To gear up for their upcoming challenges, UCLA’s women’s basketball team donned “MARCH MODE” T-shirts during the NCAA Tournament selection show.
It felt like a preview not only of March 2024 but also 2025.
For the third consecutive year, UCLA might need to overcome LSU to reach the Final Four.
The Bruins find themselves in the Sacramento 2 bracket alongside Richmond and Ole Miss, familiar foes after last year’s NCAA Tournament.
This Saturday, they’ll kick off the season against Cal Baptist, marking a rematch from the 2024 NCAA Tournament at the same venue.
Thankfully for the top-seeded Bruins, their focus is less about opponents and more about their own performance.
“Honestly, this is pretty much how we anticipated things to unfold,” UCLA coach Cori Close expressed to fans gathered at the training facility. “We’re eager to compete.”
“While we respect every team in the bracket, our priority is playing at our best—being aggressive and true to ourselves.”
Forward Angela Dugalich remarked that the “MARCH MODE” shirts embody the team’s serious mindset since they trounced Iowa by a record 51 points in the Big Ten Tournament.
“During practice, I thought, ‘This feels like a Final Four game,'” she said, emphasizing their aim for a second back-to-back Final Four appearance and their first NCAA championship since 1978.
The men’s practice squad assisted with preparations, applying pressure on the Bruins to bring out their top game.
This aligns perfectly with Close’s dedication to ongoing improvement and keeping focused on the next challenge.
“Ultimately, we just want to hold onto our current mentality. What’s the challenge ahead? How can we elevate our game and earn another opportunity to play?” Close noted.
Interestingly, anyone facing a team with a record of 25 consecutive wins since a November loss to Texas should take note; the Bruins (31-1) believe they can improve even further.
“I love that we don’t see a ceiling for ourselves,” Dugalich shared. “It’s pretty remarkable; we have so much potential left to explore.”
This season, one of the key factors for UCLA’s success has been surrounding point guard Kiki Rice with exceptional shooters. Gianna Kneepkens and Gabriella Jaques each excelled from beyond the arc.
This depth in shooting created newfound driving lanes for Rice that weren’t available last year.
“The transformation has been night and day, enhancing Kiki’s game,” Close acknowledged. “It has fundamentally changed our offense.”
If past trends hold, the initial rounds might not see too much drama. Over the past three years, UCLA has averaged a 19-point victory margin in six NCAA Tournament games at Pauley Pavilion, although there were moments of tension, like against Creighton in the second round last year.
Things could get intense in Sacramento this time around.
The Bruins may soon face No. 4 seed Minnesota, whom they recently beat by 18 points, and then a potential clash with No. 2 seed LSU or No. 3 seed Duke in the Elite Eight.
Playing LSU at this stage has become a recurring theme—two years ago, they faced off in the Sweet 16, while the Bruins avenged that loss last year in the Elite Eight.
Leading up to the Final Four, they could encounter top seeds like Texas, South Carolina, and University Con, the defending champions who handed UCLA a 22-point defeat in the same venue a year prior.
A notable advantage for the Bruins is staying in the Pacific time zone throughout the tournament, from Los Angeles to Sacramento to Phoenix.
“In my 33 years in Division I coaching, I’ve never experienced the luxury of remaining in the same time zone. This is a significant benefit, especially for players during their finals—there’s less travel stress. I’m truly excited about this opportunity we’ve earned,” Close added.
This could be a pivotal aspect for a team looking to achieve success in familiar territory.
