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Sophomore guard Shay Ijiwoye is her usual exuberant self at the practice. |
Several hundred fans of Stanford women’s basketball
got a sneak peek at the 2025-26 team at an open practice July 24.
“We are having a fantastic summer,” head coach Kate
Paye told the crowd. “It’s great to be back.”
She made several pitches for people to renew their
season tickets and to bring their friends. In an email the next day she said, “Renewals are doing GREAT.
Right where we’ve always been and even above!”
During the session, the players went through various
conditioning and shooting drills before a scrimmage that ended the afternoon.
All 15 players were there, but not everyone could
participate. Senior guard Talana Lepolo and sophomore forward Harper Peterson
were sidelined, as they had been most of last season.
Talana was doing some shooting on her own early in the
session before switching to the stationary bike. Harper was still wearing a
boot on her left foot. However, Kate said in another email that she expects
both to be ready for the start of the new season.
The season’s first home game is scheduled for Nov. 3.
No printed roster was available, but the videoboard
flashed photos of each player and her position several times.
It’s too early for any real assessments, but the
overall impression is that the team is doing well. Returning players all have
improved, and the five freshmen acquitted themselves well.
At the end of the session, each player, starting with
the three seniors, introduced herself, her academic year and her hometown.
Senior guard Talana Lepolo signs her autograph for fans.
Afterward, the team adjourned to the north concourse
to sign autographs.
The summer quarter continues through Aug. 16. Fall
classes start Sept. 22.
The team’s new locker room is expected to be ready by
then. For now, the area between the west side of Maples and Campus Drive remains
blocked off.
Photos by Stanford Athletics