Women's college basketball coach is accused of overseeing 'toxic' environment where players are 'intimidated and threatened'

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.

An explosive report from the San Francisco Standard has outlined allegations from two ex-players and four parents that head coach Kate Paye and her staff would ‘intimidate and threaten’ members of the team.

Paye and her staff are also accused of threatening to withdraw players’ scholarships and grad school recommendations during ‘distressing’ team meetings.

Two anonymous former players have claimed stars were told they were ‘too weak’ to play for the Cardinal, they would get ‘iced out’ of practices if they annoyed Paye and would face ‘retribution’ for calling out what they thought was ‘unfair treatment’.

Daily Mail has contacted Stanford’s athletics department for comment. 

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.

Players and parents have claimed Paye would ‘intimidate and threaten’ members of her team

When those who were entering the portal made the announcement, 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. I am really excited about that.’

‘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.’ 

The report also 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 supposedly raised their concerns by email with Stanford’s director and chair of athletics John Donahoe, it’s alleged Angie Jabir, the executive associate athletics director, came to watch the team’s practice ‘multiple’ times which was unusual.

Two parents and one former player have 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 named Stanford athletics 50th out of 59 schools for its treatment of student athletes.

One women’s basketball player, who remained anonymous, commented: ‘There is no development, negative environment, personal attacks, one-third of the team walked away during the season.’

The famed program went a second straight season without making the NCAA Tournament

Paye didn’t 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 when she retired following a 38-season run in 2024. Paye was an assistant to VanDerveer for 17 seasons.

VanDerveer was the winningest coach in NCAA history during her time with Stanford and led the Cardinal to three national championships.

In Paye’s first season at the helmet, Stanford missed the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 38 years and this year they finished 21-14 and had 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.’ Meanwhile, a former Stanford player added: ‘I’m glad I moved on. I’m one of the lucky ones.’