Tara VanDerveer’s try at a 3rd straight Closing 4 look will come subsequent yr with out one of many key cogs who led Stanford to that nationwide stage in every of the final two seasons.
Senior guard Lexie Hull introduced her intention Monday to declare for the WNBA Draft, which takes place subsequent week, forgoing an extra yr of eligibility afforded to her by a COVID-related rule change.
Hull led the Cardinal in scoring 3 times in 5 NCAA Event video games, together with a 36-point outburst towards Kansas within the second spherical to make sure Stanford would advance to play in her and twin sister Lacie’s hometown of Spokane for the following two rounds.
Lacie, who additionally has the added yr of eligibility, seems unlikely to return to Stanford after beginning for the Cardinal all through this season. Sixth-year senior guard Anna Wilson can also be leaving, which means Stanford should change three main backcourt contributors.
Each twins had been educational All-Individuals, and Lexie Hull is simply the second participant in program historical past to make the All-American first crew twice in her profession. They end their careers with two Closing 4 berths and a nationwide championship to their names. Wilson additionally made the Closing 4 in 2017.
After capturing properly early within the NCAA Event, Lexie struggled within the Cardinal’s loss Friday to UConn within the Closing 4, however VanDerveer stated her influence — together with that of the opposite departing gamers — goes far past the field rating for Stanford.
“I don’t suppose one recreation can outline Lexie or Lacie or Anna Wilson, what they’ve executed for this program. Did she miss some pictures? Sure, she did. This was not her finest recreation,” VanDerveer stated postgame. “However I wouldn’t commerce her for any participant — she performs so exhausting. She had — each her nostrils had been bleeding and he or she’s nonetheless making an attempt to be on the market, ‘I’m like, Lexie, you’re bleeding.’ She’s an absolute warrior.
“Truthfully if our crew can study from these twins and Anna on find out how to apply and find out how to compete, we could be again right here subsequent yr. They only are so aggressive. They're so coachable.”