The head coach of the Stanford women's basketball team has been accused of overseeing a 'dysfunctional and toxic' environment by former players and parents, according to an explosive report from the San Francisco Standard. The report outlines allegations from two ex-players and four parents that head coach Kate Paye and her staff would 'intimidate and threaten' members of the team.
Allegations of Intimidation and Retribution
Paye and her staff are accused of threatening to withdraw players' scholarships and grad school recommendations during 'distressing' team meetings. Two anonymous former players claimed stars were told they were 'too weak' to play for the Cardinal, would get 'iced out' of practices if they annoyed Paye, and would face 'retribution' for calling out what they thought was 'unfair treatment'.
Player Exodus and Lack of References
The allegations come after seven Cardinal players chose to enter the transfer portal after their final loss of the season on March 26. As it stands, Paye has just five players returning to the 15-woman roster next year. When those entering the portal made their announcements, there was a notable lack of references to Paye and her coaching staff. One player, Mary Ashley Stevenson, said she had 'decided to find a basketball environment that suits me better'.
'The girls did not want to leave Stanford,' one parent told the Standard. 'It will be spun that way, but it was not about NIL.'
Dismal Season and Administrative Concerns
The report comes on the back of a dismal season for Stanford. The famed program went a second straight season without making the NCAA Tournament and didn't feature in the AP Top 25 for the first time in 30 years. After parents raised concerns by email with Stanford's director of athletics John Donahoe, executive associate athletics director Angie Jabir attended the team's practice 'multiple' times, which was unusual.
Two parents and one former player also claimed that Paye wants to stop student-athletes from taking bigger course loads and summer classes to prevent them graduating early. A recent survey by Athletes.org ranked Stanford athletics 50th out of 59 schools for its treatment of student athletes. One anonymous women’s basketball player commented: 'There is no development, negative environment, personal attacks, one-third of the team walked away during the season.'
Paye's Response and Legacy
Paye did not address the allegations in a statement to the Standard. She said: 'Our returners are outstanding young women who have recommitted to each other, Stanford women’s basketball, and the entire university community. 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,' Paye continued. 'We look forward to officially announcing those additions once they have completed the application process and are admitted to the university.'
Paye was given the tough task of replacing Stanford icon Tara VanDerveer, who retired after a 38-season run in 2024. Paye was an assistant to VanDerveer for 17 seasons. VanDerveer was the winningest coach in NCAA history and led the Cardinal to three national championships. In Paye's first season, Stanford missed the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 38 years, and this year they finished 21-14 with a losing record against ACC schools.
A parent of a player who played under both VanDerveer and Paye said: 'Not a great environment. It’s not the same program anymore.' A former Stanford player added: 'I'm glad I moved on. I'm one of the lucky ones.'
