SAN FRANCISCO -- Stanford guard Anna Wilson will stay at the university for a sixth season to help the Cardinal try to defend their national championship, while Alyssa Jerome is staying for a fifth year.
Wilson, the Pac-12 Conference co-Defensive Player of the Year who moved into the starting lineup last season, and Jerome made their announcements together to The Associated Press on Monday night before attending the Jazz-Warriors game, where Golden State planned to honor Hall of Fame coach Tara VanDerveer and her team for the program's first NCAA title since 1992.
The Cardinal lost guard Kiana Williams, drafted by the WNBA's Seattle Storm with the sixth pick of the second round and 18th overall.
"It's just a really awesome opportunity to have," said Wilson, the younger sister of Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson. "We just came off the national championship win and to be able to be with this team again is really special. We lose Ki but we bring back a lot of people and I think the new people are going to be really great."
The 5-foot-9 Wilson -- who like Russell wears uniform No. 3 and had him cheering from the stands during the championship run in San Antonio -- emerged as a lock-down defender while moving into the starting lineup with a stellar training camp.
A key reserve forward, the 6-foot-3 Jerome averaged 1.5 points and 1.3 rebounds in 7.2 minutes per game.
Because of the COVID-19 pandemic canceling college sports seasons last year, seniors were given the chance to have an extra year of eligibility.
"Obviously I didn't expect to come back a fifth year at Stanford but when the opportunity kind of came up I was really excited for it," Jerome said. "I just didn't want to leave this team yet. It's such a special group of girls, so really excited."
VanDerveer was thrilled to be at the game cheering on Golden State after she reached out to outgoing COO Rick Welts. She and coach Steve Kerr have visited each other's practices in recent years.
A tribute on the big screen was planned for a first-quarter timeout.
"It's been amazing. We are all such Warrior fans," VanDerveer said. "It's great to be here. It's really great that their team is recognizing our team, too."