Stanford Women's Basketball Faces Exodus as Star Player Transfers to TCU

Lara Somfai, a former five-star recruit, is one of six Cardinal players to enter the transfer portal this offseason.

Apr. 8, 2026 at 7:24pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting fragmented, overlapping shapes and planes in the colors of Stanford and TCU, conceptually representing the transition and upheaval in the Stanford women's basketball program.The departure of a star player signals a new era of uncertainty for the once-dominant Stanford women's basketball program.Stanford Today

The Stanford Cardinal women's basketball team is dealing with a major exodus of players this offseason, with star forward Lara Somfai becoming the first to announce her transfer. Somfai, who averaged 10.8 points and 9.1 rebounds as a freshman, has committed to join the TCU Horned Frogs, a program on the rise under head coach Mark Campbell. Somfai is one of six Stanford players to enter the transfer portal, signaling a new era for the once-dominant Cardinal program.

Why it matters

Stanford women's basketball has been a perennial powerhouse, making the NCAA tournament every year for nearly 40 years under legendary head coach Tara VanDerveer and winning three national titles. However, the program has struggled in recent seasons under current head coach Kate Paye, missing the tournament for the second straight year. The mass exodus of players, including several starters, threatens to further undermine the Cardinal's legacy and raises questions about the direction of the program.

The details

Lara Somfai, a former five-star recruit, was expected to become the face of the Stanford program in the post-VanDerveer era. However, after a disappointing season that saw the Cardinal miss the NCAA tournament, Somfai has decided to transfer to TCU, a program that has ascended rapidly under head coach Mark Campbell. Somfai cited the coaching staff as the primary reason for her decision, saying, 'They are absolutely incredible. The way they view basketball is what first caught my attention.' In addition to Somfai, five other Stanford players have entered the transfer portal, including Courtney Ogden, Harper Peterson, Nunu Agara, Mary Ashley Stevenson, and Carly Amborn.

  • Lara Somfai entered the transfer portal in early April 2026.
  • Somfai committed to TCU on April 8, 2026.

The players

Lara Somfai

A former five-star recruit who averaged 10.8 points and 9.1 rebounds as a freshman for the Stanford Cardinal.

Kate Paye

The current head coach of the Stanford women's basketball team, who has struggled to maintain the program's dominance in recent seasons.

Mark Campbell

The head coach of the TCU Horned Frogs, who has led the program to the Elite Eight in the last two seasons and is attracting top talent like Lara Somfai.

Tara VanDerveer

The legendary former head coach of the Stanford women's basketball team, who led the program to three national championships and 40 consecutive NCAA tournament appearances.

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What they’re saying

“I think mainly it was the coaching staff. They are absolutely incredible. The way they view basketball is what first caught my attention.”

— Lara Somfai

What’s next

With the loss of several key players, including Lara Somfai, the Stanford Cardinal women's basketball team faces a significant rebuilding effort. The program will need to quickly assemble a competitive roster for the upcoming season in order to return to the NCAA tournament and regain its status as a national powerhouse.

The takeaway

The mass exodus of players from the Stanford women's basketball program, including the transfer of star forward Lara Somfai to TCU, highlights the program's struggles in recent seasons and the challenges it faces in rebuilding its roster and reputation. The Cardinal's fall from grace as a perennial national title contender raises questions about the direction of the program and the ability of head coach Kate Paye to restore the team's former dominance.