Final salute to ‘an extraordinary team’

Tara welcomes everyone to the  banquet.

It was the last time to see all of the players on the 2018-19 Stanford women’s basketball and the first time to see them dressed up instead of in their uniforms.

The annual spring brunch banquet April 14 at the Arrillaga Alumni Center provided a chance to show appreciation to the team and all of the people behind it.

Serving as emcee, head coach Tara VanDerveer said it was “a great celebration of an outstanding season and an extraordinary team.”

Defeating Oregon to win the Pac-12 championship wasn’t the best part of the season, she said, nor were the wins over then-top 10 teams Baylor and Tennessee nor the 10 Pac-12 All-Academic team members.

No, “the best part of the season was being with this great group of young women every day,” she said.

‘Our team was family’

“Our team was family,” she said, thus explaining why the players wore warmup jerseys emblazoned with FAMILY.

Despite injuries over the season, the team responded, and other players stepped up, she said.

While the 200 or so attendees enjoyed the lavish buffet, Tara made the rounds of the tables and thanked everyone for coming while photos from the season flashed on two large screens.

Between a series of thank-you’s to donors, the administration and staff, Tara introduced each class, starting with the freshmen.

Tara introduces the freshmen (from left): Lacie Hull, Jenna Brown, Lexie Hull

Freshmen come forward

Guard Jenna Brown worked with senior forward Alanna Smith after every practice, thus helping both to improve. She has been invited to try out for the USA U19 team this summer. (She helped the USA U18 win gold last summer).

Referring to the Hull twins, forwards Lacie and Lexie, Tara said it took her six months to tell them apart without their numbers.

Lexie “started out with a bang,” Tara said, becoming the first freshman to score a double-double in her first regular game. Even though she missed nine games because of an injury, she still had the third-most rebounds on the team.

Lacie became a starter and “a tenacious defender.”

Sophomores take the podium for their accolades (from left): Alyssa, Kiana, Estella, Maya.

Sophomores are a big help

Of the sophomores, Tara noted that forward Maya Dodson “came back so improved.” Despite missing six weeks because of injury (she was in a boot at the banquet), she had 42 blocks, second on the team.

Forward Estella Moschkau was “a determined worker” whose greatest contributions were in practice.

Forward Alyssa Jerome is a versatile player who “stepped up on offense and defense.” A Canadian, she will try out for her country’s team for the Pan Am games this summer.

Guard Kiana Williams is “a whiz on the court.” Her 169 assists are the most since Jeanette Pohlen, ’11. Tara ticked off more of her superlatives including ranking second in team scoring and being named to the Chicago All-Regional Team. She has been invited to USA team trials this summer.

Tara saluted the late Dee Dee Zawaydeh, the longtime administrative assistant who died last year after a long battle with cancer. In her honor, the coach has created an award, a gift card for food, something Dee Dee loved. The first one went to video coordinator Hana Potter.

Next it's the juniors' turn (from left): Mikaela, Anna, Nadia, DiJonai.

‘Boots are just a fashion statement’

As the juniors came forward, Tara looked at guard DiJonai Carrington, who, like Maya, was wearing a boot. “These boots are just a fashion statement,” she said.

She started with guard Mikaela Brewer, who ran the practice squad and is a human biology major.

DiJonai “is another candidate for the most improved club,” Tara said. A psychology and African American studies major, she started all 36 games.

Forward Nadia Fingall was no longer wearing a brace after surgery for a torn ACL but is still recovering. “We really miss her,” Tara said, noting that she scored a career-high 24 points against Florida Gulf Coast during the Thanksgiving weekend tournament in Honolulu. Like Mikaela, she’s a human biology major.

Despite being a junior, guard Anna Wilson played in her first career tournament games after missing the others because of various injuries. An Art Practice major, she practices hard and is a great defender, Tara said.

After calling the other three coaches –- assistants Tempie Brown and Lindy La Rocque and associate head coach Kate Paye -– she asked the seniors to come up individually.

Seniors provide leadership

Marta wants to become a graduate transfer.

Although an injury kept guard Marta Sniezek out all season, “she was all in as a team member and player-coach,” Tara said. She’s an American studies major. There was no word of where she will likely use her remaining year of eligibility to play as a graduate transfer.

Shannon hopes to play overseas.

As for center Shannon Coffee, “what a great year Shannon had. She really stepped up this season,” Tara said. A human biology major, Shannon has said she wants to become a physician’s assistant.

Before then, she said in a conversation afterward, she’d like to play overseas. After that, she has her eyes set on returning to Stanford to train for her chosen profession.

Alanna is going to the Phoenix Mercury.

Alanna “had a spectacular career and senior year,” Tara said. A psychology major, she 

accrued many honors and finished 10^th in scoring in Stanford history.

The Phoenix Mercury took her eighth in the first round of the April 10 WNBA draft.

Each senior spoke individually, thanked the coaches, fans and staff, and expressed her love for her teammates.

Video features season highlights

In keeping with the season’s theme, the highlights video started and ended with the song, “We Are Family.” The video brought back some great memories and illustrated not only individual skills but the players’ unselfishness with one assist after another.

Looking ahead to the highly rated incoming class, Tara said, “They are all very talented players,” but there’s a big difference between high school and college play. However, the returning players will help them just as the returnees were helped as freshmen.

That was the end of the formalities, but Tara gathered those returnees together for some announcements.

Now it’s time to await the next season in November. It will include games against Tennessee, Baylor and Gonzaga, Tara said.

Photos by Ron Madson. For more, see Stories of the Season.