When Haley Jones was being recruited in high school, several coaches tried to dissuade her from picking Stanford.
“You’ll get a Stanford degree, but you’ll never win a national championship,” they told her.
What they didn’t realize is you don’t tell Haley Jones she can’t do something. Their attempts to bring her to their programs only solidified her decision.
“I think I can do both,” Haley told them.
So, Haley committed to Stanford. And with poise and determination, she got the title. She’s about to get her degree, and before going out, she wants one more championship with the Cardinal.
She never feared failure. Not then, not now. Not even when she was a little girl.
Her parents, Monique and Patrick, were both high school basketball coaches. Haley’s introduction to basketball came on the sidelines, where she would goof around with her older brother, Cameron.
Eventually, she graduated to participating in drills and watching intently as her parents drew up plays.
Then, one summer, Monique had her team playing in a tournament. They were short on players, so she asked the opposing coach if Haley could fill in.
He looked at the little girl and asked her: “Are you sure?”
By the end of the game, Monique’s high school players were chanting, “HA-LEY, HA-LEY, HA-LEY,” as she dominated the competition.
When the final whistle blew, the opposing coach approached Monique with a bewildered look on his face.
“How old did you say she was?” he asked.
Haley was 10.
It was then that Monique knew. Her little girl could handle anything.
Every day since then, Haley has approached her life, on and off the court, like she did that game: Like a 10-year-old giving buckets to a 17-year-old.
Without fear.
***
Haley’s childhood was centered on movement.
She had a never-ending supply of energy, so Monique and Patrick were always searching for ways to tire her out.
Monique remembers her husband researching trampolines when Haley was little. He knew it would be a good way for Haley to expend some energy, but he also wanted the safest option.
They settled on one that was enclosed, with high nets, so Haley couldn’t hurt herself. Patrick stuck it in the backyard where they could see it from the kitchen window. Then, in the evenings, they’d flip on the light and watch as Haley jumped for hours.
They also enrolled Haley in gymnastics, unaware that she would grow to be 6-foot-1, and the sport became Haley’s first passion.
But by the time she was 9, Haley already had size eight feet that barely fit on the balance beam. She knew she would have to give it up, but Haley didn’t simply quit. She went out a winner.
Haley always excelled at her tricks, but little mistakes kept her from taking first in her meets. Monique laughs when she recalls how Haley would run off the mat, forgetting to cap her routine with a salute, only to be reprimanded by her coach. She’d run back smiling, salute and run off once more.
So when it came time for her final meet, Monique expected more of the same. She and Patrick had to take Cameron to one of his many activities, so they asked Haley’s grandmother to accompany Haley to her last meet.
When it was over, Monique got a phone call from her mother-in-law. Haley had won the whole meet, then apologetically told her coaches that she would no longer be pursuing gymnastics.
“I went out as a state champion,” Haley says with a laugh.
And when her time in a leotard came to an end, Haley didn’t mourn its loss. Instead, she turned to other sports and activities: water polo, soccer, junior lifeguarding, swimming, golf, volleyball and, of course, basketball.
Patrick and Monique are high school sweethearts who met when Monique moved to California from Georgia. They both played basketball, and as their relationship progressed, so did their involvement in the sport. They worked together as high school coaches until Haley started ninth grade.
Through her parents, Haley became interested in the game on a level that transcended simply burning energy. By the time the 10-year-old was filling in during summer scrimmages, she was also a student of the game.
In the evenings, Monique and Patrick would sit at the dinner table drawing up plays, and Haley and Cameron would join. They used a specific teaching style: “Say it, see it, do it,” that allowed their kids to fully grasp whatever concept the two were working on. They taught them things like Read and React and the Princeton offense.
Then, when Haley got to basketball practice, she wanted to polish her new skills. But her parents never dumbed anything down for their kids.
“You think we are going to lower the hoop? No ma’am. There is no lower the hoop,” Monique says. “You’re strong enough, you’re going to work on this.”
They practiced right-handed layups, left-handed layups, free throws, 3-pointers, dribble moves. Anything and everything that Haley could learn, she did with ferocity. And when Monique was short on players, it was always Haley she called on to fill in.
She remembers watching Haley run her team’s offense when she was in elementary school. Haley dribbled across halfcourt and proudly called out the set, her little-kid voice echoing throughout the gym.
Haley spent a lot of her time training with the high-school girls even though she couldn’t actually compete with them. At 10, she was already better than girls who were years older than her, and by middle school, Haley was well on her way to competing with USA Basketball and becoming the country’s top high school recruit.
The discrepancy between Haley’s talent and her teammates’ was obvious, but she never cared.
In middle school, Haley attended a small, Catholic school. Her eighth-grade class had 16 students — eight boys and eight girls — and in order to field a basketball team, all eight girls had to play. Some of them had never touched a basketball before.
One girl had a habit of tying her shoes while her team was in the middle of a fast break. Haley would call out to her, never in anger but with encouragement: “Come on,” she’d say, “You can do this!”
In those games, it was Haley’s mission to get every player a basket. Sometimes she’d have to grab six offensive rebounds on one possession, but to her, that was no trouble.
“She would literally be spoon-feeding her teammates under the basket,” Monique says with a laugh.
Despite appearances, Haley was already a fierce competitor. But she knew there was a time and a place for it.
Going at someone who wasn’t on her level, or screaming at teammates who’d never played basketball before didn’t make sense. Haley knew how to turn it on and off.
Unless someone tried to take advantage of one of her teammates. Then it was game on.
“If someone is trying to get their shine by taking on the complete underdog, then Haley is going to completely go after you,” Monique says.
***
By the time Haley was 16, every college in the country wanted her on their team. Today, positionless basketball is more commonplace in the women’s game, but back then, Haley was being heralded as one of the first truly positionless players.
At 16, she was already changing the game.
“She’s like a unicorn in women’s basketball,” says roommate and former Stanford player Jordan Hamilton. “She can play one through five, and she’s a great basketball player because she doesn’t put herself in a box.”
Nowadays, if you watch Stanford, every time a player subs in, Haley looks to the bench to find out what role she will be taking on in the current lineup. With one substitution, Haley can go from running the point to posting up inside.
If there was one word to describe Haley Jones, “versatile” might be it. And not just because of what she does on the basketball court.
Since she was little, Haley was never concerned with specializing. And even when the world was looking at her as the best basketball player in the country, Haley didn’t see herself as a basketball player.
The idea that there is more to her life than what she does on the court is freeing to Haley.
“I never get caught up in one thing,” she says. “If I play a bad game, I’m never like, ‘I need to lay in my bed for two days because I’ve got nothing.’ It’s like, OK, the ball didn’t go in. But you have practice tomorrow and you can get it together tomorrow.”
Haley says she “hates losing more than she loves winning,” but she doesn’t let losses define her. Still, there are some that have stuck with her.
There is still minor annoyance in her voice when she brings up the fact that she never won a state championship as a high school basketball player (apparently the third-grade gymnastics title wasn’t quite good enough).
And Stanford’s loss to UConn in last year’s Final Four hurts her. The Cardinal missed out on a chance to compete for another title after one of their worst shooting performances of the season resulted in a 63-58 loss. They made just 34.8% of their attempts while shooting 17.4% from the 3-point line and 61.5% from the free-throw line.
Haley still remembers her interview with Holly Rowe at halftime of that game.
Addressing her as “Miss Holly,” Haley didn’t hold back.
“We just played our worst half of basketball all season and we are only down one,” she said.
Haley went into the locker room and relayed the same point to her teammates.
“I’m like, ‘Ladies, that sucked, and we are down one point. If we play 1% better, I bet we can pull it off,’” she recalls. “But they rose to the occasion and we didn’t. And that made it tough to swallow.”
There’s so much to learn from losses, Haley says.
After losing her final game in high school, she used it as motivation heading into her freshman year at Stanford. Last year’s tournament loss taught her to never let the buzzer sound on regrets.
“Personally, I felt like I had more to give, whether that had been defensive aggressiveness, diving on the ground for loose balls, playing through contact,” she says. “I felt like I had more in the tank. This season, I’m leaving it all out there.”
It’s already been a challenging season, with seven Pac-12 teams earning bids to the NCAA Tournament, setting a new record and showcasing the depth of the conference. Last year, Stanford went into March Madness after going undefeated in conference play and winning the Pac-12 tournament. This time around, Stanford dropped three games in conference (to USC, Washington and Utah) and exited the Pac-12 tournament early, with a semifinal loss to UCLA.
Coach Tara VanDerveer and Haley have similar approaches when it comes to the challenges of losing. There is more to be gained than lost in a defeat.
“I feel like we are really ready for the tournament because of the great competition in the Pac-12,” Vanderveer said during a SiriusXM radio interview on Tuesday.
The difficult conference slate created more opportunities for growth, and that’s something Haley will never shy away from.
In high school, she commuted nearly an hour from their home in Santa Cruz to Archbishop Mitty in San Jose. It was the best opportunity for her to learn and grow as a student and a player, so she took it.
When she got to Stanford, Haley latched onto the older, more experienced players. She learned everything she could from people like Anna Wilson and Nadia Fingall, both of whom she still seeks out for advice today.
Wilson taught her about hard work, perseverance and playing with passions. Fingall was the motherly figure on the team, always making sure the younger players had rides when they needed them and someone to talk to if they were homesick.
Now, Haley talks about Wilson and Fingall in the same way Haley’s teammates talk about her. And in her four years, Haley’s natural leadership skills have grown even stronger.
“She always knows what a person needs,” Hamilton says. “So if she has a teammate that needs extra study sessions, she’s going to go with her. If there is a teammate who needs to see her lead by example, you’ll see her coming out of practice with bruises from diving on the floor.”
Haley gets a lot of that from her parents, who are educators by nature and by trade. And part of teaching is learning how to approach each person. Haley uses different leadership styles depending on which teammate she’s interacting with. Some like it when she gets in their face, others need a more gentle approach. Haley is open to anything. Whatever is best for them and for the team works for her.
She is also big on feedback. If she and a teammate don’t connect on a pass during practice, there is no moving on to the next play and forgetting about it. Haley wants to know why it happened.
“Did I throw it too high? Too far? Too hard? How can we make it work next time?”
It’s never, “You messed up;” it’s, “How can we fix this together?”
***
A perfect day for Haley must have three things: a new food, a new activity and stimulating conversation.
Like exploring a new dumpling spot in San Francisco, and then falling on her butt while roller-skating. She’ll end the day talking to her favorite people. No small talk, though — Haley wants to know about existential crises and how people choose to exist in the world.
Her life is all about learning.
“All my hobbies revolve around me trying new things,” she says.
Lately, Haley has gotten into baking. She makes chai banana muffins and has perfected a cinnamon roll recipe so good that she says her mom stole it.
She journals at night, and her favorite part of the day is her skincare routine. In school, Haley’s favorite class is Arabic — though her mom jokes it’s just because she can say whatever she wants without her parents catching on.
Recently, Haley has started to expand the business side of her life as well.
She hosts a podcast with The Players Tribune, called “Sometimes I Hoop,” where she has guests from her friend and South Carolina player Aliyah Boston, to Monique and other basketball moms. Haley is studying communication, with the hope of going into broadcasting someday.
And like most things in her life, Haley has a talent for it.
There aren’t many things she’s bad at. Bowling comes to mind, though that’s only partly true because, according to Hamilton, Haley can get on a roll where she scores only strikes and spares.
The senior finds joy in music and associates different songs with different moments in her life. Gospel music means cleaning. That’s what played growing up when her mom knocked on Haley’s bedroom door, vacuum in hand. When she hears Stevie Wonder, Haley thinks of her dad — his music of choice during car rides to games or events.
Curating playlists for friends is one of her love languages, but singing is something she’s actually bad at.
“I’m tone deaf,” Haley says with a laugh.
But she only knows that because she’s tried it. That’s another thing about Haley. She lives without fear of failure. And that has led her to discover so many passions, and so many talents.
That’s a big reason why Haley picked Stanford.
“I’m not going to play basketball for 50 freaking years, and who would want to?” she says with a laugh. “There are so many things I’d love to do and love to try. I don’t want to get caught up in just one thing.”
Through all her new experiences, there is one thing Haley refuses to do, and that’s be disingenuous. From her “winning hair,” as she calls it— Haley wore the long, bouncy tendrils when Stanford won the title in 2021, so now she keeps it all season — to her social media accounts, Haley is proud to be authentically herself.
She won’t take an NIL deal or a partnership if “the vibes are bad,” or if she gets the sense that a company just wants to use her name but doesn’t want to hear her input. And her social media strategy is the same as it was when she first created accounts in her early teens.
“I don’t curate my content,” Haley says. “For me, when I think about when I first got social media when I was in seventh or eighth grade, it was a place for me to connect with my friends and show them what I was doing. And as social media grew, I think that kind of left for a lot of people, but I’ve tried to keep it as the main reason I use it.”
She also knows that part of being a basketball player today is having a platform and using it. For Haley, that means representing young Black and biracial kids, particularly young girls. It’s a big responsibility, but one she takes great pride in.
It’s a part of her life she’s long been aware of. Patrick is white and Monique is Black, so as soon as their kids were old enough to understand, they started having conversations about race and society.
“Haley loves her dad and takes pride in her dad,” Monique says. “She embraces that she is a biracial, mixed female, but, when society looks at her, they see a Black female. And that means she has to work twice as hard.”
It also means less room for mistakes, something Haley feels every time she posts on social media.
“I understand that the way I am taken is going to impact how these young Black kids behind me are taken,” she says. “That is a big weight on my shoulders, but it’s one that I invite and embrace.”
***
Haley’s older brother, Cameron, has always been her fiercest supporter. When they were growing up, kids would try to make fun of him by pointing out that Haley was the athlete of the family.
He didn’t care.
“Yeah she is,” Haley remembers him saying. “And you’re jealous.”
Then, when they got to high school, none of Cameron’s friends watched girls’ basketball. He changed that quickly by bringing them to all of Haley’s games. Now, as an assistant coach at Colorado College, he hosts Stanford watch parties for his players, so they too can see the wonder that is Haley Jones on a basketball court.
Haley has always known that no matter what was going on in her life, Cameron would have her back. She may be fearless, but he’s also her safety net.
On Feb. 20, Haley celebrated Senior Night at Stanford with a signature performance, scoring 18 points, grabbing six rebounds, recording three steals and blocking a shot.
Cameron flew in from Colorado Springs for the occasion.
Haley had no idea he was coming. When she laid eyes on her brother, she started to cry.
And he wasn’t the only one who showed up for her.
Her best friend flew in from UCLA. Cameron’s friends from high school, who all grew to love Haley like their own little sister, were there, too. Even her kindergarten teacher showed up.
In total, 150 people were in the stands, just for her.
“She’s touched so many people,” Monique says.
In four years at Stanford, Haley has won a national title, and in the next month, she hopes to win another. She’s been a starter and a key contributor in all four seasons, doing a little bit of everything for the Cardinal.
She’s helped bring positionless basketball to the forefront of the women’s game, and in April she’s projected to be a top-five draft pick in the WNBA.
Her already long list of accomplishments is just the beginning.
There’s nothing she won’t try, and nothing she can’t do.
That’s the power of Haley Jones.
Eden Laase is a Staff Writer at Just Women’s Sports. Follow her on Twitter @eden_laase.
The NCAA Tournament not only provides basketball fans with chills and thrills. March Madness also provides a sneak peek at the stars soon to join the WNBA ranks.
Just Women’s Sports analyst Rachel Galligan projected every first-round pick for the 2023 WNBA Draft in April. Based on her mock draft, here are the four potential lottery picks to watch as the NCAA Tournament gets underway.
Aliyah Boston, F, South Carolina
The consensus No. 1 pick leads the No. 1 overall seed into the tournament with her sights set on a repeat title. Boston and the Gamecocks won the national championship against UConn last year, and the undefeated Gamecocks look even stronger this time around.
While Boston’s stats have not been as strong this season, her 13.3 points and 9.7 rebounds per game are nonetheless impressive — especially when considering the heavy defensive pressure the 6-foot-5 post receives from opponents.
JWS Bracket Challenge: Sign up for a chance to win $150,000!
Diamond Miller, G, Maryland
The second-seeded Terrapins lost four of their starters in the offseason, two to the transfer portal and two to graduation. But you wouldn’t know it to look at them, in large part thanks to the skill and composure of Miller, their lone holdover in the starting lineup.
The 6-3 guard is averaging 19.7 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 2.1 steals per game for Maryland, the best numbers of her career. After an injury-plagued junior season, she has looked stronger than ever in her senior season.
Rickea Jackson, F, Tennessee
The high-profile transfer had a rocky start to her Tennessee tenure, as she was benched for two games in early December due to a coach’s decision.
Since her return, though, Jackson has flourished for the fourth-seeded Volunteers. The 6-2 forward leads the team with 19.6 points per game, and she is peaking at the right time, with a 26-point double-double to lead Tennessee over LSU in the SEC tournament semifinals.
Haley Jones, G, Stanford
Jones’ value comes in her versatility. The 6-1 guard can score, she can create plays, and she can defend with the best of them. For Stanford this season, she is averaging 13.4 points, 9.1 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game.
The No. 1 seed in the second Seattle region, Cardinal have lost two of their last three games — to Utah in their regular-season finale and to UCLA in the Pac-12 tournament quarterfinals. But with Jones’ steady presence, they still have what it takes to reach the Final Four for a third consecutive season.
Stanford’s “Funky Four” seniors are gearing up for one last postseason run. They kept their momentum going Monday with a 71-66 win against Pac-12 rival UCLA.
The senior quartet has won a national championship and made two Final Four appearances in their first three seasons with the Cardinal. Their only year without a deep tournament run came in 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic wiped out the postseason.
They’ve won 116 games with the Cardinal, including Monday’s regular-season home finale against No. 17 UCLA. Their latest win earned them a standing ovation from the Stanford faithful in attendance at Maples Pavilion.
“They call themselves the Funky Four, I call them the Final Four or the Fabulous Four,” Tara VanDerveer said after the win. “Let’s keep it rolling.”m
🎥 𝗜𝗡𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗡𝗧 𝗖𝗟𝗔𝗦𝗦𝗜𝗖 🎥
— Pac-12 Conference (@pac12) February 21, 2023
Cameron Brink’s 25 points carry No. 3 @StanfordWBB past No. 17 UCLA in electric matchup. 🌲 pic.twitter.com/PXE12w706E
Haley Jones led the senior class for No. 3 Stanford (26-3) with 18 points. Hannah Jump, Francesca Belibi and Ashten Prechtel round out the group.
“We’re trying to win a Pac-12 championship and this game was necessary to do that,” Jones said. “We had to be the aggressor.”
Junior forward Cameron Brink did her part, leading the team with 25 points. She went 15-for-15 from the free throw line, the most free throws without a miss by a Stanford player since at least 1999, according to ESPN.
Stanford has two games remaining in the regular season, against No. 21 Colorado on Thursday and against No. 8 Utah on Saturday, before moving into the postseason.
Haley Jones and Aliayh Boston think that Indiana are one of the more underrated teams in college basketball this year.
On the first episode of Jones’ new podcast “Sometimes I Hoop,” the two discussed teams that are flying somewhat under the radar this season.
“There have been some really great games and I feel like Indiana this year is looking pretty good. I think all around, their scorers look pretty good,” Boston said, also calling out Jackson State. “Grace [Berger’s] mid-range jumper is insane.”
“It doesn’t matter where you are, the elevation is there,” added Jones.
For Jones, Utah seems to be a tough team this year.
“Utah is tough. Utah is nasty. They have a lot of top players,” she said.
But what the two can’t seem to agree on is whether or not the SEC or the Pac-12 is the toughest women’s basketball conference this year.
“The SEC is really top two, and not two,” Boston said. “The physicality that happens and the way that you thug it out, isn’t safe. It’s not like, no pity pat foul. No, you’ve got to knock out forreal. And that’s ok. That’s how it should be, good physical basketball.”
For Jones, the skill level of the Pac-12 surpasses that of the SEC.
“You’ve got a killer on every single team, the depth is there,” Jones said.
You can watch more below:
LOS ANGELES — Two seasons ago, Haley Jones was named the Final Four’s Most Outstanding Player after guiding the Stanford women’s basketball team to a national championship. This year, fresh off falling to UConn in the Final Four in April, the rising senior said her offseason has been focused on ball-handling and shooting from the perimeter.
As opposed to switching between playing in the backcourt and frontcourt, as she did her first three years at Stanford, Jones expects to embrace a heavier guard role in 2022-23.
“This year, I’m going to be a guard 90 percent of the time,” the 6-foot-1 Santa Cruz native said.
Last season, Jones led the Cardinal with 3.7 assists per game, despite not being the team’s primary point guard. She also averaged 13.2 points and 7.9 rebounds per contest.
Jones’ ability to play each position on the court led Stanford head coach Tara VanDerveer to compare her to NBA legend Magic Johnson. As a kid, Jones’ parents would often encourage her to play all five positions, telling her that if she could do so, there would be more playing time for her. She said continuing to build every aspect of her game will allow her to find a role on the WNBA team that drafts her next year.
Incoming UCLA freshman point guard and 2021-22 Gatorade Women’s Athlete of the Year Kiki Rice, who began watching Jones during her freshman year in college, said she was always drawn to playing with her.
“She’s extremely versatile,” Rice said about Jones. “Her ability to affect the game in so many ways is impressive. I’m really impressed by her passing ability. She has a point guard’s vision and IQ but can also play inside.
“I know there are going to be some fun matchups playing against Stanford this year.”
While the rest of the Cardinal’s schedule has yet to be announced, college basketball fans are in for an early-season treat on Nov. 20 when Stanford takes on reigning champion South Carolina.
Get your popcorn ready.
— Just Women’s Sports (@justwsports) July 13, 2022
The 2021 and 2022 National Champions will face off on November 20, 2022 at Maples Pavilion. pic.twitter.com/a6bgDR8heG
The Cardinal will bring a top-five freshman class to those matchups, a group that includes No. 1 recruit Lauren Betts of Grandview (Colo.). Jones describes them as coachable.
“What I like most about them is they seek help from the older players,” Jones said. “They’re constantly asking, ‘What can I do better? What are the reads you’re making? And can we work extra?’ Them being that way is going to help our team chemistry, but also help them individually down the road.”
This offseason has been Jones’ first running the point full time, and she’s relishing being a mentor to the two incoming point guards, Indya Nivar and Talana Leopolo.
“Now, all of a sudden, I’m in the leadership role, and I’m the old one,” Jones said. “Last year, I still felt like a freshman as a junior. It’s a different role to take on. It’s been really cool to be able to mentor the younger players.”
The newfound mentor is part of one of the strongest senior classes in the history of women’s basketball, partly as a function of some players taking advantage of a fifth year of eligibility due to the COVID-19-shortened 2020 season.
Jones named South Carolina’s Aliyah Boston and Zia Cooke as well as Virginia Tech’s Ashley Owusu as fellow natural seniors she expects to be elite professional prospects next year. As for the fifth-year seniors, Jones acknowledged 6-foot-7 Oregon forward Sedona Prince and Iowa State sharpshooter Ashley Joens.
“Our class is kind of stacked,” Jones said. “There’s a lot of depth in next year’s draft class, a lot of players who can make impacts in the WNBA next year.”
Joshua Fischman is a contributing writer at Just Women’s Sports covering Angel City FC and the Los Angeles Sparks. He has covered basketball for Vantage Sports and Hoops Rumors and served as co-host of “On the NBA Beat” podcast. Joshua received his master’s in Sports Media from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism. Follow him on Twitter @SportsCommsJosh.
We’re officially closer to the start of the upcoming NCAA basketball season than the end of the last one, and teams are beginning to announce their non-conference matchups for 2022-23.
Just Women’s Sports highlights a few that stand out as the new season inches closer.
Nov. 20: Stanford vs. South Carolina
Get your popcorn ready.
— Just Women’s Sports (@justwsports) July 13, 2022
The 2021 and 2022 National Champions will face off on November 20, 2022 at Maples Pavilion. pic.twitter.com/a6bgDR8heG
The battle between the two most recent national champions has the potential to be the matchup of the fall.
While both teams have lost some key players, each is still stacked with talent.
Stanford’s Haley Jones will be in her senior season and looking to continue her upward trajectory. Last year, Jones averaged 13.2 points per game. The team also features Cameron Brink.
The Gamecocks’ Aliyah Boston, meanwhile, is still just a junior and already could be considered one of the greatest college basketball players of all time. She averaged 16.8 points per game last season and was fourth in the nation in rebounds per game with 12.5 on average.
This game seems destined to be a top-10 matchup, and it could pit No. 1 vs. No. 2. Just Women’s Sports’ way-too-early Top 25 placed South Carolina first in the country and Stanford second looking ahead to the new season.
Dec. 1: Iowa vs. NC State
A potential top-10 matchup in Carver-Hawkeye Arena? 𝙎𝙞𝙜𝙣 𝙪𝙨 𝙪𝙥! 🔥
— Iowa Women's Basketball (@IowaWBB) July 11, 2022
We'll host @PackWomensBball on Thursday, Dec. 1 as part of the B1G/ACC Challenge. #Hawkeyes pic.twitter.com/WuGGOaTPg2
Will Iowa live up to sky-high expectations? With Caitlin Clark entering her junior season and Monika Czinano returning for a fifth year, signs point to yes.
On the other side, NC State may have lost Elissa Cunane to professional basketball, but Diamond Johnson and Jakia Brown-Turner should be able to step in and fill the void.
That makes this a possible top-10 matchup, as long as both teams enter December having played to their potential.
Also on Dec. 1: Maryland vs. Notre Dame, North Carolina vs. Indiana
Also, this schedule came out yesterday.... Dec. 1 is a national holidaypic.twitter.com/1AHZbhW6s3
— Alexa Philippou (@alexaphilippou) July 12, 2022
Nov. 25 & 27: Phil Knight Legacy Tournament
This year’s tournament features Duke, Iowa, Oregon State and UConn. A possible matchup between Iowa and UConn would offer a rematch of the 2021 NCAA tournament Sweet 16, a 92-72 win for the Huskies. But both teams look very different than they did then.
UConn is without stars Olivia Nelson-Ododa and Christyn Williams but should have both Azzi Fudd and Paige Bueckers back and healthy. Iowa, meanwhile, will have both Czinano and Clark — both notably more seasoned than they were in 2021. While UConn did a good job of shutting down Clark last time, it might not be as easy the second time around.
There’s also Duke to consider. The Blue Devils could be a sneaky contender in Kara Lawson’s third season as coach.
Stanford took down Utah 73-48 on Sunday to win the Pac-12 tournament championship for the second year in a row and the 15th time in 19 total appearances.
The Cardinal, after holding just a two-point lead at halftime, outscored Utah 41-18 in the second half — including holding the Utes to five points in the fourth quarter — to roll to victory. Haley Jones led Stanford with 19 points, six rebounds and four assists, earning tournament MVP honors for her performances during the title run. Cameron Brink added 16 points, four rebounds and four blocks, while Lexie Hull had 15 points and five rebounds.
Brink was named to the All-Tournament Team alongside Stanford guard Anna Wilson.
“I actually think they’re better than they were last year, and last year they won the national championship,” Utah coach Lynne Roberts said of Stanford after the game. “I do think they’re the best team in the country.
“If Brink and Jones are both going, they’ll cut down the nets in Minneapolis again. Alone, they’re a matchup nightmare. But when they’re both going, there’s not much you can do.”
For the 15th time...
— Stanford Women’s Basketball (@StanfordWBB) March 7, 2022
🏆 𝗣𝗔𝗖-𝟭𝟮 𝗧𝗢𝗨𝗥𝗡𝗔𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗧 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗠𝗣𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗦 🏆#GoStanford pic.twitter.com/J7zVLMj6qk
Stanford enters the NCAA Tournament having gone undefeated in the Pac-12 during the regular season and postseason. This year marks the 12th time the team has won at least a share of the regular-season conference crown and the Pac-12 tournament title in the same season.
The Cardinal also now own the longest active win streak in the nation at 20 games, with their last loss coming against top-ranked South Carolina on Dec. 21.
“We won last year and we have that target on our back, which we kind of embrace,” said Jones. “It’s kind of fueling that fire to keep our competitive energy going into the tournament.”
The win comes days after Stanford women’s soccer player Katie Meyer, a friend and supporter of the basketball team, died in a university residence hall. Meyer’s death was later confirmed as suicide.
“Katie was an incredible person in every way,” Hull said. “To be able to win, I know she would’ve been one of the biggest [supporters].”
“For women’s sports, she was enthusiastic, she was so positive, so loving, so outgoing, so compassionate in everything that she did,” Jones added after Hull started to get emotional. “Going into this tournament, we had very heavy hearts … but we tried to embody that spirit. We tried to be competitive, be gritty. She’s one of the most enthusiastic players I’ve ever seen.
“Being able to win and bring this home and be with our Stanford family when we get back is going to be really special. But I think we did a really good job of embodying that for her and for each other.”
Utah, after going 20-11 on the season, is expected to make the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2011. Brynna Maxwell was the only Utah player to finish the game in double digits, with 16 points. Kelsey Rees had eight points and 10 rebounds.
Stanford guard Haley Jones had a night on Tuesday, recording a triple-double in the Cardinal’s 77-55 win over Portland.
1️⃣7️⃣ points. 1️⃣2️⃣ rebounds. 🔟 assists.
— Stanford Women’s Basketball (@StanfordWBB) November 17, 2021
Stanford's first triple double in 19 years. What a night for @haleyjoness19 🔥#GoStanford pic.twitter.com/FEUbPUbzSP
It’s the first triple-double by a Stanford player in nearly 20 years. The last person to record a triple-double for the Cardinal was Nicole Powell in 2002.
The junior finished with 17 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists.
“It’s just amazing that my name, recognized next to Nicole Powell and other Stanford greats,” Jones told Pac-12 Network after the game. “I just gotta give it to my teammates. I think we bounced back from a tough loss on Sunday. They were finishing shots, we had a lot of energy today. It was really good to have that energy from everybody.”
Meanwhile, Cameron Brink led the team with 21 points.
Elsewhere, senior Lexie Hull had a night of her own, reaching 1,000 points for her career. Following the fame, head coach Tara VanDerveer called Hull a “warrior.”
Stanford is back in action against Gonzaga on Sunday at 4 p.m. ET.
The 2021 NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament Most Outstanding Player has been busy since leading the Stanford Cardinal to the national title last April. A few weeks after hoisting the championship trophy, Haley Jones was waiving to onlookers from an open-air jeep through the downtown streets of her hometown Santa Cruz, CA in a parade held in her honor. The city had just declared April 3rd Haley Jones Day and given her the Key to the City.
A month later, while finishing finals for her online Spring courses, the Communications major flew to Puerto Rico with USA Basketball for the 2021 FIBA Women’s AmeriCup. With a stacked roster that included the likes of Aliyah Boston (South Carolina), Elissa Cunane (NC State), Naz Hillmon (Michigan), and Rhyne Howard (Kentucky), Jones told NCAA Digital that she enjoyed being a role player off the bench for a change.
“We’re all coming from kind of being that player on your team, and now you’re here and you’re picking up a different role,” Jones said. “I was coming off the bench and I knew what I needed to do to help my team, if that was being a facilitator, if that was picking up my defense, if that was rebounding, whatever Coach Staley, Coach Barnes, and Coach Rizzotti needed from me, I was going to do that.”
The 6’1” self-described “point-forward” has become the go-to player for Stanford, leading her team to a 31-2 record last year in her sophomore season while averaging 13.2 points, 2.9 assists, and 7.4 rebounds per game.
After an injury cut short her freshman season and the pandemic had Stanford playing only six games on their home court last year, it wouldn’t be unfair for Hall of Fame coach Tara VanDerveer to expect even more from a healthy, rested Jones this year.
We know what it takes, and we're hungry for more.
— Stanford Women’s Basketball (@StanfordWBB) October 15, 2021
🗣 @haleyjoness19 🗣#GoStanford pic.twitter.com/w8OcLbfvMT
The No. 1 recruit in her class, Jones is already one of the most dynamic and versatile players in the women’s college game. She’s at home in the paint but won’t hesitate to bring the ball up the court and facilitate the offense. She’s a shooting threat from almost anywhere on the court, can score off the drive, and was second in assists last season behind point guard Kiana Williams. ESPN analyst Debbie Antonelli compares her “positionless” abilities to Cheryl Miller, one of the greatest to ever play the game.
Perhaps the most convincing reason to bet on a Stanford title repeat is the fact they are returning 12 of 13 from their national championship roster. And most of those 12 players saw significant minutes throughout the regular and postseason as VanDeveer stuck to her deep rotation even when the stakes got high. With shooting guard Lexie Hull and defensive specialist Anna Wilson on the perimeter and Fran Bilibi and blocking machine Cameron Brink in the front court, Jones has a supporting cast with bona-fide championship experience. And winning Stanford’s first championship in 30 years didn’t satisfy anyone’s hunger, least of all Jones’.
“We aren’t settling. We want to win another. I have two more years. I want to win two more,” she said.
In the Pac-12, Stanford will have Oregon and UCLA as their main competitors. After losing their historic big three to the 2020 WNBA draft, the Ducks are a full season into a quick rebuild, led by the dangerous duo of Sedona Prince and Nyara Sabally.
If they make it as far as the Final Four, chances are good that Stanford will see both UConn and South Carolina in the wings of the Target Center in Minneapolis. Both teams are returning all five of their 2020-2021 starters, with Dawn Staley’s squad adding 6’7” Syracuse transfer Kamilla Cardoso and Geno Auriemma’s Huskies adding No. 1 overall recruit Azzi Fudd.
If (or when) the east coast powerhouses come up against Stanford next April, they are liable to meet a Haley Jones who is more confident in her game than ever before. After playing against veteran professionals throughout the AmeriCup, Jones says she has learned the value of efficiency — of doing more in less time with quicker pull ups and goofy-footed finishes. As for becoming a legit threat beyond the arc, Jones says, “I’m getting that three-point shot going. I’m working on stuff.”
If the defending champs make another deep run next spring, it will be in large part due to Haley Jones continuing to come into her own as the most complete player in the college game.
Stanford’s first regular season game is Thursday, Nov. 11 against Morgan State. They play No. 25 Texas on Nov 14.
The NCAA’s ruling allowing students to profit off their name, image, and likeness (NIL) has opened up a lucrative new world for college athletes. As brands and agencies move to embrace NIL opportunities, several female athletes are well-positioned to take advantage of the new policy.
These are the Top 10 in line for a payday:
1. Paige Bueckers, University of Connecticut
Paige Bueckers has been making headlines since high school, and after a dominant freshman year at UConn, the basketball star is now a household name. With 906,000 followers on Instagram and a strong national profile boosted by a memorable appearance at the ESPYs, Bueckers is one of the most popular college athletes in America today. Singing with Wassermann Media Group, a Los Angeles-based sports marketing and talent company, Bueckers is likely to leverage her platform for lucrative NIL deals, with some estimates predicting the basketball star could make $1 million a year in partnerships and endorsements.
2. Suni Lee, Auburn University
Suni Lee was the breakout star of the Tokyo Olympics after winning individual gold in women’s gymnastics and capturing the world’s attention. Lee’s Olympic success earned her a spot competing on this season of ABC’s Dancing with the Stars, only elevating her growing profile. Now at the Auburn University, Lee is set to benefit the most from NIL deals due to her rising fame (and 1.6 million Instagram followers).
3. Hailey Van Lith, University of Louisville
Haley Van Lith had a strong debut season for Louisville, leading the women’s basketball team to an Elite Eight appearance and the ACC Championship game while earning a spot on the ACC All-Freshman Team. The breakout Louisville star also boasts a sizeable social media following, including 703,000 fans on Instagram, making her a true beneficiary of NIL changes. In August, Lith signed with Octagon, a talent management agency, embracing the potential for forthcoming partnerships and endorsements.
4. Cameron Brink, Stanford University
Cameron Brink is quickly becoming one of the most recognizable athletes in college basketball after helping Stanford take home the NCAA 2021 Women’s Basketball Championship in her freshman year. Off the court, Brink is a savvy social media influencer, with 160,000 followers on Instagram and a series of brand deals. The Stanford star is among a growing group of young athletes to sign with Wasserman, adding to her NIL earnings potential.
5. Sarah Fuller, Vanderbilt University
Last year, Sarah Fuller made NCAA football history, becoming the first woman to play and score in a Power Five football game as a kicker for the Vanderbilt University football team. She’s a uniquely marketable talent who has also signed with Wasserman, leveraging her 146,000 Instagram followers. She currently plays goalkeeper for North Texas as a graduate soccer transfer.
6. Sedona Prince, Oregon University
Sedona Prince is not afraid to speak up. Last year, Oregon’s power-forward and center took the sports world by storm after highlighting the weight room disparities between the women’s and men’s 2021 NCAA basketball tournaments. Now, the basketball star boasts a loyal social media following on both Instagram and TikTok, making Prince one of college’s most marketable athletes.
7. Haley Jones, Stanford University
Haley Jones is one of the most talented college basketball players on the court today, having led Stanford to a 2021 NCAA Championship while being named the MOP of the Final Four. Her impressive run to a national title catapulted Jones to prominence, with the basketball star throwing out the first pitch at a San Francisco Giants game over the summer. Jones’s on-court success, combined with her charisma off the court, makes her a compelling and viable college sports figure.
8. Caitlin Clark, University of Iowa
Caitlin Clark is lighting up the court for Iowa basketball and Team USA, leading the U.S. Under-19 squad to a gold medal in the FIBA World Cup in August. As one of college basketball’s top talents and scorers, Clark will likely be a magnet for NIL deals, something the Iowa star has expressed interest in. “As a female college athlete, valuable opportunities could come in our college career that may not be given at a professional level, especially with the support of female athletics we have here in the state of Iowa.”
9. Zia Cooke, University of South Carolina
University of South Carolina basketball guard Zia Cooke is one of the first athletes to take advantage of the NIL rulings, inking a deal with Bojangles and putting on a for-profit basketball camp in her hometown of Toledo, OH. With 196,000 followers on Instagram, Cooke’s NIL profile is likely to continue to grow.
10. Kaila Novak, UCLA
Kaila Novak, the UCLA soccer star, had a breakout 2020 season, earning her stripes as a Pac-12 All-Freshman honoree. The sophomore also has a significant social media following, including 131,000 followers on Instagram, where she promotes specific brands, including nate, a shopping app.