No. 22 Cal Sweeps Stanford, Clinches First Season Series Since 1985-86

The No. 22 California Golden Bears achieved a historic season sweep over Stanford for the first time since 1986, winning 75-72 on Thursday night. Despite a strong lead, Cal faced a late push from Stanford, but ultimately held on for the victory, which followed their earlier 83-63 win last month. This marks a significant turnaround for Cal, who had not beaten Stanford in 12 consecutive games prior to this season, under the leadership of coach Charmin Smith, a former Stanford player. With this win, Cal improved to 18-3 overall and 6-2 in the ACC, while Stanford fell to 10-9 and 2-6 in the conference. The Bears' success is pivotal as they aim for their first NCAA tournament appearance since 2019. The victory also highlights the changing dynamics in Bay Area women's basketball, with Cal now positioned as a formidable rival against Stanford.