• Loading stock data...
Tuesday, October 14, 2025

Stanford’s Tara VanDerveer Retires With ACC Move Looming

  • She became the all-time winningest basketball coach in NCAA history in January.
  • The school joins the ACC next season, one reason star player Cameron Brink cited for jumping to the WNBA.
John Hefti-USA TODAY Sports

The winningest coach in college basketball is saying goodbye.

Stanford women’s basketball coach Tara VanDerveer announced her retirement Tuesday. She spent 45 years as head coach of Idaho, Ohio State, and Stanford, where she spent 38 seasons and won three national championships, most recently in 2021. In January, she passed Duke’s Mike Krzyzewski in the record books with her 1,203rd career win. After the Cardinal made a trip to the Sweet 16 this year, her record stands at 1,216 wins.

Kate Paye, who played under VanDerveer in the 1990s and coached under her for the last 17 seasons, is in negotiations to take over the program, the school announced. VanDerveer will stay on in an advisory capacity for the school and athletic department.

VanDerveer’s departure coincides with the dissolution of the Pac-12 and the subsequent splintering of a women’s college hoops powerhouse. Stanford, Cal, and SMU are set to join the ACC next season, and the Cardinal will live the bicoastal lifestyle as they clock more than 3,000 miles to get to Boston College and Miami.

On Wednesday, the legend denied that the conference move had any bearing on her decision. “It has nothing to do with going into the ACC,” VanDerveer said in a press conference. The coach said she would have relished competing against the East Coast powerhouses in that league.

It’s a brutal commute, especially for non-football sports that play midweek games, and it was part of the reason VanDerveer’s best player is taking off for the WNBA.

“As much as I love my coaching staff and my teammates, I don’t want to travel across the country,” Cameron Brink said while explaining her decision on The Bird and Taurasi Show on ESPN.

Brink had one year of eligibility remaining and could’ve stayed on at Stanford, but will instead get drafted to the WNBA on Monday. She’s projected to be the No. 2 pick, currently held by the Los Angeles Sparks, which just lost another one of VanDerveer’s former power forwards, Nneka Ogwumike, to the Seattle Storm.

VanDerveer had previously said she was “thrilled to be in the ACC” after Plan A, staying in the Pac-12, fell through. But, she said more charter flights, for most if not all matchups, would be necessary to remain competitive in the new conference. Like many schools, Stanford football takes a charter for all road games, men’s and women’s basketball fly private for most road games, and Olympic sports fly commercial except for the postseason, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Oct 4, 2025; Pasadena, California, USA; UCLA Bruins quarterback Nico Iamaleava (9) passes the ball during the fourth quarter against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Rose Bowl.

The Improbability of UCLA’s Incredible Upset Win Against Penn State

Before UCLA beat Penn State, donors were deeply unhappy.
Florida State defensive back Renardo Green (8) tackles Miami running back Mark Fletcher Jr. (22) during a college football game Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023, at Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee, Florida.

Miami–Florida State Rivalry Heats Up With Priciest Ticket in CFB

The get-in price for Saturday’s matchup in Tallahassee is more than $300.
Sep 27, 2025; College Station, Texas, USA; A detail view of the SEC logo on a chain marker during the game between the Texas A&M Aggies and the Auburn Tigers at Kyle Field.
exclusive

Fed-Up NIL Collectives Are Bypassing NIL Deal Approval Process

“I have deep concerns as to the longevity of this system.”
Sep 26, 2025; Corvallis, Oregon, USA; Oregon State Beavers flags fly after they score in the third quarter against the Houston Cougars at Reser Stadium.

Mountain West’s Motion to Dismiss Pac-12 Lawsuit Over Poaching Fees Denied

The Pac-12 wants to avoid having to pay the Mountain West $55 million.

Featured Today

Las Vegas Aces center A'ja Wilson (22) celebrates with her teammates after her last second shot to take the lead 90-88 against the Phoenix Mercury in Game 3 of the WNBA Finals at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix on Oct. 8, 2025.
exclusive

Standoff Over WNBA’s Future Has Dominated Finals

CBA negotiations have stolen the spotlight from the Aces’ dominant performance.
Paul Cartier
October 5, 2025

Sports Organists Are Still Thriving in the Era of Raucous Arena Music

“When they walk out and they see a real organ guy, it’s like, ‘Wow.’”
Sep 27, 2025; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Brewers center fielder Jackson Chourio (11) rounds the bases after hitting a home run during the sixth inning against the Cincinnati Reds at American Family Field.
October 4, 2025

Milwaukee Moneyball: Brewers Are Beating MLB’s Deeper Pockets

Milwaukee is holding its own against big-budget competitors.
Kōloa Rum Company Rum Rusher
September 27, 2025

Panthers Bubbly, Jets Wine, Manning Whiskey: The Sports Booze Boom

A sommelier dives into the sports booze trend—and tries Jets wine.

Penn State Could Owe James Franklin Very Little of Buyout

FOS has reviewed Franklin’s 2021 contract extension.
October 13, 2025

College Football Coach Firings Nearing $100M in Contract Buyouts

Two other coaches besides James Franklin were fired Sunday.
Patrick Kraft
October 13, 2025

Penn State Says Adidas Had No Role in James Franklin Firing or..

Franklin is owed tens of millions of dollars.
Sponsored

How Jenny Just Is Shaping the Future of Sports Ownership

Jenny Just on bringing her investment experience to sports ownership.
October 12, 2025

Penn State Fires James Franklin, Will Pay Nearly $50M Buyout

The Nittany Lions lost again Saturday, falling to 3-3 this season.
Patrick Kraft
exclusive
October 11, 2025

Penn State, Adidas Deny Wrongdoing Around $300M Apparel Deal

The school and the brand publicly defended their 10-year deal Saturday.
Sep 27, 2025; Evanston, Illinois, USA; UCLA Bruins quarterback Nico Iamaleava (9) passes the ball against the Northwestern Wildcats during the first half at Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium.
October 10, 2025

Big Ten Vote on Investment From California Pension Expected

A vote is expected to happen as early as next week, FOS confirmed.
Oct 9, 2025; Rosemont, IL, USA; Big Ten Commissioner Tony Petitti speaks during Big Ten MenÕs Basketball Media Days at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center.
October 10, 2025

In an Expanded March Madness, Big Ten Favors Straight Seeding

Discussion around expanding the tournament continues to escalate.