Fans won't be able to see the team in person as they did last year, but they hope they can celebrate when play resumes this season. (Stanford Athletics)
“Stay tuned.”
That’s associate head coach Kate Paye’s advice to
Stanford women’s basketball fans who are wondering when and how the 2020-21
season will proceed.
“Things are changing constantly,” she said in a
recent phone interview.
Despite the fluid situation caused by the
coronavirus pandemic, several things are known for sure.
Games
to start Nov. 25
First, the NCAA Div. I and Pac-12 will allow
competition to begin Nov. 25. However, the schedule is still in flux. Moreover,
Stanford’s start must also be cleared by Santa Clara County health authorities.
There might be more conference games than usual
because all Pac-12 teams are following the same testing protocols. Assuming other schools adhere to the same health
guidelines as Stanford, colleges closer to home might be scheduled to avoid
plane travel, Kate said.
In the meantime, some players are working on
shooting and ball-handling skills on outdoor courts in accord with county
rules. An outdoor weight training facility has been set up for conditioning.
Practice can resume Oct. 14 if the county approves.
Sorry,
no fans
Second, no fans will be allowed at the games. That situation
will be revisited in January, said Stanford president Marc Tessier-Lavigne.
Third, all of the players are on campus and healthy.
They include the two international players, senior forward Alyssa Jerome from
Canada and freshman guard Agnes Emma-Nnopu from Australia.
New coaches Katy Steding and Britney Anderson also
are on The Farm, joining Kate and head coach Tara VanDerveer.
Fourth, everyone is undergoing COVID-19 testing in
accord with university and Santa Clara County protocols.
Fifth, along with all other athletes, they’re
staying in the new Escondido graduate student housing complex. Looking ahead,
there might be what Kate called Olympic village-type housing. Officials are “refining
housing plans,” she said.
Besides men’s and women’s basketball, sports hoping
to resume are football, wrestling, women’s gymnastics, and men’s and women’s
swimming and diving.
Maya
opts out of season
Sixth, the team is missing senior forward Maya
Dodson, who has opted out of the season and is at home in Georgia. Like
everyone else at home and on campus, she’s taking her classes remotely.
“I have spent time reflecting on my personal
circumstances navigating the midst of vast uncertainty, be it college sports,
the gravity of the pandemic, or the complicated political and social justice
climates,” Maya said on social media.
Like Maya, the players are closely following the
issues, and the U.S. citizens have registered to vote, Kate said.
In accord with rules regarding student-athletes who
opt out of this season, Maya is still a Stanford student and will retain a year
of eligibility, Kate said. “We respect everybody’s decision.”
Maya wrote, “As a senior, I will take leadership in
stride and support (my teammates) in any way I can from afar.”
Also missing is senior guard Estella Moschkau, who
graduated early and has transferred to grad school at the University of
Wisconsin in her home state.
Staying
flexible and positive
Despite the masks and social distancing, Kate said, “we’re
really excited to see each other.”
On a personal note, Kate’s daughters, like the
Stanford players, are studying online. Anne is in kindergarten while Cassie is
in fourth grade.
Kate praised campus leaders for all they have been
doing to make sure everything goes right.
In the meantime, “we’re trying to stay flexible and
positive,” Kate concluded.
