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Anna Wilson, Sister of Seahawks QB Russell, to Return to Stanford for 6th Season
May 11, 2021
Stanford guard Anna Wilson is planning to return for the 2021-22 season.
The fifth-year senior, who is the younger sister of Seattle Seahawks star Russell Wilson, confirmed Monday she intends to suit up for one more year. She told the Associated Press' Janie McCauley the chance to return is "just a really awesome opportunity to have."
Wilson's comments came outside Chase Center before the national championship-winning Cardinal were honored during the Golden State Warriors' 119-116 victory over the Utah Jazz. She expressed frustration at the somewhat informal nature of her announcement:
Anna Wilson @a_willy03Frustrated in the way this was released. I feel cheated of the space needed to explain what this year has meant to me, why I chose to come back & how my teammates have played a role. I didn’t publicize yet; I hadn’t formalized the words that describe all Stanford has meant to me. https://t.co/GLkza41wlX
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the NCAA allowed Division I athletes in fall and winter sports to gain an extra year of eligibility. That allowed players such as Wilson, who would otherwise be out the door, to give it another go.
The Seattle native made 33 starts for Stanford in 2020-21, averaging 4.6 points and 2.1 assists while shooting 50.9 percent from the field and 45.2 percent from beyond the arc. The Seattle Storm selected Cardinal assists leader Kiana Williams in the second round of the 2021 WNBA draft, so Wilson's experience should be invaluable in the backcourt.
And with Alyssa Jerome also coming back, Stanford's roster from a season ago is almost totally intact. Head coach Tara VanDerveer is adding three players (Brooke Demetre, Okikiola Iriafen and Jzaniya Harriel) in the top 100 of HoopGurlz's 2021 recruiting rankings as well.
Twenty-nine years separated VanDerveer's second and third national titles with the program. She might not have to wait anywhere near that long for No. 4.
