Greedy team is ready to spring ahead

Now that the 2017-18 women’s basketball season is over, the Stanford team is looking ahead to the 2018-19 season.

First, the players had some time off between the Sweet 16 and the start of spring classes on April 2.

Preparations for next season start immediately after the spring banquet on April 8, when returning players have their first team meeting with the coaches.

Organized workouts with strength and conditioning coach Brittany Keil start the next day, April 9, said associate head coach Kate Paye in a phone interview.

Besides working with Brittany six hours a week, the players will have two hours a week on the court with the coaches. They’ll also work out on their own and play pickup games.

Head coach Tara VanDerveer will meet with each player individually to review the past season and to set goals for the next one. The aim is to “develop a plan to help them be successful,” Kate said.

While the returning players look ahead to next year at Stanford, the two seniors -- forward Kaylee Johnson and guard Brittany McPhee -- will take the final classes needed for graduation in June. “Both are excellent students,” Kate said.

Britt hopes to continue playing on the professional level, while Kaylee is focused on getting into law school and becoming a lawyer.

When the team was in Lexington, Ky., for the Sweet Sixteen, Kaylee was studying for the LSAT (Law School Admission Test). She also has a job with a local law firm next year, Kate said. During Senior Day, Kaylee had said she hoped to continue playing basketball, but knee issues have changed those hopes, Kate said.

June 6 is the last day of spring classes, and finals are June 8-16. Graduation is June 17.

Summer classes start June 25. That’s when the three incoming freshmen -- Jenna Brown and the Hull twins, Lexie and Lacie -- will join their new teammates for the coming season. “We’re very excited about our freshmen,” Kate said, adding that all three are healthy.

While the 2017-18 season brought some surprising successes, given the team’s relative youth with only two seniors, “We’re greedy to get more,” Kate said.