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When Stanford last made the NCAA women’s basketball national championship game

Stanford heads to the 2021 NCAA women’s basketball national championship game for the first time in over a decade. We break down the program’s title game history history.

By Collin Sherwin
Stanford Cardinal guard Haley Jones celebrates after scoring against the South Carolina Gamecocks during the second half in the national semifinals of the women’s Final Four of the 2021 NCAA Tournament at Alamodome.  Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

The Stanford Cardinal and their Basketball Hall of Fame coach Tara VanDerveer are back in the women’s basketball national championship game with a dramatic 66-65 win over the South Carolina Gamecocks in the 2021 Final Four. Let’s take a look at how they made it back to the title game, and their program history.

How Stanford made the 2021 National Championship

Stanford entered March Madness after winning the Pac-12 title over UCLA by 20 points, and their dominance has carried over into March Madness. The Cardinal drilled No. 16 Utah Valley 87-44 beat before taking down No. 8 Oklahoma State 73-62. Stanford then topped No. 5 Missouri State 89-62 in the Sweet 16, and No. 2 Louisville — 78-63 in the Elite Eight.

And one of the more dramatic finishes in college basketball this season is how they escaped the South Carolina Gamecocks to reach Sunday night’s title game.

When did Stanford last appear in the national championship?

In 2010 the Cardinal lost to Geno Auriemma and Stanford 53–47 as the Huskies repeated as the title winners.

How many times has Stanford appeared in the national championship?

The Farm has seen their team make four national championship games, all under VanDerveer:

1990: Won 76-60 over Auburn
1992: Won 78–62 over Western Kentucky
2008: Lost 64–48 to Tennessee
2010: Lost 53-47 to UConn

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