The Stanford Cardinal are champions once more. For the first time since 1992, Stanford has taken home the NCAA women’s basketball championship after besting the Arizona Wildcats in a nail-biter 54-53.
This was Stanford’s first title appearance since 2010 after beating South Carolina in a heartbreaker, while Arizona was competing in their first championship after upsetting UConn on Friday night.
The Cardinal held the lead for the majority of Sunday’s game, even holding an 11-point lead over the Wildcats early on. However, Arizona continued to close the gap all evening, eventually leading to a tense final few moments as Aari McDonald had one last shot at giving the Wildcats the lead and the win, but sadly the shot hit the back of the rim and bounced harmlessly away.
THIS ENDING! 😱 pic.twitter.com/eyLSuJAVAC
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) April 5, 2021
🚨@StanfordWBB WINS THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP 🚨 pic.twitter.com/qqrVgsd3Sg
— ESPN (@espn) April 5, 2021
The title win is Stanford’s third all-time, and first in 29 years. Head coach Tara VanDerveer has led the Cardinal to all three of their championships dating back to 1990. The victory also continues Stanford’s school streak of winning championships in 45 straight years.
Still winning almost three decades later 👏
The last Pac-12 team to win the title was Stanford in 1992, coached by Tara VanDerveer. VanDerveer's 29-year gap between titles is the longest in Division I men’s or women’s history. pic.twitter.com/ec79Qz38HU
— espnW (@espnW) April 5, 2021
The reactions and congratulations for Stanford were swift on social media, as well as the celebrations postgame in-arena for the NCAA’s newest champions.
.@StanfordWBB wins the national championship for the first time since 1992! 🌲 pic.twitter.com/7dFmBCr1n3
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) April 5, 2021
WHAT A GAME. Arizona and Stanford owe us nothing, both teams left it all on the floor. Congratulations to @StanfordWBB!!! #NCAAW pic.twitter.com/cVIPS8LLzL
— LaChina Robinson (@LaChinaRobinson) April 5, 2021
Your 2021 NATIONAL CHAMPIONS.#GoStanford | @StanfordWBB pic.twitter.com/6KDxJIUxJA
— #GoStanford (@GoStanford) April 5, 2021
Loving this Arizona vs Stanford Nat’l Title game. Actually, loved Gonzaga vs UCLA last night. What a weekend of CBB
— Stephen A Smith (@stephenasmith) April 5, 2021
THE STANFORD CARDINAL
NATIONAL CHAMPIONS!#NationalChampionship x @StanfordWBB pic.twitter.com/cg651gICQT
— NCAA Women’s Basketball (@ncaawbb) April 5, 2021
We’ve been 𝘼𝙇𝙇 𝙄𝙉 all season. Now the trophy is ours.#GoStanford pic.twitter.com/1v7vqSeDWQ
— Stanford Women’s Basketball (@StanfordWBB) April 5, 2021
What a tournament, what a game, and what a win!
