Season Starts in Columbus

STANFORD, Calif. – Stanford will begin its 2017-18 season in Columbus, Ohio with a pair of games against Ohio State and Louisville it was announced Monday.
 
The Cardinal is scheduled to open with a true road game against Ohio State at the Buckeyes' historic St. John Arena on Friday, Nov. 10. On Sunday, Nov. 12 Stanford will make the four-mile trek downtown to play Louisville at Nationwide Arena, the site of the 2018 Women's Final Four. Stanford's game with Louisville is part of the Greater Columbus Sports Commission's "Countdown to Columbus" showcase event, which includes one other nonconference matchup between Ohio State and Connecticut on the same day.
 
The Cardinal has played Ohio State twice previously and most recently on March 28, 2009 in the Sweet 16 in Berkeley, an 84-66 win. Stanford traveled to Columbus on Dec. 28, 1984 and lost 79-47 to a Buckeye team led by head coach Tara VanDerveer and assistant Amy Tucker. It was VanDerveer's final season at the helm of OSU and Tucker's first as a full-time coach following a standout playing career for the Buckeyes. After guiding Ohio State to the Elite Eight in March of 1985, the duo would make the transition to Stanford a short while later and begin the process of building one of the sport's iconic programs.
                                                                     
Ohio State will make a return trip to Maples Pavilion on Nov. 18, 2018.
 
Stanford Athletics has enjoyed success in Nationwide Arena of late. Women's volleyball won its seventh national championship there in mid-December.
 
This will be the first women's basketball meeting between Stanford and Louisville.
 
Stanford is coming off a 32-6 season that included its 13th Final Four appearance and 12th Pac-12 Tournament championship.   
 
Nationwide Arena will host the 2018 NCAA Women's Final Four on March 30 and April 1.