Stanford, Cal women look strong, but UCLA the coaches’ pick in Pac-12

Stanford will try to return to the Final Four after making its fifth trip in nine years last season. Cal looks loaded, and so does Oregon, featuring former Miramonte-Orinda standout Sabrina Ionescu.

But the team picked to win the Pac-12 basketball championship in the coaches’ poll was UCLA, thanks mainly to all-conference returnees Jordin Canada and Monique Billings.

Stanford and Oregon tied for second place in the poll, and Cal was fifth. Stanford and Cal were among the record seven Pac-12 teams that reached the NCAA Tournament last season.