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Tara VanDerveer was bound to surpass Mike Krzyzewski as the winningest coach in college basketball history at some point this season given the presence of another championship-caliber team in her 38th season leading the Cardinal (and 45th overall).
VanDerveer trailed Krzyzewski, the former Duke men's coach, by 17 wins when this season began. The only questions were when and where she would surpass his mark of 1,202 career victories.
Those answers came over the weekend when Stanford beat Oregon and Oregon State to set off the celebration, which was fittingly at home.
"I'm glad we lost at Colorado (on Jan. 14), I guess, so we could celebrate with everybody Sunday," VanDerveer said.
Not that the record-setting win coming on Friday would have meant any less. But the afternoon tip Sunday left more time for a deservedly lengthy post-game ceremony.
What no one at Stanford wanted was for the record to occur on the road. Star Cameron Brink's knee injury in the first quarter against Oregon created some doubt, especially against Oregon State, which entered the Sunday affair with a 15-2 record.
But Kiki Iriafen, who's having a monster junior season, refused to allow any party crashing.
The 6-foot-3 forward produced 36 points and 12 rebounds in 37 minutes against Oregon State as the Cardinal only trailed for three minutes.
Iriafen was named Pac-12 Player of the Week on Monday for the first time in her career.
"How about Kiki Iriafen?" VanDerveer said in her typical self-effacing manner to start her first post-game interview Sunday.
The overarching theme of the alumni weekend was that the achievement is much greater, and more inclusive, than one person.
"It's a number," VanDerveer said Friday. "I know it's a big number because I'm old, too. It's not the point of what I'm doing at all. I want to do a great job for our team."
Connecticut women's coach Geno Auriemma is only seven wins behind VanDerveer with 1,196.
Krzyzewski, who, like VanDerveer, also is a gold medal-winning U.S. Olympic coach, was among those offering video tributes.
"This is yet another milestone to add to an amazing legacy," said Krzyzewski, who retired in 2022. "More important than all the astounding numbers and career accomplishments, she's positively impacted countless lives as a coach and a mentor. Tara remains a true guardian of our sport."
"I am very overwhelmed," VanDerveer said at the ceremony's end. "I'm not usually lost for words, but this is pretty impressive.
"This game of basketball was invented as, and always will be, a team sport. It's never about one person, and this is not about me."
Stanford (17-2/6-1) finished the weekend tied for the conference lead with third-ranked Colorado (16-2/6-1). The Buffaloes held off No. 11 USC by four points on Sunday after losing by eight to No. 2 UCLA on Friday.
As if that wasn't enough, the weekend spilled over to a nationally televised game Monday between UCLA and No. 16 Utah.
Utah completes sweep
The Bruins, who moved up three places in the AP poll after beating Colorado, used a late 8-0 run to lead by a point at Utah with 4.2 seconds left.
But the Utes executed beautifully out of a timeout, freeing Ines Vieira for a game-tying layup. They raced away from the Bruins in overtime for a 94-81 win — the first in school history over an opponent ranked that high (No. 2).
Utah won even though star forward Alissa Pili, who was coming off a 37-point game against USC, did not make a field goal until 5:22 of the third quarter. Pili scored six points in overtime for a total of 16, but the Utes prevailed because of their guards and 3-point shooting.
Kennady McQueen, Dasia Young, Maty Wilke and Vieira combined for 60 points and 12-of-23 from 3-point range. Young made her first four 3s and Wilke, a transfer from Wisconsin, was 4-of-7 from long range.
Utah (14-5/4-3) led almost the entire game and by nine early in the fourth quarter but couldn't put away UCLA (15-2/4-2) away until the extra period.
Cougars sweep; ASU gets first Pac-12 win
Beyond VanDerveer's exploits and the shifting fortunes of the five nationally ranked teams, Washington State had a 2-0 weekend, and Arizona State won its first conference game.
WSU (14-5/3-3) is on a three-game winning streak after beating ASU 79-64 and Arizona 78-57. Four Cougars scored in double figures Friday and five on Sunday. Charlisse Leger-Walker had 25 points and 15 assists between the two games.
"The world might look at it and go 'What's wrong with Charlisse (scoring-wise)?' but I do think the balance is helping her," WSU coach Kamie Ethridge said.
"Her 11 assists and two turnovers — that's the point we've been harping on her about. Better floor game, better decisions, don't take too many risks. Her entire game, she's a special player. For her to understand, long-term success for our team is solid balance. That bodes well for us."
ASU, which was winless since Dec. 20, broke through at Washington thanks to Jalyn Brown's 34 points. The sophomore guard, a transfer from Louisville, had her second 30-point game this month.
The Sun Devils (9-10/1-6) equaled their Pac-12 win total from last season and have one more overall win than in 2022-23.
Washington edged Arizona 62-60 on Friday for a weekend split. Cal also went 1-1 thanks to a 66-57 win over Oregon on Sunday. USC lost twice, as did Arizona and Oregon.
USC freshman sensation JuJu Watkins had 26 against Utah, 20 against Colorado and won Pac-12 Freshman of the Week on Monday for a 10th time.
Only three games separate fourth place from 12th in the standings entering a week when none of the five ranked teams will face each other. The Los Angeles, Oregon and Arizona schools are at home this week.
