Forty-five years is enough. We make decisions for ourselves. What others think is none of our business unless we have been hurtful which she has not. Go well, Tara, great job!

I think Tara’s retirement is moreso related to the Pac 12 dissolving and the travel involved with being a member of the ACC. That travel schedule is brutal. The PAC 12 is the only conference she’s known and played a major part in building as the flagship program in the conference. To see it end had to be tough. There is actually a presser schedule today for Tara. In regards to Kiki, if she transfers, she will immediately upgrade that team. UConn and Notre Dame would be awesome fits for her. Geno runs very similar offense as Stanford. And the guards she can play with at either school is a dream scenario.

@politicallil7060

Ай бұрын

That's makes sense plus with NIL making recruiting a hard sell and not being able to use attending Stanford as a sell anymore guess she just as well go out now.

@jennifershanahan7343

Ай бұрын

I’d love to see her go to UConn but I don’t think it’s going to happen.

@arthur-ri4zo

Ай бұрын

On the fourth scheduled game next season. GENO should pass Tara as the all time wins leader in the NCAA. At this time Geno has 3 wins less than Tara. Geno has coached 6 years fewer. Stanford is starting to crumble. They've lost Betts, Brink, and Iriafen. UCONN just sigtned the #1 Sarah Strong, #7 Allie Ziebell, and #11 Morgan Chelli. Add that to a team that had 7 available players and made it to the Final 4. It was only a matter of time before Geno was King of the hill. Don't forget the injured army of players rehabbing right now. Azzi Fudd, Caroline Ducharme, Jana, Ayanna, & Aubrey.

@ALoveSupreme65

Ай бұрын

Exactly. At 70 years old, with that travel schedule- sounds awful. I don’t blame her. It just pisses me off that college football ruined the Pac-12. Especially when it comes to Women’s Basketball. The conference ending has completely ruined Oregon States program and I truly believed they could be a Final Four team next year if they could keep all their players.

Great coach, great person, best wishes to Tara.

Amazing job Tara did. Let’s celebrate her, as you have here.

Geno needs to get Kiki asap

@krbcan1569

Ай бұрын

That's a good place for her. But with a player at that level, any team should snap her up.

@jennifershanahan7343

Ай бұрын

Not going to happen.

@QazPlm10

Ай бұрын

@@jennifershanahan7343it could most definitely, if she wanted to win a natty and get a bigger draft stock uconn or nd even southern cal would be a great fit

@jennifershanahan7343

Ай бұрын

@@QazPlm10 of course she'd be a great fit. My point was more towards they already have many strong players who should be healed up next season that will be on the starting lineup, as well as many top incoming freshmen being added to the roster. I just don't think a starting roster spot will open up, and she doesn't deserve a bench spot if that's all that is available.

It was a combination of things probably. The biggest reason was probably her age and having to deal with playing in the ACC. Thats grueling even for a player. She has a storied career and can retire with her head held high.

I checked the portal list yesterday, and Kiki Iriafen wasn't on it. If she enters the portal, Stanford will have to rebuild. The losses of Brink and Iriafen would be devastating to Stanford's program. That would definitely be a reason for why Vanderveer might want to call it a career.

@sliccnicc3

Ай бұрын

Where do you check the portal at you have the website

@written12

Ай бұрын

Agreed. Losing Brink and Kirk would be, as you say, devastating. Let’s hope that Kiki, being academically gifted to be at Stanford, won’t transfer. That damn collapse of the PAC 10 could be a factor. These girls have to deal now with playing all these games on the east coast.

@matthewreese3907

Ай бұрын

@@sliccnicc3 A good website that is often updated is called wbb blog.

@jennifershanahan7343

Ай бұрын

⁠@@written12The Pac 12 is dismantling.

@jennifershanahan7343

Ай бұрын

Tara’s lost many great players over the years. I don’t think Cam’s leaving has anything to do with her retirement. She’s been coaching for over 4 decades, it takes a lot out of someone.

I think it’s just because of her age… plus her winning record past Coach K and is a legend. She deserves to enjoy her life other than basketball. If Kiki is transferring, Stanford will be hard next season and needs a serious recruiting and rebuilding.

@michaelayers3998

Ай бұрын

I don’t think the record figures into it at all, because she knows Geno’s going to blow past her no matter when she goes (as long as he’s still in the game-and he’s a few years younger). I think everything else is part of the decision, including her age and the fact that there’s more to life than basketball-and basketball is about to get much more difficult for Stanford because of the move to the ACC. I remember that when she left Ohio State one of the big reasons was the opportunity to be active outdoors in year-around good weather. Even then, 39 years younger and a rising star in the game, she was thinking about quality of life issues. At this point, that’s got to be front of mind for her.

@AllinGold2

Ай бұрын

@@michaelayers3998 Geno is nine months younger.

@michaelayers3998

Ай бұрын

@@AllinGold2 You’re right, good catch. I always forget that their ages are so close, I think because Tara has been a head coach so much longer than Geno has-she started at Stanford the same year he started at UConn, but had 7 prior years under her belt at Idaho and Ohio State, while he had only assistant jobs before UConn. Now he’s talking like this coming year will be his last, but we’ll see. Either way, Geno should pass Tara by at least 25 wins by end of next season, assuming he coaches the full season. And it’s hard to see anyone else getting there.

Kiki Iriafan is a California girl. She will play with JuJu or with the other Kiki Rice at UCLA!

If Kiki hits the portal, she is from LA. UCLA or USC would have to be in the mix. How about Kiki and JuJu in a pick and roll next season; w/ young talent all around them?

@Poledancebeginner

Ай бұрын

Even tho basketball is a team sport, surprisingly passing is not in Juju’s bag. Kiki’s career would die if she went to usc. UCLA the better option cause they all play like a team.

@westsidesagg1519

Ай бұрын

And her and Betts are best friends

@Poledancebeginner

Ай бұрын

@@westsidesagg1519 her and betts would be scary !!

@jjohnson3203

Ай бұрын

@@Poledancebeginner - Interesting point. I think JuJu will develop her passing as her career develops; especially if she has a player of Kiki's caliber to pass to. I think she would be a willing passer in that scenario, but I could be wrong.

@Poledancebeginner

Ай бұрын

@@jjohnson3203 valid, but Kiki only has 2 years left in her collegiate career. why risk that at a team that already prioritizes one player to handle the ball 90% of the game?UCLA just has better chemistry and more willingness to share. usc was a new team last year and played like it all through the season. the chemistry was terrible and you could tell they didn't trust each other. it'll be the same for usc this upcoming season with how many young and new players (specifically guards) they're getting. personally just don't think it'd be best for any great post players to move there, especially Kiki.

the minute Brink did the interview saying she was foregoing Covid year because of upcoming travel everyone knew Tara would be leaving after the collapse of Pac

@Ashley-cr4tf

Ай бұрын

Wait what’s the collapse of pac 10???

@BillyBobCooter

Ай бұрын

@@Ashley-cr4tf sorry I meant the Pac 2

@jennifershanahan7343

Ай бұрын

Pac 12

If Kiki does transfer, I'd bet on UCLA. Two or three of their possible 4s are injured/leaving, and she played with Betts at Stanford.

I think she will eventually hit the portal but not this year, she would fit nicely in Notre Dame with extremely talented guards. They would easily be a final 4 team

@QazPlm10

Ай бұрын

She’s a junior so she would have to go this year

I was wondering this myself. Between losing Betts last year and then now Kiki, maybe Tara just said enough is enough. She has an old school coaching style of tough love obviously and it's starting to wear out its welcome,

Tara VanDerveer's retirement is stunning by its seeming suddenness. Now the rumors surrounding KikI Iriafen is truly devastating for their program unless Tara's successor is gonna do a brilliant job acquiring talent from the transfer portal. I have no idea where and if Kiki will transfer to. I would say that ND would have an advantage bc a few ex Stanford players have gone there over the yrs and really flourished. Btw there is also a crazy rumor out there that HVL will transfer into Stanford this summer.

@jennifershanahan7343

Ай бұрын

Wow, I haven’t heard HVL may go to Stanford. She’d fit it better there.

UofA would love to have Kiki!!!

Got to wonder why Tara added those lines in her retirement speech re: the incredible notables some of her former players had as Stanford mentors for their respective majors. Did she hear rumors already by then? As sad as all this portal mess has become (thanks to the NCAA's actions in the last decades towards the student-athletes), one has to admire how a certain Caitlin Clark that could be a real chump at times on the court, stuck around and even got others to return for a grad year, all to create a special last couple of years at Iowa - a team mind you without any other 5 star players - just CC. Kiki would have been the # 2 pick next year IMHO no matter how many triple team games she would face in 24-25....that's how special she is. It was to be her team to lead - surely the NIL at Stanford is strong - Lord knows the education is one of the best in the world. So....besides the implosion of a program like Oregon State, this player entering the portal is one of the saddest realities of this whole mess.

UConn would be absolutely perfect! They would be the beast to topple SC. Plus with Edwards going pro, she could step right into their front court.

@anthonytaylor7928

Ай бұрын

U do realize South Carolina only lost one player right?

@buzzard6410

Ай бұрын

@@anthonytaylor7928 Yes and it's Cardoso. Big rebounding presence in the middle is going to the W. Offensive boards won't be as easy next year. UConn will put 5 scorers on the floor next year. Love me some Nika. But only taking 4 shots a game with no mid-range or inside game, was a liability on the offensive side. Those 6 or 7 in street clothes will be playing next year. KiKi would be a perfect fit. And to me I believe she becomes the best big in the country. If she isn't, it's a very very short list in front of her.

@anthonytaylor7928

Ай бұрын

@@buzzard6410 u say offensive boards won't be easy even with Kitts feagin and Watkins?? And now that they have championship experience under their belt and who knows coming thru. The Portal but I think it's cool that folks are going back and forth about it .I keep telling folks it's not just about Clark it's Soo much talent around the country hopefully the media will get behind it like they did Clark

@buzzard6410

Ай бұрын

@@anthonytaylor7928 I said they won't be AS easy. And I don't worry about the media. They are money/ratings driven. They will push whatever narrative that best works for them. Paige and Juju will be the "stars" next year. As will the two from Notre Dame, and others. The talent level used to be the top 4 or 5 teams. You can now go over 10 teams deep before any noticeable drop-off occurs. I am concerned about the portal though. When SC loses all 5 starters, and then largely through the portal fields THAT team! Something is not quite fair about the system. The men's side has a problem with the one and done. Women's side is the revolving door portal. I don't have a problem with the graduate students. Or when the player goes portal because the coach leaves, etc. But like in the case of HVL? Three teams in three years. The system is in need of a bit of tweaking.

I hope Kiki goes to ND although if she stays, she could be the first pick in next year's draft..

@krbcan1569

Ай бұрын

I think Paige is pretty much guaranteed as the first pick in next year's draft.

@marcosmith2501

Ай бұрын

@@krbcan1569 Yeah, I'm surprised Paige will return.

@jennifershanahan7343

Ай бұрын

@@marcosmith2501I’m not, she still needs more time to get completely healthy and probably wants more playing time with Azzi before heading to the W.

I believe the time limit for declaring for the WNBA draft has passed, but maybe they’d make an exception for Kiki Iriafen, considering the circumstances. I see that she was born in 2002, which makes her age-eligible to declare for the WNBA draft in 2024. I think she’d be a bottom first round pick this year. Unless trades have been made, getting picked in the bottom of a round usually means going to a better team. As far as transferring, I dunno. What’s more important to her, staying in sunny California with your teammate/friends during the winter and finishing up that Stanford degree (when you have a Stanford degree, you can work anywhere you want) or chasing a chance at a championship??

Hey, Back 2 Sports fans: I compiled a list of what I call, "The Bottom 11." These are the eleven teams that have the most players in the transfer portal. That can be good or bad, I suppose, depending on the teams record in 2023-24. In any case, the biggest loser is Morehead State(10 players in the portal). After that, Kentucky, Alabama A and M, and Arkansas Pine-Bluff all have 9 players in the portal. Rounding out the bottom eleven are: Canisius, New Orleans, La Salle, Cal State Northridge, Alabama State, Appalachian State and Arkansas State - all having 8 players in the portal. Coaching changes may have caused some of these max exoduses, or possibly the need for a coaching change.

She should go to either USC team, UConn or Norfolk State.

So Back 2 Sports who is your most surprising entrant into the transfer portal? Mine is Lucy Olsen of Villanova. Almost 10 schools have checked in on her to gage availability/interest. These schools include Stanford and UCONN.

@back2sports988

Ай бұрын

do we know whe is transferring?

Kiki will go to the grad program that’s access her. She isn’t really a transfer. She graduates from Stanford with bachelor’s and now goes for her masters

I think if she gets into the portal, she is USC bound. Her and JuJu...lawd.

Iriafen is an LA girl so it’s logical that UCLA and USC would be the favorites both quality programs, both with exceptional academic reputations. See either one of those rather than to my Huskies or Duke.

A UConn fan wanting someone to enter the portal and choose them 😊

There's an Iriafen-sized hole in the middle at Duke. Kara's building something great. Let a few of the incoming freshmen learn from Kiki for a year while she does her thing and leads Duke in 2025.

@sliccnicc3

Ай бұрын

I don’t mean no harm but Duke is trash they looked awful against UConn in the elite 8 they couldn’t do anything on offense it was hard to watch. If I’m KiKi I wouldn’t dare go there she’s better off going to USC or UCLA if she wants to stay on the west coast.

@QazPlm10

Ай бұрын

No duke is not a good fit more like usc, nd, or uconn would be much better

Tara never could counter the opponents' game plan: Induce Cameron and Kiki to hack their way to the bench.

Kenny Brooks left Va Tech and Georgia Amore immediately enterd the portal. This is not uncommon.

@michaelayers3998

Ай бұрын

But remember that Georgia left VT to join her coach at his new gig (KY); Kiki’s not following Tara anywhere.

Kiki come to South Carolina!! 😊

@QazPlm10

Ай бұрын

No they are too stacked with all returning players besides cardosa

@user-eh6cd6wm3z

Ай бұрын

It's a long shot but I wouldn't totally rule it out

I think there is a good chance she wanted to retire on top. I think she knows Geno is going to pass her this year regardless and she would rather not be active when he catches her.

I think the schedule pushed her out but she may just be tired

Notre Dame would be a great fit.

@back2sports988

Ай бұрын

I agree. That would be perfect

all conference level college player from tranfer portal is more important than recruiting a high school kid imo

The G.O.A.T. Say goodbye, is Dawn Staley leaving Carolina? I don’t think so even with leave at the top thing, Dawn is going to be at Carolina for some time still. Tara may be retiring because Southern Cal, U.C.L.A. And all those other teams on the west coast are much much much better than in the past.

I imagine it was because she retired is why player went to portal... most great players will not play for a new coach and will look for a team that will get her to the WNBA

If anything, I think it's the other way around. Tara retiring is what makes Kiki far more likely to leave, if she wasn't going to already. In general, I think the prospect of coaching/playing for Stanford in the ACC is just really undesirable.

@back2sports988

Ай бұрын

So the egg ( Kiki to portal) will come after chicken (Tara retirement) as well not calling Tara a chicken for retiring! The travelling for west coast team in ACC will not be fun.

if sarah strong hadn’t commit to uconn i’d be praying she came to uconn but i think if she did come she may interfere with sarah’s development

UConn!

She's not in the portal yet.

Kiki game is more like Aja Wilson

Kiki + Lucy + UConn = 12

@TheDisruptiveOne

Ай бұрын

Unlikely. But yes. That UConn team would have no weaknesses.

@michaelayers3998

Ай бұрын

@@TheDisruptiveOneFact is that even without them UConn next year has very few weaknesses. (If the injury curse takes a break, that is!). Their issue the past few years has been less about personnel than about getting/keeping them healthy and on the court.

Kiki is a smaller Aja Wilson. What about UCLA to remain close to home?

@back2sports988

Ай бұрын

Yep could see that. Don't know if shel& Betts were tight . I just thought Duke due to academics. ND as previous Stanford players have transferred there. I really think UConn is unlikely but u never know.

@michaelayers3998

Ай бұрын

Only the home games will be close to home. UCLA’s now a more stable team, certainly, but if the Stanford travel schedule sounded bad to her, UCLA’s won’t sound much better!

I didn’t realize that Kiki earned her degree already. Still, she and her family would probably want her to do graduate studies at Stanford. UConn, please. Sorry for sounding like a snob- I went to Syracuse, not an Ivy League level by any means- but she shouldn’t take a step down. Duke would okay, thing, but I hope she stays with Stanford.

Tara most likely left de to the PAC 12 demise.

Rumor has it (tara v.) is trying to bring in the four point half court shot like the Harlem globetrotters are doing good luck

4 reasons:1) she is just plain tired at 71( close) 2) reality no championship in near future as brinks leaves 3) the new conference and all that flying east ugh. 4) Nil plus academics maybe kiki leaves.... .but i really think sge was considering it after brinks gone.

KIKI to UCONN...🏀........................

Hmm. If she wants a National Championship she needs to head to Columbia South Carolina

Kiki Iriafen and JuJu Watking would put USC back on the map. Bottom line for me is anybody but UConn and Geno Auriemma or east coast.

@arthur-ri4zo

Ай бұрын

Geno made it to the Final 4 with 7 players. The sportscasters said that the 6 injured Huskies would of made another Final 4 team.

Tara also took a year off from coaching to coach the US Olympic Team. If Tara didn't do that, add approx. 20+ wins to total.

Don't be surprised if she goes to LSU

@QazPlm10

Ай бұрын

Ehh I can’t see it but I can see her go somewhere like usc or uconn maybe even nd

U better be prepared and reasonable once Geno retires and it’s Sarah’s strong turn to decide smh 😂

She retired because she is old and its time to retire...

UConn needs a veteran big in the worst way. Only true center they have is Jana, whose coming off an injury.

@michaelayers3998

Ай бұрын

True, but Kiki isn’t a true center, either. She is, though, a copy of Edwards and could fill that hole pretty effectively.

@back2sports988

Ай бұрын

Agree

kiki iriafen at southern cal ???? or at UCLA

@back2sports988

Ай бұрын

Yep is a chase but UCLA pretty strong up front with Betts, Duglic, Iwala and an not sure if the other forward Emile besiuor is returning or not?

First Betts transfer now Kiki...Yikes

Kiki left because brink left and Candi left because Kiki left!! That simple

Maybe she’s just wants to do other things. Life is more than an orange round ball.

I think geno is gone after Paige is gone

What a stupid question??? Omg! A Hall of Fame Coach like Van Derveer wouldn't retire over 1 player transferring. If that's the case, she could've retired after Betts left. These coaches understand that in today's climate you'll lose some and you'll gain some. Maybe the move to the ACC and dissipation of Pac 12 weighed into her decision. More players will enter the portal. It's early

@back2sports988

Ай бұрын

I don't think so but ok. All opinions welcome. Thanks for watching. All the best

I think she retired because she had too much on her plate with having the responsiblty of her mother and all her work at Stanford. She needs a "wife".

Why would even make this piece your ridiculous. Tara could care less who left...your so off base on this.

@back2sports988

Ай бұрын

Well agree you that I am ridiculous. But then again Tara could care less about who leaves? Well that is silly as well. Tara cares about winning & talent = wins. Stanford has lost Betts, Brink & if Kiki where to go that would be the tipping Point in my ridiculous opinion. Thanks for watching

If Kiki is in the portal, and UConn doesn’t call and gauge her interest. It proves that geno doesn’t know how to operate in the portal era. It would be proof he isn’t willing to do what is necessary anymore. She is an obvious upgrade. No excuse.

She would do well at SC

@QazPlm10

Ай бұрын

No sc is too loaded I think she wants more for herself