On Tuesday, junior guard Tess Heal announced on Instagram she is entering the transfer portal after one season with the Cardinal’s women’s basketball team. Heal, a new addition to the team, was one of the top five scorers in the West Coast Conference while at Santa Clara University before transferring to Stanford. During her season at Stanford, Heal averaged eight points a game and led the team with a 50.3% shooting percentage in 21 minutes per game.

With head coach Kate Paye’s recent comments saying that she was positive that no one will transfer out of the program, it is a surprising decision by Heal. As such, Paye indicated that there were no scholarships to recruit a transfer due to the number of returning players (10) and incoming freshmen (5).

Heal’s departure is the fifth transfer from Stanford’s women’s basketball program in the last two seasons. Notably, former Cardinal Lauren Betts and Kiki Iriafen have contributed at UCLA and USC respectively after leaving Stanford.

Even without Heal, Stanford’s backcourt should be strong with guards Talana Lepolo, who is recovering from an injury, and Chloe Clardy, who had a strong season, expected to return. A favored incoming freshman who should have an impact is Hailee Swain. The big question is whether the Cardinal will look to replace Heal in the transfer portal or leverage their current depth. 

Heal expressed her gratitude and optimism on social media, stating, “After careful consideration, I have entered the transfer portal. I am excited for what the future holds, and I look forward to finding my new basketball home.”