UCLA Women’s Basketball Team Faces Political Commentary on Kimmel Show

The national champion women’s basketball team from UCLA found themselves in a unique political spotlight during a recent appearance on “Jimmy Kimmel Live.” Kimmel hosted players Lauren Betts, Kiki Rice, Gabriela Jaquez, Angela Dugalich, along with coach Cori Close for a group interview on Tuesday.

Amid congratulations from former President Barack Obama on social media regarding their victory, Kimmel inquired whether President Donald Trump had reached out to the team.

The players responded with a firm “no.” However, Kimmel decided to pursue the topic further, hinting at Trump’s busy schedule. He joked, “Well, you’ll hear from him in two weeks,” and mentioned a potential invitation to the White House.

As the conversation evolved, Kimmel revealed a silver trophy that was, admittedly, a far cry from the actual NCAA championship award on his desk. He suggested the team take this faux trophy to the White House, advising them to present it to Trump in jest: “You can say, ‘President Trump, we want you to have this.’ And he’ll be very happy about it. Maybe we can get donations and keep it authentic,” he quipped.

Close laughed along with the players, who appeared to appreciate the light-hearted nature of Kimmel’s comments.

However, reactions on social media were mixed. Some criticized Kimmel for shifting the focus of a sports interview toward his opinions on Trump. One user expressed frustration, stating, “Even when celebrating his win, he has to talk about his hatred for himself and Trump. What an idiot.” Another user mockingly questioned Kimmel’s future plans following Trump’s presidency, wondering about the direction of his show.

Despite the political undertones, the UCLA team celebrated their historic victory—their first national championship—after defeating South Carolina decisively. And while the Kimmel segment might have stirred some backlash, it also spotlighted a remarkable achievement in college sports.