UCLA Women's Basketball Articles - Page 2

No. 3 UCLA leaned on transfer guard Gianna Kneepkens to spark its 73-59 win over No. 6 Oklahoma on Monday night at the Golden 1 Center, as head coach Cori Close praised the former Utah player for her consistency and impact early in the season. Kneepkens led the Bruins (3-0) with 20 points on 8-of-14 […]

The landscape of women’s college basketball has evolved dramatically over the past decade. Once an under-appreciated corner of collegiate athletics, the women’s game now commands prime television slots, record-breaking crowds, and a rapidly expanding fan base. Fueled by the rise of the transfer portal, increased media coverage, and name, image, likeness (NIL) opportunities, the NCAA […]

Every autumn, the hardwood awakens with renewed promise, and this year, the 2025-26 women’s college basketball season feels particularly electric. The sport is in a golden age: Television ratings have surged, parity has deepened, and star power has never been brighter. But amid the chaos and the constant motion of conference realignment, one question rises […]

The transfer portal has become the defining force for constructing rosters in college basketball, and in 2025, it has reshaped the women’s game more dramatically than any season in recent memory. This year’s crop of transfers has redrawn the competitive map across major conferences. Each of these players brings not only individual talent but also […]

Injuries are an unfortunate reality in sports, and sometimes, they alter not just a team’s trajectory but the entire national landscape. As the 2025-26 NCAA Women’s Basketball season approaches, the loss of two of the sport’s brightest stars in JuJu Watkins of USC and Chloe Kitts of South Carolina has fundamentally reshaped the competitive landscape. […]

UCLA women’s basketball star Lauren Betts is used to being in the spotlight, but this time, she’s left her comfort zone in the paint to get her face painted instead. Betts and five other NCAAW players appeared on season 10 of RuPaul’s Drag Race: All Stars, going all out and fully committing to becoming drag […]

The 2025 NCAA transfer portal window has been marked by significant player movements, with high-profile commitments reshaping the landscape of women’s college basketball. Among the most notable moves are MiLaysia Fulwiley’s transfer from South Carolina women’s basketball to LSU women’s basketball and the strategic additions made by both the Tigers and Gamecocks to bolster their […]

After losing six players from its history-making 2024-25 squad, UCLA women’s basketball is fast-tracking its rebuild through the transfer portal. The Bruins still have standout center Lauren Betts heading into next season, and now they’ll have a 6-foot guard in Gianna Kneepkens to go with her. Kneepkens brings an efficient offensive game with her to […]

Former UCLA women’s basketball forward Janiah Barker committed to Tennessee, the women’s basketball program announced Monday, via I Talk Hoops on X, formerly Twitter. Barker, who spent the 2024–25 season with the Bruins, will join the Lady Vols for her final year of eligibility. Barker, a 6-foot-4 forward, averaged 7.4 points, six rebounds, and 1.4 assists […]

Idols become rivals, or it’s the other way around. After USC women’s basketball was eliminated in the Elite Eight and UCLA in the Final Four, Londynn Jones has transferred to USC, according to Alexis Philippou of ESPN. The guard averaged 8.5 points per game and led the Bruins in made threes per game. Now, she […]

The UCLA Bruins came into the 2025 NCAA Tournament as the No. 1 overall seed. The season didn’t end as they hoped as they were eliminated by UConn in blowout fashion in the Final Four. Following UCLA’s elimination, they lost several players to the transfer portal. But the Bruins got a major decision from a […]

UCLA women’s basketball forward Janiah Barker and guard Londynn Jone have entered the NCAA transfer portal, joining the entire freshman class of Bruins women’s basketball in what marks a significant offseason shake-up for the team. Jones and Barker, both expected to be key returning players next season, will depart after playing central roles in UCLA’s […]

The UCLA women’s basketball team had a great season this year as they finished with a 34-3 overall record, and they went 16-2 in their first Big Ten season. The Bruins earned a one-seed in the NCAA Tournament, and they made it all the way to the Final Four before losing to eventual national champion […]

After UCLA women’s basketball was on the wrong side of history, UConn made easy work of them. The 85-51 loss was a big pill to swallow for one of the No. 1 seeds in the tournament, especially for Cori Close. The Bruins head coach led her team to the Big Ten conference championship. After UCLA […]

UConn Huskies star Paige Bueckers has great appreciation for the atmosphere Tampa created for the 2025 NCAA Women’s Final Four. The Huskies dominated their matchup against the UCLA Bruins, winning 85-51. This allowed them to return to the championship game for the first time since 2022, setting up a duel with the South Carolina Gamecocks. […]

Sarah Strong had a standout performance in the UConn Huskies’ blowout victory over the UCLA Bruins in the Final Four of the 2025 NCAA Women’s Tournament on Friday night. It stood out to the points she replicated a feat Maya Moore and Breanna Stewart accomplished. In 34 minutes of action, Strong finished with 22 points, […]

Women’s basketball fans looking to see a lot of scoring and free-flowing offense may have to wait until the second game on Friday night in Tampa Bay, but there is no question that they will get their wish. After South Carolina and Texas do battle in the first game of the Final Four, UConn and […]

The UCLA Bruins have reached the Final Four for the first time in program history since they’ve been a part of the NCAA. UCLA women’s basketball used to be a part of the now defunct AIAW when they won a national championship. Amid UCLA’s run to the Final Four, they took home a few national […]

Kim Mulkey and the LSU Tigers saw their season come to an end after losing 72-65 to the UCLA Bruins in the Elite 8 of the 2025 NCAA Women’s Tournament. Both teams traded blows throughout the course of the game. However, the Bruins had the upper hand in 3-pointers and free throws. They made 10 […]

Cori Close accomplished a major milestone in the UCLA Bruins women’s basketball team’s history: reaching the Final Four. Close has been the Bruins’ head coach since 2011. Her coaching has kept the program in the conversation as one of the best teams in the country, making multiple deep runs in the NCAA Tournament. However, they […]

UCLA’s physical presence in the paint proved decisive in ending hopes of notching another championship title for LSU women’s basketball. The top-seeded Bruins defeated third-seeded LSU 72-65 on Sunday in the Elite Eight, securing the Bruins’ first NCAA women’s basketball Final Four berth in program history. Aneesah Morrow, LSU’s senior forward, acknowledged the difficulty of […]

The 2025 NCAA Tournament is shaping up to be one of the most exciting and competitive in recent years of women’s college basketball. UCLA, in particular, stands out as a powerhouse that has the talent, depth, and experience to contend for the championship behind superstar Lauren Betts, who’s proving she has the elite high ceiling […]

UCLA women’s basketball center Lauren Betts made program history Sunday night, becoming the first Bruins player to score 30 points and record at least 10 rebounds in an NCAA Tournament game as No. 1 seed UCLA defeated Richmond 84-67 to advance to the Sweet 16. Betts, who finished with 30 points and 14 rebounds, added […]

UCLA women’s basketball coach Cori Close believes both the Bruins and the Trojans deserve top seeds in the NCAA Tournament after No. 4 UCLA defeated No. 2 USC women’s basketball 72-67 in the Big Ten Tournament championship game Sunday in Minneapolis. The Bruins overcame a 13-point deficit and held USC to just four field goals […]

USC women’s basketball head coach Lindsay Gottlieb praised the competitive drive of her top players like JuJu Watkins and Kiki Iriafen ahead of Sunday’s Big Ten championship game against rival UCLA, emphasizing the qualities that have carried the Trojans through their conference tournament run. “I think our players are insanely competitive and they do have […]

Lauren Betts had a stellar performance in the UCLA Bruins’ quarterfinal matchup against the Nebraska Cornhuskers on Friday. This drew praise from her head coach Cori Close. In 37 minutes of action, Betts was active on both sides of the ball. She finished with 28 points, 13 rebounds, seven blocks, five assists, and three steals. […]

USC women’s basketball enters the Big Ten Tournament as the top seed after sweeping rival UCLA and winning the regular-season title. Despite their success, head coach Lindsay Gottlieb is urging her team to stay focused on the immediate challenge rather than looking ahead to a potential rematch with UCLA in Sunday’s championship game. “You’ve got […]

USC women’s basketball star JuJu Watkins’ dominant performance in the No. 4 Trojan’s 80-67 victory over No. 2 UCLA on Saturday night caught the attention of basketball legend Magic Johnson, who was among those praising the Trojans’ star after the game. Johnson, a longtime supporter of Los Angeles basketball, acknowledged Watkins on social media following […]

JuJu Watkins continued her dominance against UCLA women’s basketball, scoring 30 points in No. 4 USC’s 80-67 win over the No. 2 Bruins on Saturday night. The win secured USC’s first Big Ten regular-season title in its debut season and extended Watkins’ historic streak against UCLA,  that which reflects an historic streak set by former […]

USC women’s basketball coach Lindsay Gottlieb had high praise for star JuJu Watkins following the Trojans’ 80-67 win over No. 2 UCLA on Saturday night, calling her a player with “stuff no one can teach.” Watkins led No. 4 USC (26-2, 17-1 Big Ten) to its first Big Ten regular-season title, scoring 30 points while […]

JuJu Watkins delivered another dominant performance as No. 4 USC women’s basketball defeated No. 2 UCLA 80-67 on Saturday night, clinching the Trojans’ first Big Ten regular-season title in their debut season. After the game, Watkins acknowledged that playing against the Bruins provided extra motivation. “That did fire me up,” Watkins said with a smile […]

USC women’s basketball took a lighthearted jab at NBA Hall of Famer Reggie Miller after the Trojans’ 80-67 win over No. 2 UCLA on Saturday night, a win that secured their first Big Ten regular-season title. Miller, a UCLA alum, attended the game at Pauley Pavilion alongside his sister Cheryl Miller, a USC legend and […]

No. 3 UCLA women’s basketball survived a late push from Iowa to secure a 67-65 comeback victory on Sunday, and Bruins star center Lauren Betts reflected on the experience of playing in a high-stakes environment. “I have watched Iowa for a really long time, great team,” Betts said, as reported by Ethan Petrik of the […]

Top-ranked UCLA women’s basketball narrowly avoided its second straight loss, defeating No. 22 Michigan State 75-69 on Sunday night despite playing without starting center Lauren Betts, who is out day-to-day with a foot injury. Timea Gardiner’s go-ahead three-pointer with 44 seconds remaining helped the Bruins (24-1, 12-1 Big Ten) pull ahead late. Kiki Rice sealed […]

JuJu Watkins described Thursday night’s game against No. 1 UCLA women’s basketball as a dream come true after delivering one of the best performances of her young career. The USC women’s basketball sophomore’s 38-point, 11-rebound, five-assist and eight-block game propelled the Trojans to a 71-60 upset over the undefeated Bruins in front of a sold-out […]

Top-ranked UCLA women’s basketball and its undefeated squad face off against sixth-ranked USC women’s basketball and phenom JuJu Watkins on Thursday night in a sold-out showdown at Galen Center, marking a pivotal moment in the Big Ten women’s basketball season. The Bruins enter the game at 23-0 and 11-0 in conference play, while USC, powered […]

UCLA women’s basketball is absolutely rolling this season with one of the best and deepest rosters in college basketball. A big reason for the Bruins’ success has been the excellence of star center Lauren Betts, who has been one of the best players in the country all season long. On Friday, Betts made a massive […]

Lauren Betts made UCLA women’s basketball history and school history on Monday, adding to the record books in the Bruins’ 72-57 victory over Baylor during the inaugural Coretta Scott King Classic. The Bruins’ star center recorded 24 points, nine rebounds and a school-record nine blocks, solidifying her role as a key force in UCLA’s undefeated […]

It’s time to continue our Women’s College Basketball odds series with a Michigan-UCLA prediction and pick. Find out how to watch Michigan-UCLA. The UCLA Bruins are the No. 1 team in women’s college basketball. They are unbeaten. They have beaten defending national champion South Carolina, and they did so in dominant fashion. People might question […]