CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
Stanford: Williams, Cardinal just one step away from finishing dream season
No. 1 Stanford vs. No. 3 Arizona Tipoff: 3 p.m., Alamodome, San Antonio, Texas Television: ESPN
Ever since San Antonio was announced as the site of the 2021 Final Four three years ago, Stanford point guard Kiana Williams has been looking forward to this moment — playing for a championship her senior year in her home city, with dozens of friends and family in the stands.
It motivated her during the long offseason after last year’s NCAA Tournament was canceled, and when Stanford was forced into a 65-day road trip due to public health restrictions in Santa Clara County, and when back-to-back losses threatened to derail the
season in January.
Now the time is finally here. Stanford (30-2), the top overall seed, faces No. 3 seed and conference rival Arizona (21-5) in the title game Sunday at 3 p.m. at the Alamodome (ESPN).
“I would talk to her about it -- in order to get to San Antonio, this is what we need to be doing,” Cardinal coach Tara VanDerveer said. “All spring, all summer, all fall, the goal was to get here. We’re on the edge of a dream come true for Kiana Williams.”
With the pandemic forcing the entire tournament to be played in San Antonio, Williams has had cheering sections of 50-60 people at each game.
“I told them this is a competition for tickets, so if I don’t hear you, I’m going to have to rotate you through,” Williams said last week. “But to be serious, it’s great being home. I haven’t played in front of my family all year, so for the tournament to be here, I just want to go hard for my senior year.”
But the opportunity turned into a double-edged sword for Williams, who seemed to be pressing too much as the pressure increased. She missed 11 straight shots as Stanford trailed Louisville by 12 at halftime before the Cardinal staged a huge comeback and won by 15 in the Elite Eight.
“I just had to change my mentality,” Williams said about the Louisville game. “I was forcing things. I think I wanted it too bad. I didn’t let the game come to me. So Tara got on me, my coaches got on me, and my teammates picked me up and I just had to change my mentality coming out in the second half.”
Then Williams shot just 4-for-14 and didn’t make a 3-pointer for the second time all season on Friday against South Carolina, when Stanford escaped 6665.
“Yeah, I think she is putting a lot of pressure on herself,” VanDerveer said. “She’s in her hometown. I think being in the championship game will help her a lot. This is how it’s going to be. They’re going to focus on her. She’ll respond. I know she’s got a great game in her.”
It won’t get any easier against Arizona (21-5), which is making its first Final Four appearance. Williams likely will be hounded by Aari McDonald, the first Pac-12 player since Stanford’s Chiney Ogwumike in 2014 to be named both Pac-12 Player and Defensive Player of the Year in the same season.
“(McDonald) has flat-out speed,” VanDerveer said. “She’s a jet. She’s super aggressive.”
Williams is 7-for-20 from the field with six assists and four turnovers in two games against Arizona this season -- Stanford’s 81-54 road win on New Year’s Day and a 62-48 win at Maples Pavilion on Feb. 22.
Those games have been anomalies for Williams, was the 12th player in program history to be selected as a first-team All-American by the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association.
She leads the team with 14.3 points and 3.1 assists per game. On the Stanford all-time lists, she ranks 10th in points, ninth in assists, first in 3-pointers and second in free-throw percentage.
“Kiana has been just a phenomenal player to coach,” VanDerveer said. “She’s incredibly unselfish, hardworking, plays at both ends of the floor, and a team leader in how she just wills our team to win. She does so much for our team.”
It also brings a sense of déjà vu for VanDerveer. Stanford won its first title in 1990 in Knoxville, when senior point guard Jennifer Azzi was Most Outstanding Player playing in her home state of Tennessee. Now Williams has a chance to accomplish the same feat.
“I want her to be relaxed, enjoy playing in her hometown,” VanDerveer said. “This is her home game and just really have fun. I think it’s really special.”