Ex-Stanford players, parents say women’s basketball coach created toxic culture

Following a foul loss Feb. 19 at Miami, Stanford women’s basketball coach Kate Paye assembled her crew within the locker room inside Watsco Center in Coral Gables, Florida. Stanford was on its approach to a second straight season with out an NCAA Tournament look — a significant disappointment for the storied program. On Paye’s orders, assistant coaches handed out stat sheets for the 12 months. The head coach then issued a blunt evaluation of his crew’s efficiency, based on two former gamers.

“No one [in the transfer portal] is going to want anyone with these numbers,” the coach allegedly stated.

Paye’s feedback did not cease gamers from making an attempt to show her improper.

After the Cardinal’s ultimate lack of the season March 26, a surprising seven gamers turned their backs on Stanford basketball by coming into the portal, along with three gamers who graduated early. The exodus of two-thirds of the 15-woman roster follows a season through which Stanford did not make an look within the AP Top 25 for the primary time in 30 years.

The disappointing season wasn’t solely the fault of the teaching employees. However, two former gamers and 4 parents of gamers who spent the 2025-26 season with the Cardinal allege that Paye have fostered a dysfunctional and toxic surroundings, through which coaches intimidate and threaten gamers, and a few student-athletes really feel “iced out” of practices in the event that they fall on coaches’ unhealthy sides.

The two former gamers allege that Paye carried out “distressing team meetings” all through the season, just like the one which happened following the Miami recreation. During these conferences, one stated, Paye not solely threatened to bench gamers — a standard consequence of underperformance within the high-pressure world of Division I athletics — but in addition floated “getting rid of scholarships or refusing to give recommendations for grad school programs.”

Parents of former gamers stated there was a culture of retribution for gamers who spoke out towards what they perceived as unfair remedy. Players recounted to The Standard that at varied practices throughout the second half of the season, Paye stated, “Our jobs are on the line, and this is how you play?” One mum or dad and one participant additionally allege that a number of gamers have been advised they have been “too weak” to play at Stanford.

Parents of gamers filed stories with the director and chair of athletics John Donahoe, alleging that Paye had created an unwelcoming and toxic surroundings, based on screenshots of e mail messages obtained by The Standard. In response to those complaints, two former gamers stated, Angie Jabir, the chief affiliate athletics director, noticed a number of practices, an unusual prevalence.

Neither Paye nor Donahoe agreed to be interviewed, and the college didn’t straight deal with questions emailed by The Standard in regards to the allegations towards Paye.

Two parents of former gamers and one former participant advised The Standard that Paye is working to implement a rule that may forestall student-athletes from taking bigger course masses and summer season lessons to allow them to’t graduate early.

This comes after star Kiki Iriafen graduated in three years and transferred to play at USC forward of her ultimate school season in 2024-25, and after three different Cardinal gamers — Nunu Agara, Courtney Ogden, and Chloe Clardy — graduated early and departed Stanford this month. In addition, Stanford misplaced two gamers throughout the 12 months: Point guard Talana Lepolo left the crew in January, and walk-on guard Lauren Green left earlier than the ultimate WBIT recreation.

Most of Stanford’s transfers have ended up with different Power Four colleges. Ogden went to Michigan, Agara to Maryland, Clardy dedicated to North Carolina, Carly Amborn to Cal, Harper Peterson signed with Tennessee, Lara Somfai to TCU, and Mary Ashley Stevenson joined Columbia.

Stanford didn’t reply to a query in regards to the potential early commencement coverage.

Paye stated in an announcement that his crew, although depleted, is busy constructing for 2026-27. The program is bringing in recruits Elyse Ngenda, Jordyn Wheeler, newly signed Kiara Green, and Davidson decommit Gracyn Gilliard, and has introduced in two transfers, junior Miami of Ohio ahead Ilse de Vries and Michigan State ahead and former recruit Ines Sotelo. There are 10 gamers on the present roster, 4 of them incoming freshmen.

“Our returners are outstanding young women who have recommitted to each other, Stanford women’s basketball, and the entire university community,” Paye stated. “They are a focused group that has already begun working diligently to prepare for the year ahead and are excited to welcome our incoming freshmen into the fold this summer.”

“We are actively engaged in the transfer portal, and the past few weeks have reinforced that Stanford and this program remain highly attractive to prospective student-athletes who are looking for the singular combination of elite academics and athletics that we offer,” she added. “We look forward to officially announcing those additions once they have completed the application process and are admitted to the university.”

Paye was employed by Bernard Muir, the earlier athletic director, after the legendary Tara VanDerveer retired following a 38-season run through which she grew to become the winningest coach in NCAA historical past and led the Cardinal to nationwide titles in 1990, 1992, and 2021. Paye spent 17 seasons as an assistant beneath VanDerveer. In Paye’s first season as head coach, in 2024, Stanford missed the NCAA Tournament for the primary time in 38 years. This 12 months, Stanford improved from 16-15 to 21-14 however completed 8-10 in ACC play for a second consecutive season.

The Cardinal are hardly the one program coping with an exodus of gamers to the switch portal, as Power Four packages Pittsburgh, Tennessee, Iowa State, and Penn State have additionally misplaced at the very least seven gamers.

However, the admission hurdles at Stanford, which has extra tutorial restrictions than different Power Four universities, create a definite problem for Paye to rebuild her roster. Three parents advised The Standard that Paye and her employees are being compelled to recruit gamers from lower-level packages similar to UC Davis and Quinnipiac who possess the educational {qualifications} to switch to Stanford.

“It’s clear that the transfer portal has created an unprecedented shift that is impacting all institutions, and we must embrace that reality,” athletic director Donahoe stated in an announcement. “College athletics is rapidly changing, and we are focused on adapting our approach to reflect the current landscape. Our attention has been on thoughtfully navigating this period, supporting our student-athletes, and prioritizing all aspects of roster management, including financial support. I am confident that our staff, and this university, will continue to identify and identify the best young women to continue our legacy of success.”

Rumors a few detrimental crew culture beneath Paye started leaking after a number of gamers who introduced they have been departing this spring posted “goodbye” messages to this system however selected to not thank the teaching employees.

In Mary Ashley Stevenson’s farewell Instagram post (opens in new tab)she wrote, “I have decided to find a basketball environment that suits me better. I am really excited about that.”

Harper Peterson thanked (opens in new tab) “trainers, doctors, physical therapists, and other support staff who supported me through my season-ending injury last year. Your care and dedication meant everything during such a challenging time.”

Former Stanford guard Jzaniya Harriel commented on Clardy’s farewell post (opens in new tab)“Go where people see your true value!! #freed.” Harriel transferred from Stanford to SMU after the 2024-25 season.

A current survey on Athletes.org (opens in new tab) ranked Stanford athletics 50th out of 59 universities (opens in new tab) for its remedy of student-athletes. An nameless women’s basketball participant wrote, “There is no development, negative environment, personal attacks, one-third of the team walked away during the season.”

Taken individually, most of the claims about Paye made by former gamers or their parents are in step with complaints about different teaching main packages in Division 1 school basketball. But what’s inconceivable to disregard is the variety of Stanford gamers racing for the exits.

“Not a great environment,” stated the mum or dad of a participant who had been with this system beneath each VanDerveer and Paye. “It’s not the same program anymore.”

According to the 4 parents who spoke to The Standard, among the departures might have stemmed from gamers receiving profitable title, picture, and likeness offers and different monetary commitments from competing packages. However, one stated the cash wasn’t the principle motive for the departures. Stanford paid “players in the rotation” as much as six-figure offers beginning in January, based on a number of sources.

“To be clear,” the mum or dad stated, “the girls did not want to leave Stanford. It will be spun that way, but it was not about NIL.”

Stanford was all the time going to have an uphill climb whereas different colleges had extra flexibility to pay athletes and usher in transfers. As of May 14, the Cardinal have signed only one participant from the portal, and Paye and his employees stay shorthanded heading into the 2026-27 season.

“I’m glad I moved on,” stated one former participant. “I’m one of the lucky ones.”

This story has been up to date with the title of a further switch scholar, former Michigan State ahead Ines Sotelo.