (More ...)
No. 4 Hoops Downs LMU in Season Opener
Wiggins returns from injury and drops 16 on LionsBy: Christian Torres, Stanford Daily
At the start of its season, the Stanford women’s basketball team came through in the finish last night at Maples Pavilion against Loyola Marymount. With the Lions on their heels for much of the first half, the Cardinal finally pulled away in the middle of the second with a devastating 24-2 run, clinching an 88-61 victory in the first round of the Women’s National Invitation Tournament (WNIT). (More ...)
Cardinal Talented Enough for Another Deep March run
By: Mechelle Voepel, ESPN.com
It's not enough to be on a pretty campus … where the weather's almost always great … and everybody is smart … and you're not far from one of the most interesting cities in the entire world, San Francisco.
… it bugs the Stanford women's hoops team that for the past three seasons, the Cardinal have been good enough … to just miss the Final Four.
… I know what the real culprit, the true hobgoblin, the undeniable karmic killer has been for the Cardinal. And it could strike again, so coach Tara VanDerveer might want to get out some voodoo dolls or something in March in hopes of swaying the selection committee.
Not in terms of seeding, because that doesn't matter. The Cardinal have proven that. All that matters is this: Stay out of the Dallas Regional at all costs. (More ...)
It's not enough to be on a pretty campus … where the weather's almost always great … and everybody is smart … and you're not far from one of the most interesting cities in the entire world, San Francisco.
… it bugs the Stanford women's hoops team that for the past three seasons, the Cardinal have been good enough … to just miss the Final Four.
… I know what the real culprit, the true hobgoblin, the undeniable karmic killer has been for the Cardinal. And it could strike again, so coach Tara VanDerveer might want to get out some voodoo dolls or something in March in hopes of swaying the selection committee.
Not in terms of seeding, because that doesn't matter. The Cardinal have proven that. All that matters is this: Stay out of the Dallas Regional at all costs. (More ...)
Wiggins Is Hungry For A National Championship
By: Lara Boyko, CSTV.com
When 5-foot-11 Stanford guard Candice Wiggins was a little girl, her mom Angela could see her future.
"My mom was probably my biggest advocate for basketball and just knew that I could stand out in the sport," Wiggins said, whose earliest memory of the game is when she only scored one basket during the entire season. "She just knew when I was eight years old that I could be great and accomplish all of this. She told me that I would make a difference in the game and erase all of the bad images of my father (former San Diego Padres second baseman Alan Wiggins). I wasn't really thinking about this at the time, so it is amazing for me to think back on how she knew all of those years ago. It is her encouragement that has made me work harder."
While she worked hard from the encouragement of her mother, Wiggins also decided to not let the hard work get the best of her.
(More ...)
Loyola Marymount Post-Game Quotes
By: Mike Eubanks, The Bootleg
Stanford's 2006-07 voyage started with a bump in the road in the first mile Thursday night when the Cardinal led LMU by two points at the half and trailed early in the second half. Then a 50-15 run over the next 16-plus minutes righted the ship for a strong 88-61 win. Though the freshmen have been hyped, it was the upperclass "big three" that dominated and combined for 56 points and 25 boards. (More ...)
November 08, 2006
Stanford Women Shoot for a Goal: Final Four
By: Darren Sabedra, San Jose Mercury News
Soon after Stanford lost to Louisiana State in the NCAA tournament last March, Coach Tara VanDerveer began looking ahead to this season like a child dreams of a return trip to Disneyland.
For nine seasons, the Cardinal has tried to get back to the Final Four. This season, it might finally conquer the magic mountaintop.
How could the expectations be anything but sky high? The Cardinal returns one of the best players in the program's history (junior guard Candice Wiggins) and a post player who had a game for the ages in last season's Sweet 16 (senior Brooke Smith).
It has also added a star-studded freshman class, highlighted by the arrival of 6-foot-4 Jayne Appel from Pleasant Hill, whom VanDerveer can't seem to say enough good things about. (More ...)
Soon after Stanford lost to Louisiana State in the NCAA tournament last March, Coach Tara VanDerveer began looking ahead to this season like a child dreams of a return trip to Disneyland.
For nine seasons, the Cardinal has tried to get back to the Final Four. This season, it might finally conquer the magic mountaintop.
How could the expectations be anything but sky high? The Cardinal returns one of the best players in the program's history (junior guard Candice Wiggins) and a post player who had a game for the ages in last season's Sweet 16 (senior Brooke Smith).
It has also added a star-studded freshman class, highlighted by the arrival of 6-foot-4 Jayne Appel from Pleasant Hill, whom VanDerveer can't seem to say enough good things about. (More ...)
Final Four is Experienced Cardinal's Goal
By: Michelle Smith, San Francisco Chronicle
On Halloween night, instead of candy, Stanford women's basketball coach Tara VanDerveer gave out basketball tickets. She thinks her team is a treat, why shouldn't everyone else?
"We have been looking forward to this season for a while," VanDerveer said. "I run into people when I'm out, when I'm walking the dogs and they say, 'How's the team going to be?' and I say 'I think it's going to be a great year.' " (More ...)
November 07, 2006
20 Questions for 2006-07
By: ESPN.com
Can you handle the truth? Because our experts dug down to answer 20 of the biggest and perhaps most debatable questions that had us scratching our head as the 2006-07 season nears. With last year's super seniors gone, several notable coaching changes and lots of young stars looking to steal the show, the upcoming season is certain to hold a few surprises. A look at some of the bigger storylines on our minds before games tip off Thursday:
. . .
4. Who's the second-best team out West behind Stanford? And will the Cardinal's resurgence at the top overshadow the region's other top teams? (More ...)
Can you handle the truth? Because our experts dug down to answer 20 of the biggest and perhaps most debatable questions that had us scratching our head as the 2006-07 season nears. With last year's super seniors gone, several notable coaching changes and lots of young stars looking to steal the show, the upcoming season is certain to hold a few surprises. A look at some of the bigger storylines on our minds before games tip off Thursday:
. . .
4. Who's the second-best team out West behind Stanford? And will the Cardinal's resurgence at the top overshadow the region's other top teams? (More ...)
November 02, 2006
Candice On Preseason Wooden Award Watch List
By: GoStanford.com
Stanford guard Candice Wiggins has been named to the list of 30 preseason candidates for the 2006-07 John R. Wooden Award.
The 30 candidates are comprised of the top returning players, although transfers, freshmen, medical redshirts and other players who excel throughout the season will be considered for both the midseason top 20 list and the national ballot toward the end of the season.
(More ...)
November 01, 2006
Five Freshmen to Watch
By: Megan Youngblood, CSTV.com
Jayne Appel, 6-foot-4 F/C, Stanford
An assortment of top 25 schools had designs on Jayne Appel. Tennessee, Arizona State, UCLA, USC, Notre Dame, Duke, Cal, and UConn were all in the running for one of the premier post prospects in the country. The Pleasant Hill, Calif. native had an especially hard time narrowing down her choice after trying to synchronize decisions with fellow AAU teammate Jacki Gemelos. They had talked about going to the same school and when Gemelos verbally committed to UConn, she tried to rope in Appel as well. Gemelos, a 6-foot guard, made the biggest splash in the summer recruiting season by de-committing from UConn and signing with USC instead. But the USA Today First Team selection Gemelos will have to sit out the season with a torn ACL.
Appel, however, will be the one to watch. A true center, she can score with either hand with her back to the basket, and can also hit the midrange jumper. Appel will be a perfect fit for this team, drawing comparisons to one of her new teammates in current Stanford star Brooke Smith. This past summer, Appel also helped the USA Basketball U18 Women's National Team to a gold medal at the FIBA Americas U18 Championship. In the gold medal game against Canada, Appel posted nine points, 12 rebounds and two blocks in just 22 minutes.
With her ability to bury an open three and comfort handling the ball on the break, Appel's great hands will allow her to catch anything Stanford dishes her way.
(More about the other four...)
Jayne Appel, 6-foot-4 F/C, Stanford
An assortment of top 25 schools had designs on Jayne Appel. Tennessee, Arizona State, UCLA, USC, Notre Dame, Duke, Cal, and UConn were all in the running for one of the premier post prospects in the country. The Pleasant Hill, Calif. native had an especially hard time narrowing down her choice after trying to synchronize decisions with fellow AAU teammate Jacki Gemelos. They had talked about going to the same school and when Gemelos verbally committed to UConn, she tried to rope in Appel as well. Gemelos, a 6-foot guard, made the biggest splash in the summer recruiting season by de-committing from UConn and signing with USC instead. But the USA Today First Team selection Gemelos will have to sit out the season with a torn ACL.
Appel, however, will be the one to watch. A true center, she can score with either hand with her back to the basket, and can also hit the midrange jumper. Appel will be a perfect fit for this team, drawing comparisons to one of her new teammates in current Stanford star Brooke Smith. This past summer, Appel also helped the USA Basketball U18 Women's National Team to a gold medal at the FIBA Americas U18 Championship. In the gold medal game against Canada, Appel posted nine points, 12 rebounds and two blocks in just 22 minutes.
With her ability to bury an open three and comfort handling the ball on the break, Appel's great hands will allow her to catch anything Stanford dishes her way.
(More about the other four...)
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