Texas Vs Stanford Women’s Basketball: Who Will Win?
Contents
- Introduction – Texas vs Stanford: A Rivalry Renewed
- The History of the Rivalry – From Early Dominance to Recent Renewal
- The Key Players – Who Will Make the Difference in the Game?
- The Coaches – Two of the Best in the Business
- The Intangibles – What Else to Consider in the Match-Up
- The Prediction – Who Will Win the Game?
- Conclusion – A great game No Matter the Outcome
It’s time to find out who will take home the victory in this year’s Texas Vs Stanford Women’s Basketball game!
Introduction – Texas vs Stanford: A Rivalry Renewed
It’s been a long time since the Texas Longhorns and Stanford Cardinal have met on the basketball court But their matchup in the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA tournament is a renewal of a rivalry that used to be one of the best in women’s college basketball
In the early 2000s, these two powerhouse programs met nearly every year in the NCAA Tournament with Stanford coming out on top more often than not. But their last meeting was in the Sweet Sixteen in 2007, when Texas finally got revenge with a win en route to the National Championship
Now, they meet again with a trip to the Elite Eight on the line. Who will come out victorious this time around?
The History of the Rivalry – From Early Dominance to Recent Renewal
The Stanford Cardinal and Texas Longhorns have a storied history when it comes to women’s basketball. The two programs have been two of the most successful over the past few decades, and the rivalry between them dates back to the early days of the sport.
The two teams first met in 1976, with Stanford coming out on top by a score of 85-63. The Cardinal would go on to dominate the early years of the rivalry, winning 11 of the first 12 meetings between the two teams. However, things started to change in the late 1980s as Texas began to emerge as a national power under Head Coach Jody Conradt.
The Longhorns would win four straight against Stanford from 1986-87 before the Cardinal finally got back on track with a win in 1988. The tide would turn again in Texas’ favor in the 1990s as they won 11 of 12 meetings against Stanford during that decade.
However, since 2000, the rivalry has been much more even. Stanford has won six of the past 16 meetings, including four of seven since 2014. The most recent meeting came back in December 2018, when Stanford came out on top by a score of 72-64.
Looking at both teams’ recent history, it is clear that this is still a very evenly matched rivalry. Both teams have had their moments of dominance, but there is no clear favorite heading into their next meeting. It should be another great game between two of the best programs in women’s college basketball
The Key Players – Who Will Make the Difference in the Game?
When it comes to women’s basketball, there are always two teams that tend to dominate the season – Texas and Stanford. This year is no different, as both teams have been consistently ranked in the top 10 throughout the season. So, who will come out on top when these two giants face off? Let’s take a look at the key players on each team to see who will make the difference in the game.
For Texas, they will be led by Senior Center Imani McGee-Stafford. She is averaging a double-double this season with 11 points and 10 rebounds per game McGee-Stafford is also one of the best defenders in the country, averaging over 2 blocks per game. She will need to be a force on both ends of the court if Texas wants to come out with a victory.
Joining McGee-Stafford will be Sophomore Guard Brooke McCarty. McCarty is having a breakout year, averaging 14 points and 3 assists per game She has also been shooting nearly 40% from three-point range this season. McCarty will need to provide a spark on offense if Texas wants to keep up with Stanford’s high scoring attack.
For Stanford, they will be led by Junior Forward Essence Carson. Carson is averaging 16 points and 7 rebounds per game this season. She is also one of the best three-point shooters in the country, shooting over 45% from beyond the arc. Carson will need to have a big game if Stanford wants to come out victorious against Texas.
Joining Carson will be Sophomore Guard Lili Thompson. Thompson is Stanford’s leading scorer this season, averaging 17 points per game She is also a very efficient shooter, shooting nearly 50% from the field and 40% from three-point range. Thompson will need to provide a steady offensive attack if Stanford wants to keep up with Texas’ high powered offense.
The Coaches – Two of the Best in the Business
In what promises to be an exciting matchup, the Texas Longhorns will take on the Stanford Cardinal in the Sweet Sixteen round of the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament The game will be played on Friday, March 23rd at 6:00 pm EST.
Both teams are coached by legends in the business. Stanford is coached by Tara VanDerveer, who has been at the helm of the Cardinal program since 1985. In that time, she has led Stanford to 10 Pac-12 regular season championships, 15 Pac-12 tournament titles, and 11 Final Fours appearances, including two National Championship games. Her overall record is an astonishing 1004-193 (.839).
Texas is coached by Karen Aston, who is in her seventh season with the Longhorns. In that time, she has led Texas to four Big 12 regular season championships and three Big 12 tournament titles. Aston has a career record of 352-122 (.744), which includes stops at Charlotte and Louisville before coming to Texas.
So who has the edge in this game? Let’s take a closer look at each team.
The Intangibles – What Else to Consider in the Match-Up
Sunshine Soccer Club has a very strong2 U16 team. They have not lost a game in over 2 years. They are the reigning State Champions and are ranked in the top 5 in the nation. They have several college bound players on the team. One player is going to Stanford on a full soccer scholarship.
The coach of Sunshine is very confident that his team will win the National Championship this year. The team has worked hard and they are very talented.
The Stanford women’s basketball team is very good. They are coached by Tara VanDerveer who has won over 1,000 games. Their starting five is strong and they have bench players that can come in and contribute. The Cardinal beat two top-10 teams en route to the Pac-12 Regular Season title. They are battle-tested and ready for the NCAA tournament
The Texas Longhorns are also a strong team. They are coached by Karen Aston who has led the Longhorns to four straight NCAA tournaments. Their starting five is very good and they have depth on their bench as well. The Longhorns won the Big 12 regular season title and are ready for the NCAA tournament
So, who will win? It is tough to say. Both teams are very good and well-coached. However, if we look at the intangibles, Stanford has the edge. They have more experience in big games and their coach has won more games than any other active coach in Division I women’s basketball. In addition, they have a player on their team that knows what it takes to win a National Championship (she won one with her club team). For these reasons, we think Stanford will win this match-up
The Prediction – Who Will Win the Game?
It is finally time for the annual showdown between the Texas Longhorns and the Stanford Cardinal This will be the first time these women’s powerhouses have faced off this season, so it is hard to say who will win. However, here is a look at each team’s stats to try and predict the victor.
The Texas Longhorns are currently ranked first in the nation with a 29-1 record. They are led by their star player Brooke McCarty, who averages 16 points per game The Longhorns are also very strong on defense, only giving up 54 points per game
The Stanford Cardinal are currently ranked fourth in the nation with a 28-2 record. They are led by their star player Brittany McPhee, who averages 17 points per game The Cardinal are also very strong on defense, only giving up 55 Points per game
When these two teams met last year, the Longhorns won by a score of 59-57. This was a very close game and it could go either way this year. However, based on their records and statistics, it is more likely that the Longhorns will win again this year by a slim margin.
Conclusion – A great game No Matter the Outcome
It is always a great game when these two teams face off against each other. They are both very evenly matched, which makes for an exciting and close game No matter who wins, it is sure to be a great game.