Stanford men’s and women’s basketball is in full swing for the 2025-26 season. Both teams compete through March, and Maples Pavilion hosts a packed lineup of home games. Students can look forward to free admission and special giveaways like food, drinks, and swag at the game.

Here’s what you need to know:

Women’s basketball

1. The Cardinal has raced out to an impressive 8-2 start in nonconference play. They rank near the top of the Atlantic Coast Conference in various athletic performance statistics like scoring, rebounds, assists, and more.
2. The team’s leading scorer and rebounder Junior Nunu Agara was named Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Player of the Week for games played between Nov. 17-23. She was the Cardinal’s first conference player of the week since Cameron Brink won Pac-12 Player of the Week in March 2024.
3. Stanford forward Lara Somfai was named the Tamika Catchings National Freshman of the Week by the U.S. Basketball Writers Association. Somfai is one of the top players in the ACC for double-doubles, which is when a player produces double-digit totals in at least two statistical categories, such as points, rebounds, assists, blocks, and steals.
4. The Cardinal boasts one of the nation’s top recruiting classes with three five-star players (Hailee Swain, Lara Somfai, Alexandra Eschmeyer) and two four-stars (Nora Ezike, Carly Amborn), according to outlet espnW HoopGurlz. Four- and five-star are the highest rankings for high school basketball recruits.
5. This is Setsuko Ishiyama Director of Women’s Basketball Kate Paye’s second season as head coach. The Cardinal has more WNBA veterans on its coaching staff than any other school, including alumni Erica McCall, Kate Paye, Jeanette Pohlen, and Katy Steding. This season, 2017 grad and WNBA player Karlie Samuelson, joins the program as an intern while rehabbing an injury.
   

Men’s basketball

1. Stanford has produced a 7-1 record to open the season, highlighted by winning the Acrisure Invitational Championship for its first multi-team event title since 2007.
2. This is the second season under head coach Kyle Smith, the Anne and Tony Joseph Director of Men’s Basketball. Last year, he led the Cardinal to its most wins since 2015 and advanced to the second round of the National Invitation Tournament.
3. Three upperclassmen – Benny Gealer, Ryan Agarwal, and Chisom Okpara – are leading the team’s success. With .8 seconds remaining, Gealer caught and shot a 3-pointer during the Cardinal’s 78-77 win over St. Louis in the Acrisure Invitational Championship.
   
4. Frosh Ebuka Okorie has been impactful in his debut season, ranking fifth in the country in scoring at 23.0 points per game and first among freshmen. Okorie is also averaging 3.9 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game.
5. Stanford’s four-game home slate in January represents its most highly anticipated stretch at Maples Pavilion. After hosting Louisville on Jan. 2, the Cardinal welcomes North Carolina (Jan. 14), Duke (Jan. 17), and California (Jan. 24).

Keep up with both teams’ schedules and results, and find student giveaway information at GoStanford.com. The men’s team will play San Jose State at 4 p.m. on Dec. 13 in San Jose, and the women’s team will face off with Cal at 1 p.m. on Dec. 14 at Maples Pavilion.