Cori Close has really grown into her role since joining UCLA. Each recruiting class, each experience, and every promise made over the past 15 years have all been steps toward achieving a significant goal: bringing home the Bruins’ first NCAA championship.
After a strong run to the Final Four last year, the Bruins seem poised for another successful season. Currently placed second, they have no glaring weaknesses and boast six players eligible for the upcoming WNBA Draft.
Lauren Betts is a formidable center who attracts numerous defenders, making her a challenge to stop. Kiki Rice excels at both playmaking and scoring, while Gabriela Jaquez has emerged as perhaps the team’s standout player. Janna Neepkens showcases her shooting finesse with an impressive season performance, and Charlisse Ledger Walker provides wise leadership, consistently making smart plays. Angela Dugaric is a key reserve, able to start on most squads. With Sienna Betts, Lena Bilic, and Amanda Mewes adding depth off the bench, this might be the Bruins’ most well-rounded team yet.
As we assess the Bruins and their future, let’s take a look at their NCAA tournament prospects.
NCAA tournament status
While national rankings don’t always align with seeds precisely, the Bruins (20-1 overall, 10-0 Big Ten) are well-positioned to vie for a top overall seed. Undefeated Connecticut State might need to stumble for UCLA to secure the top spot. If everything goes to plan, UCLA should be among the four No. 1 seeds, paving their way toward the Final Four in Phoenix. They won’t have to travel far in the earlier rounds, as they are likely to play the first two games at Pauley Pavilion and then advance to a regional in Sacramento.
Biggest revelation
Gabriela Jaquez, once known primarily as Jaime Jaquez Jr.’s sister, has blossomed into a star in her own right. Heading into her senior season, she’s recording impressive personal stats across the board. Her three-point shooting has particularly improved, jumping to 46.5% from a mere 24.4% in her sophomore year, making her significantly harder to defend.
Biggest disappointment
Close expressed frustration over insufficient media coverage, especially after a top-10 clash with Ohio State in December when no reporters were present. In response, the team started holding regular Zoom sessions for journalists to participate remotely after games. The media attention should increase in March as the Bruins’ performance garners more interest.
Biggest concern
The Bruins’ sole defeat this season mirrored patterns that fans might recall from last year’s Final Four loss to UConn. They fell behind early, struggled to recover, and ultimately couldn’t close the gap. The takeaway? Even on less-than-ideal nights, UCLA cannot afford to dig themselves a 23-point hole against quality opponents in the NCAA Tournament.
Season ceiling
This team has immense potential. Failing to reach the championship after last year’s Final Four run might seem disappointing, but there’s strong reason to believe they can go all the way this time. All the hard work from Close and her players is likely to pay off in the end.
