Women's March Madness snubs: Stanford misses tournament for first time since 1987

This is unfamiliar territory for Stanford.

For the first time since 1987, the Cardinal will miss the NCAA tournament, ending a streak of 36 consecutive appearances. Only Tennessee, which has made every tournament since it began in 1982, has had a longer run.

Stanford won five of its last six regular-season games to give it a shot of sneaking into the tournament. But at 16-13, the Cardinal needed to make a run in the ACC tournament and that didn’t happen. Stanford bowed out in the first round, losing to Clemson.

"We’re not going to let this one game define us or who we are,” first-year coach Kate Paye said after the loss.

Stanford is likely to get an invite to the WNIT, and Paye has indicated the Cardinal will accept. But the NCAA streak is over.

SURVIVOR POOL: Free to enter. $2,500 to win. Can you survive the madness?

Stanford wasn’t just a staple of the NCAA tournament, it had become one of its cornerstones. The Cardinal played in the national championship game five times, winning three of them, and reached the Final Four an additional 10 times. The team was a No. 1 or 2 seed each of the past five years.

Yet Stanford’s absence isn’t a total surprise, either.

In addition to longtime coach Tara VanDerveer retiring, Stanford lost its top three scorers and two leading rebounders from last year’s team. Cameron Brink was the No. 2 pick in the WNBA draft, Hannah Jump graduated and Kiki Iriafen transferred to USC.

Together, the three combined for an average of 47.4 points and 24.8 rebounds a game.

Stanford has just two seniors on its roster this year, and its regular starters included two sophomores and a freshman. Stanford also moved to the ACC, which meant entirely new opponents and a much heavier travel schedule.

Stanford isn’t the only notable name to miss out on the NCAA tournament. Here’s a look at some of the other snubs:

Virginia Tech

Virginia Tech lost games it shouldn’t have. The bigger problem, however, was other teams lost games they shouldn’t have.

Richmond, for example, was a lock for the tournament, ranked 33^rd in the NET. But when the Spiders got bounced in the semifinals of the Atlantic 10 tournament, that left one less at-large bid. And teams like Virginia Tech were on the outside looking in.

James Madison

The Dukes were phenomenal during the regular season, winning 28 games and going unbeaten in the Sun Belt conference. But an overtime loss to Arkansas State in the Sun Belt tournament final killed their chances.

Minnesota

Minnesota’s season began spiraling at the end of January and it could never get it back on track. A loss to Washington in the first round of the Big Ten tournament just made it official.

Arizona

The losses to Grand Canyon and even Northern Arizona look better than they initially did. But Arizona just didn’t have that signature win.

Iowa State/Princeton

It's hard to call this a true snub, since both Iowa State and Princeton made the tournament. But ... woof. They have to play each other in the First Four, with the winner getting Michigan in the Wolverines' backyard with that first-round game being played at Notre Dame.

Again, it's great to make the tournament. But for two teams that were living on the bubble the last few weeks, hard not to wonder if making the NIT and doing some damage there would have been better.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Women's March Madness snubs led by Stanford, Virginia Tech

Topics

March Madness 2025: Stanford women’s basketball officially misses first NCAA tournament since 1987

The first season in the post-Tara VanDerveer era didn’t go as planned at Stanford.
Yahoo Sports - 10h
3 biggest women's March Madness tournament snubs

Unfortunately, not everyone will participate in March Madness. Here are the 3 biggest snubs from Selection Sunday.
Yahoo Sports - 10h
2025 Women's NCAA Tournament: 25 things to know ahead of March Madness, including Tennessee's historic streak

The Lady Vols are headed toward their 43rd consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance
CBS Sports - 2d
Notre Dame women's basketball vs Stephen F. Austin prediction: Our pick for 2025 NCAA Tournament first round

It's Notre Dame women's basketball vs. Stephen F. Austin in March Madness first round. Here's our prediction for the 2025 NCAA Tournament basketball game.
Yahoo Sports - 10h
2025 March Madness printable bracket for men's, women's NCAA Tournament

March is upon us, which means it's time to fill out our brackets. Here are printable brackets for the men's and women's NCAA Tournaments.
Yahoo Sports - 16h
Oregon vs. Vanderbilt in March Madness: Prediction for 2025 NCAA Tournament opener

It's Oregon vs. Vanderbilt in the first round of the 2025 Women's NCAA Tournament. Here's our prediction for the March Madness basketball game.
Yahoo Sports - 8h
Women's March Madness schedule: NCAA Tournament start times, TV, streaming for first round

The NCAA women's basketball tournament bracket is set. Here's how to watch every first-round game.
Yahoo Sports - 9h
Louisville vs. Stanford odds, prediction, time: 2025 ACC Tournament picks, March 13 best bets by proven model

SportsLine's model just revealed its NCAA Basketball picks for the No. 13 Louisville Cardinals vs. Stanford Cardinal in the 2025 ACC Tournament quarterfinals on Thursday
CBS Sports - 3d
March Madness bracket revealed for 2025 NCAA women's tournament: UCLA takes top seed over South Carolina

The Bruins are the top seed in the NCAA tournament for the first time in history.
Yahoo Sports - 11h

Women's March Madness snubs: Stanford misses tournament for first time since 1987

Virginia Tech

James Madison

Minnesota

Arizona

Iowa State/Princeton

Topics

Related

March Madness 2025: Stanford women’s basketball officially misses first NCAA tournament since 1987

3 biggest women's March Madness tournament snubs

2025 Women's NCAA Tournament: 25 things to know ahead of March Madness, including Tennessee's historic streak

Notre Dame women's basketball vs Stephen F. Austin prediction: Our pick for 2025 NCAA Tournament first round

2025 March Madness printable bracket for men's, women's NCAA Tournament

Oregon vs. Vanderbilt in March Madness: Prediction for 2025 NCAA Tournament opener

Women's March Madness schedule: NCAA Tournament start times, TV, streaming for first round

Louisville vs. Stanford odds, prediction, time: 2025 ACC Tournament picks, March 13 best bets by proven model

March Madness bracket revealed for 2025 NCAA women's tournament: UCLA takes top seed over South Carolina

More from Yahoo Sports

Commanders have one glaring need one week into free agency

Commanders have one glaring need one week into free agency

Best free agents available for the Ravens after the first wave of free agency

Best free agents available for the Ravens after the first wave of free agency

Marlborough racing tips and best bets for today’s races

More in Sports

Commanders have one glaring need one week into free agency

Commanders have one glaring need one week into free agency

Best free agents available for the Ravens after the first wave of free agency

Best free agents available for the Ravens after the first wave of free agency

Marlborough racing tips and best bets for today’s races