STANFORD, Calif. (AP) – Chiney and Nneka Ogwumike had their chances at championships for Stanford that fell short before the sisters finally celebrated one in San Antonio when the Cardinal finally got it done again.
Kate Starbird, Nicole Powell, Candice Wiggins and countless others were also part of talented Stanford teams that never ended their seasons by cutting down the nets.
“It’s heartbreaking to go through that,” recalled Tara VanDerveer, who completed her 35th year coaching Stanford by capturing the program’s first NCAA championship since 1992.
The Cardinal had made 10 Final Four appearances only to come up empty-handed since the previous championship – twice finishing as runners-up before holding off Pac-12 r ival Arizona 54-53 to end the nearly three-decade drought.
“It means everything,” Wiggins said of seeing Stanford come through this time.