The 2024–25 UCLA Bruins women's basketball team represented the University of California, Los Angeles during the 2024–25 NCAA Division I women's basketball season. The Bruins were led by head coach Cori Close in her fourteenth year, and played their home games at Pauley Pavilion. This marked the program's first season as a member of the Big Ten Conference. The Bruins were ranked No. 1 in the polls for the first time in program history after defeating the defending 2024 national champion South Carolina on November 24, 2024.UCLA moves up to No. 1 in AP Top 25 women's basketball poll for first time in history. CBS News, November 25, 2024 The statement win over South Carolina broke the Gamecocks 43 game winning streak, the 7th longest women's Division I basketball streak at the time.jackson, Gabriel - The longest winning streaks in DI women's basketball history. ncaa.com, March 27, 2026Pillipou, Alexa - South Carolina's 43-game win streak ends with loss to UCLA. espn.com, November 24, 2024, "It was the largest loss by an AP No. 1 team since January 2020, the Gamecocks' largest defeat since the 2019 Sweet 16 and their first road loss since December 2021."
The 2024–25 season was the first for UCLA and USC in the Big Ten Conference and a notable chapter in the history of the UCLA–USC rivalry. The Bruins were undefeated and ranked No. 1 in the polls before the two teams met in 2025. On February 13, 2025, the No. 6 Trojans defeated the Bruins 71–60 for the Trojans' first victory against a No. 1 team at home.No. 1 Women’s Basketball Visits No. 6 USC Thursday UCLA Bruins Sport Information, February 12, 2025Mitchell, Houston - The Sports Report: JuJu Watkins leads USC to an upset win over UCLA Los Angeles Times, February 14, 2025 In the re-match at Pauley Pavilion on March 1, 2025, the Trojans and Bruins were tied for first place in the Big Ten in the final regular season game. In that game, No. 4 ranked USC Defeated No. 2 ranked UCLA 80–67 to win the regular season Big Ten championship.Kartje, Ryan - JuJu Watkins and No. 4 USC crush No. 2 UCLA to claim Big Ten title. Los Angeles Times, March 1, 2025 Both games drew national attention and media coverage, with many celebrities in attendance.Merchant, Sabreena - In statement win, did USC's JuJu Watkins prove herself as national Player of the Year? New York Times, February 13, 2025Miele, Angela - Myles Garrett, Cheryl Miller, Reggie Miller Attend USC Trojans' Win Over UCLA Bruins. Sports Illustrated, March 2, 2025 The teams met a third time in the 2025 Big Ten women's basketball tournament championship game on March 9, 2025. The Bruins defeated the Trojans to win the Big Ten Tournament championship and received the conference's automatic bid to the 2025 NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament.Guzman, Ed - UCLA women surge in second half to defeat USC for Big Ten tournament championship. Los Angeles Times, March 9, 2025.
UCLA finished the regular season with a 27–2 record, 16–2 in conference and a second-place finish, with their only losses coming to USC. For the first time in school history, the UCLA Bruins were a number 1 seed and also the number 1 overall seed in the NCAA tournament. UCLA reached the Final Four of the NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament for the first time in program history.Knoblauch, Austin - The Sports Report: UCLA women make history on Selection Sunday Los Angeles Times, March 17, 2025 Arriving at the Final Four, the UCLA women's basketball team traveled more than any other in the country during the season with 36,116 air miles.Jennings, Chantel - UCLA is the top seed in women’s March Madness. It only took 36,000 miles to get there. New York Times, The Athletic, March 20, 2025 They lost to the eventual national champion UConn Huskies in a semi-final game. A documentary named You See LA produced by Fox Sports was broadcast on March 1, 2026 on FS1 immediately following the 2026 UCLA-USC women's basketball game.FOX Sports, AV8 Productions, Allez! Sports, and Hello Sunshine Announce New Documentary Special You See L.A. Fox Sports, February 25, 2026 The episode includes footage from games and post-game locker room team meetings, team gatherings, and interviews.Bolch, Ben - UCLA women’s basketball documentary unveils raw, vulnerable moments. New York Post, February 25, 2026
Previous season The Bruins finished the 2023–24 season with a 27–7 record, including 13–5 in Pac-12 play to finish in third place. They received an at-large bid to the 2024 NCAA Tournament, and were eliminated in the sweet sixteen by LSU.
Offseason
The freshman recruiting class was 2nd in the nation in early rankings by ESPN,Laflin, Shane - Women's college basketball recruiting: The early top 10 classes. ESPN, November 2, 2023 and 4th in the final rankings.2024 women's college basketball recruiting rankings: Final top 25 classes. espn.com, May 13, 2024
Departures UCLA departuresNameNumPos.HeightYearHometownReason for Departure Emily Bessoir 11 F 6'4" Redshirt junior Munich, Germany Graduated Charisma Osborne 20 G 5'9" Graduate student Moreno Valley, CA Graduated Lina Sontag 21 F 6'3" Sophomore Kleinmachnow, Germany Retired Camryn Brown 35 G 5'11" Graduate student Lewisville, TX Graduated Izzy Anstey 43 F 6'4" Redshirt junior Melbourne, Australia Graduated Christeen Iwuala 22 F 6’2” Sophomore San Antonio, Texas Transferred to Mississippi
Incoming UCLA incoming transfersNamePos.HeightYearHometownPrevious school Janiah Barker F 6'4" Junior Marietta, GA Texas A&M Charlisse Leger-Walker F 5'10" Graduate student Waikato, New Zealand Washington State Timea Gardiner F 6'3" Junior Ogden, UT Oregon State
Recruiting
Roster
Schedule and results
!colspan=9 style=| Regular season
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Rankings
Awards and honors February 20, 2025 – Lauren Betts broke the school record with 67 blocks in a seasonDe Leon, Anthony - Lauren Betts breaks a school record in UCLA victory over Illinois. Los Angeles Times, February 20, 2025 March 9, 2025 – Lauren Betts was named to the Big Ten All-Tournament team and was the most outstanding player March 9, 2025 – First Big Ten Tournament Championship and First 30 wins in a seasonWomen’s Basketball Captures Big Ten Championship Over Trojans, 72-67. UCLABRUINS.com, March 9, 2025 March 19, 2025 – Lauren Betts was named as both an APFeinberg, Doug - JuJu Watkins, Hannah Hidalgo headline women’s AP All-America team; Bueckers, Betts, Booker join them. Associated Press, March 19, 2025 and a USBWAGreenberg, Mel - USBWA unveils 2024-25 Women's All-America Team U.S. Basketball Writers Association, March 19, 2025 First Team All–AmericanConsidine, Madeline - Bruins Star Lauren Betts Reaches New Heights. Sports Illustrated, March 21, 2025 March 20, 2025 – Coach Cori Close was named USBWA Coach of the YearMoran, Malcom - UCLA's Close is USBWA Women's National Coach of the Year. U.S. Basketball Writers Association, March 20, 2025 March 24, 2025 – Coach Cori Close was named a finalist for the Naismith College Coach of the YearDawn Staley, Jon Scheyer Headline Finalists for Naismith Coach of the Year Awards. Sports Illustrated, March 24, 2025 Note: "...four-time Naismith winner South Carolina's Dawn Staley leads the nominee list. ... The other nominees include TCU's Mark Campbell, UCLA’s Cori Close and Southern California’s Lindsay Gottlieb, who are all first-time nominees... " March 25, 2025 – Lauren Betts was named one of four finalists for the Naismith Women's Player of the YearConsidine, Madeleine - Bruins' Anchor Lauren Betts Makes Naismith Push. Sports Illustrated, March 26, 2025 March 26, 2025 – Tony Newnan was named the WBCA Assistant Coach of the YearConsidine, Madeleine - Longtime UCLA Assistant Earns National Honor. Sports Illustrated, March 27, 2025 March 30, 2025 - Lauren Betts was the Most Outstanding player of the Spokane 1 regional and was named to all-tournament team along with Kiki Riceand Gabriela Jaquez following their defeat of LSU to reach the Final Four.NCAA Women's Basketball Final Four Record Book 2026 ncaa.org, February 2026 April 2, 2025 – Coach Cori Close was the 2025 Naismith Women’s College Coach of the YearConsidine, Madeline -Bruins' Cori Close Earns Another National Coaching Honor. Sports Illustrated, April 3, 2025, In the midst of a record-breaking season and UCLA’s first NCAA Final Four appearance, Coach Cori Close has been honored as the 2025 Werner Ladder Naismith Women’s College Coach of the Year. April 2, 2025 – Lauren Betts was named the 2025 Naismith Women’s College Defensive Player of the YearCavanaugh, Tom - Bruins' Betts Wins Prestigious National Award. Sports Illustrated, April 3, 2025 April 2, 2025 – Kiki Rice received the NCAA Elite 90 AwardSimms, Brandy - Former Sidwell Friends girls basketball star earns NCAA Elite 90 award. Sports Illustrated, April 3, 2025 April 3, 2025 - Cori Close was named The Associated Press Coach of the YearFeinberg, Doug - UCLA’s Cori Close is the AP Coach of the Year after a historic season for the top-seeded Bruins. Associated Press, ABC4 KTVX, April 3, 2025 April 4, 2025 – Lauren Betts was named to the John R. Wooden Award Women’s All America team April 5, 2025 – Lauren Betts was named the Lisa Leslie Center of The YearNAISMITH BASKETBALL HALL OF FAME REVEALS WINNERS OF MEN AND WOMEN’S NAISMITH STARTING FIVE AWARDS ON ESPN’S COLLEGE GAMEDAY. The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall Of Fame, April 5, 2025 April 6, 2025 – Lauren Betts was named to the NCAA WBB Final Four all-tournament teamWomen's March Madness: All-Tournament Teams in NCAA history. ESPN, April 8, 2025 The team set UCLA women's basketball records for consecutive wins (23), in most wins (27) and, in consecutive weeks ranked No. 1 in the country (12) by the Associated Press.Mueller, Corey - 2025-26 UCLA Women's Basketball Information Guide UCLA Athletics, October 2025
References
Notes