UCLA Bruins women's basketball

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UCLA Bruins
Basketball current event.svg 2024–25 UCLA Bruins women's basketball team
UCLA Bruins primary logo.svg
University University of California, Los Angeles
All-time record890–549 (.618)
Head coach Cori Close (14th season)
Conference Big Ten
Location Los Angeles, California
Arena Pauley Pavilion
(capacity: 12,829)
Nickname Bruins
Student sectionThe Den
ColorsBlue and gold [1]
   
Uniforms
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Home
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Away


NCAA tournament Elite Eight
1999, 2018
NCAA tournament Sweet Sixteen
1985, 1992, 1999, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2023, 2024
NCAA tournament appearances
1983, 1985, 1990, 1992, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2004, 2006, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2023, 2024
AIAW tournament champions
1978
AIAW tournament Final Four
1978, 1979
AIAW tournament Elite Eight
1978, 1979
AIAW tournament Sweet Sixteen
1978, 1979
AIAW tournament appearances
1978, 1979, 1981
Conference tournament champions
2006
Conference regular season champions
1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1999
The newly renovated Pauley Pavilion is the home court of the basketball team Pauley Pavilion 2013.JPG
The newly renovated Pauley Pavilion is the home court of the basketball team

The UCLA Bruins women's basketball program was established in 1974. The current coach is Cori Close. [2] The team was a member of the Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW) until joining the NCAA in 1984. The UCLA Bruins women's basketball team won the AIAW National Championship in 1978, and a banner commemorating the championship hangs in Pauley Pavilion, the current home of the Bruins basketball teams. The 2014–15 team won the 2015 WNIT championship.

Contents

2012–13 season

2011–12 season

While Pauley Pavilion was being renovated, the women's basketball team played its 2011–12 season home games at the John Wooden Center.

2010–11 season

1978 National championship

The 1978 team, led by Ann Meyers, Denise Curry and Anita Ortega, won the 1978 AIAW tournament under head coach Billie Moore. The Bruins defeated Maryland 90–74 on March 25, 1978 in front of a record crowd of 9,351 at Pauley Pavilion for the championship. Meyers had 20 points, 10 rebounds, nine assists and eight steals. Ortega recorded a team high 23 points. This team finished the season with a 27–3 record, including a then WCAA conference title.

Head coaches

Cori Close, head coach of the UCLA women's basketball team, speaking at a WBCA conference in Nashville, Tennessee. Cori Close.jpg
Cori Close, head coach of the UCLA women's basketball team, speaking at a WBCA conference in Nashville, Tennessee.

Notable players

Bruins in the WNBA

Drafted

PlayerDraftSeasonsYears
Rehema Stephens 1998 – 25th by Los Angeles 1(1998) Last with Sacramento
Natalie Williams 1999 – 3rd by Utah 7(1999–2005) Last with the Indiana Fever; Current Las Vegas Aces General Manager
Maylana Martin 2000 – 10th by Minnesota 2(2000–2001) Last with the Minnesota Lynx
Nicole Kaczmarski 2003 – 39th by New York 0-
Lisa Willis 2006 – 5th by Los Angeles 4(2006-2009) Last with the Sacramento Monarchs
Nikki Blue 2006 – 19th by Washington 6(2006-2010) Last with the New York Liberty
Noelle Quinn 2007 – 4th by Minnesota 12(2007-2018) Last with the Seattle Storm; Current Seattle Storm Head Coach
WNBA Champion - Player
WNBA Champion - Coach
Lindsey Pluimer 2008 – 20th by Washington 0-
Nirra Fields 2016 – 32nd by Phoenix 1(2016) Last with the Phoenix Mercury
Jordin Canada 2018 – 5th by Seattle 6(2018-Present) Currently with Atlanta
2x WNBA Champion
Monique Billings 2018 – 15th by Atlanta 6(2018-Present) Currently with Los Angeles
Kennedy Burke 2019 – 22nd by Dallas 4(2019-2022) Last with Washington
Japreece Dean 2020 – 30th by Chicago 0-
Michaela Onyenwere 2021 – 6th by New York 3(2021-Present) Currently with Chicago
WNBA Rookie of the Year
Charisma Osborne 2024 – 25th by Phoenix 0(2024-Present) Currently with Phoenix

Undrafted

PlayerSeasonsYears
Sandra Van Embricqs 1(1998) Last with Los Angeles
Michelle Greco 1(2004) Last with Seattle
WNBA Champion

Other Players

Retired numbers

No.PlayerPos.TenureNo. Ret.Ref.
12
Denise Curry 1977–811990 [6]
15
Ann Meyers SG 1974–781990 [6]

Year by year results

Conference tournament winners noted with # Source [7]

SeasonTeamOverallConferenceStandingPostseasonCoaches' pollAP poll
Kenny Washington (Independent, SCWIAC)(1974–1975)
1974–75Kenny Washington 18–49–11st (SCWIAC)NWIT Second Place
Kenny Washington:18–49–1
Ellen Mosher (Independent, SCWIAC)(1975–1977)
1975–76Ellen Mosher 19–412–11stAIAW West Regional, NWIT Second Place
1976–77Ellen Mosher 20–37–11stAIAW West Regional, NWIT Second Place13
Ellen Mosher:39–719–2
Billie Moore (Independent, WCAA, Pac-12)(1977–1993)
1977–78Billie Moore 27–38–01st (WCAA)AIAW Champions5
1978–79Billie Moore 24–107–11stAIAW Third Place6
1979–80Billie Moore 18–129–32ndAIAW West Regional
1980–81Billie Moore 29–79–32ndAIAW Quarterfinals7
1981–82Billie Moore 16–147–54th
1982–83Billie Moore 18–119–53rdNCAA First Round
1983–84Billie Moore 17–126–85th
1984–85Billie Moore 20–1010–42ndNCAA Sixteen18
1985–86Billie Moore 12–163–54th
Pac-12 Conference
1986–87Billie Moore 18–1011–74th (Pac-12)
1987–88Billie Moore 19–1112–64th
1988–89Billie Moore 12–168–104th
1989–90Billie Moore 17–1212–63rdNCAA First Round
1990–91Billie Moore 15–1310–8T-4th
1991–92Billie Moore 21–1012–6T-3rdNCAA Sixteen18
1992–93Billie Moore 13–148–107th
Billie Moore:296–181141–87
Kathy Olivier (Pac-12)(1993–2008)
1993–94Kathy Olivier 15–1210–85th
1994–95Kathy Olivier 10–175–13T-8th
1995–96Kathy Olivier 13–148–10T-6th
1996–97Kathy Olivier 13–147–116th
1997–98Kathy Olivier 20–914–4T-2ndNCAA Second Round2025
1998–99Kathy Olivier 26–815–3T-1stNCAA Quarterfinals1515
1999–2000Kathy Olivier 18–1112–64thNCAA First Round
2000–01Kathy Olivier 6–235–1310th
2001–02Kathy Olivier 9–204–148th
2002–03Kathy Olivier 18–1112–64th
2003–04Kathy Olivier 17–1311–7T-3rdNCAA First Round
2004–05Kathy Olivier 16–1210–86th
2005–06Kathy Olivier 21–1112–63rd#NCAA Second Round1821
2006–07Kathy Olivier 14–187–117th
2007–08Kathy Olivier 16–1510–8T-4th
Kathy Olivier:232–208142–128
Nikki Fargas (Pac-12)(2008–2011)
2008–09Nikki Fargas 19–129–9T-4th
2009–10Nikki Fargas 25–915–32ndNCAA Second Round2322
2010–11Nikki Fargas 28–516–22ndNCAA Second Round137
Nikki Fargas:72–2640–14
Cori Close (Pac-12)(2011–present)
2011–12Cori Close 14–169–9T-5th
2012–13Cori Close 26–814–43rdNCAA Second Round1211
2013–14 Cori Close 13–187–118th
2014–15 Cori Close 19–188–106th WNIT champions
2015–16 Cori Close 26–914–4T-3rdNCAA Sweet Sixteen1013
2016–17 Cori Close 25–913–54thNCAA Sweet Sixteen1513
2017–18 Cori Close 27–814–4T-3rd NCAA Elite Eight 99
2018–19 Cori Close 22–1312–64th NCAA Sweet Sixteen 2014
2019–20 Cori Close 26–514–4T-2nd Tournament cancelled 109
2020–21 Cori Close 17–612–43rd NCAA round of 32 912
2021–22 Cori Close 18–138–87th WNIT semifinals
2022–23 Cori Close 27–1011–7T-4th NCAA Sweet Sixteen 1413
2023–24 Cori Close 27–713–5T-2nd NCAA Sweet Sixteen 66
Cori Close:274–134139–77
Total:931–560

      National champion        Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion        Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion      Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

Postseason results

NCAA Division I

YearSeedRoundOpponentResult
1983 #6First Round#3 Oregon StateL 62–75
1985 #6First Round
Sweet Sixteen
#3 Washington
#2 Georgia
W 78–62
L 42–78
1990 #10First Round#7 ArkansasL 80–90 (OT)
1992 #5First Round
Second Round
Sweet Sixteen
#12 Notre Dame
#4 Texas
#8 SW Missouri State
W 93–72
W 82–81
L 57–83
1998 #7First Round
Second Round
#10 Michigan
#2 Alabama
W 65–58
L 74–75
1999 #3First Round
Second Round
Sweet Sixteen
Elite Eight
#14 UW–Green Bay
#6 Kentucky
#2 Colorado State
#1 Louisiana Tech
W 76–69
W 87–63
W 77–68
L 62–88
2000 #10First Round#7 George WashingtonL 72–79
2004 #10First Round#7 MinnesotaL 81–92
2006 #5First Round
Second Round
#12 Bowling Green
#4 Purdue
W 74–61
L 54–61
2010 #8First Round
Second Round
#9 NC State
#1 Nebraska
W 74–54
L 70–83
2011 #3First Round
Second Round
#14 Montana
#11 Gonzaga
W 55–47
L 75–89
2013 #3First Round
Second Round
#14 Stetson
#6 Oklahoma
W 66–49
L 72–85
2016 #3First Round
Second Round
Sweet Sixteen
#14 Hawaii
#6 South Florida
#2 Texas
W 66–50
W 72–67
L 64–72
2017 #4First Round
Second Round
Sweet Sixteen
#13 Boise State
#5 Texas A&M
#1 Connecticut
W 83–56
W 75–43
L 71–86
2018 #3First Round
Second Round
Sweet Sixteen
Elite Eight
#14 American
#11 Creighton
#2 Texas
#1 Mississippi State
W 71–60
W 86–64
W 84–75
L 73–89
2019 #6First Round
Second Round
Sweet Sixteen
#11 Tennessee
#3 Maryland
#2 Connecticut
W 89–77
W 85–80
L 61–69
2021 #3First Round
Second Round
#14 Wyoming
#6 Texas
W 69–48
L 62–71
2023 #4First Round
Second Round
Sweet Sixteen
#13 Sacramento State
#5 Oklahoma
#1 South Carolina
W 67–45
W 82–73
L 43-59

AIAW Division I

The Bruins made three appearances in the AIAW National Division I basketball tournament, with a combined record of 8–3.

YearRoundOpponentResult
1978 First Round
Quarterfinals
Semifinals
National Championship
BYU
Stephen F. Austin
Montclair State
Maryland
W, 96–75
W, 69–51
W, 87–82
W, 75–65
1979 First Round
Quarterfinals
Semifinals
National Championship
Oregon State
Wayland Baptist
Old Dominion
Tennessee
W, 105–70
W, 92–73
L, 82–87
L, 86–104
1981 First Round
Second Round
Quarterfinals
Oregon State
Kansas
Louisiana Tech
W, 72–65
W, 73–71
L, 54–87

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The 2012–13 UCLA Bruins men's basketball team represented the University of California, Los Angeles during the 2012–13 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Bruins competed in the Pac-12 Conference and were led by head coach Ben Howland. Prior to the start of the season, the Bruins took a Goodwill Tour of China in late August. The Bruins reopened the newly renovated Pauley Pavilion on November 9, 2012 in front of a then record crowd of 13,513. On March 9, 2013, the Bruins clinched the regular season championship of the Pac-12 Conference by defeating Washington, 61–54, to finish conference play with a record of 13–5. They were seeded as the No. 1 team in the Pac-12 Conference tournament in Las Vegas. They were defeated by Oregon in the championship game. A week later, the Bruins were eliminated in the second round of the 2013 NCAA tournament by Minnesota 63–83 to finish the season 25–10.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2014–15 UCLA Bruins women's basketball team</span> American college basketball season

The 2014–15 UCLA Bruins women's basketball team represented the University of California, Los Angeles during the 2014–15 NCAA Division I women's basketball season. The Bruins, led by fourth year head coach Cori Close, play their home games at the Pauley Pavilion and were members of the Pac-12 Conference. The Bruins finished in 6th place in the Pac-12 Conference and were selected to play in the WNIT. The Bruins defeated the West Virginia Mountaineers 62–60 for the WNIT championship on April 4, 2015. Jordin Canada was the tournament's most valuable player.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2015–16 UCLA Bruins women's basketball team</span> American college basketball season

The 2015–16 UCLA Bruins women's basketball team represented the University of California, Los Angeles during the 2015–16 NCAA Division I women's basketball season. The Bruins, led by fifth year head coach Cori Close, play their home games at the Pauley Pavilion and are members of the Pac-12 Conference. They finished the season 26–9, 14–4 in Pac-12 play to finish in a tie for third place. They advanced to the championship game of the Pac-12 women's tournament where they lost to Oregon State. They earned an at-large bid to the NCAA women's tournament where they defeated Hawaii in the first round and South Florida in the second round, before losing to Texas in the Sweet Sixteen.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2016–17 UCLA Bruins women's basketball team</span> Womens basketball team

The 2016–17 UCLA Bruins women's basketball team represented the University of California, Los Angeles during the 2016–17 NCAA Division I women's basketball season. The Bruins, led by sixth year head coach Cori Close, play their home games at the Pauley Pavilion and were members of the Pac-12 Conference. They finished the season 25–9, 13–5 in Pac-12 play to finish in fourth place. They advanced to the semifinals of the Pac-12 women's tournament where they lost to Oregon State. They received an at-large bid to the NCAA women's tournament where they defeated Boise State and Texas A&M in the first and second rounds before losing to UConn in the Sweet Sixteen.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2017–18 UCLA Bruins women's basketball team</span> American college basketball season

The 2017–18 UCLA Bruins women's basketball team represented the University of California, Los Angeles during the 2017–18 NCAA Division I women's basketball season. The Bruins, led by seventh year head coach Cori Close, played their home games at the Pauley Pavilion and are members of the Pac-12 Conference. They finished the season 27–8, 14–4 in Pac-12 play to finish in a tie for third place. They advanced to the semifinals of the Pac-12 women's tournament where they lost to Oregon. They received an at-large bid to the NCAA women's tournament in which they defeated American and Creighton in the first and second rounds, respectively. They went on to defeat Texas in the Sweet Sixteen and advance to the program's first Elite Eight since 1999. They lost to Mississippi State in the Elite Eight.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2018–19 UCLA Bruins women's basketball team</span> American college basketball team

The 2018–19 UCLA Bruins women's basketball team represented the University of California, Los Angeles during the 2018–19 NCAA Division I women's basketball season. The Bruins, led by eighth year head coach Cori Close, played their home games at the Pauley Pavilion. They were members of the Pac-12 Conference.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2020–21 UCLA Bruins women's basketball team</span> Intercollegiate basketball season

The 2020–21 UCLA Bruins women's basketball team represented the University of California, Los Angeles during the 2020–21 NCAA Division I women's basketball season. The Bruins, led by tenth year head coach Cori Close, played their home games at Pauley Pavilion and competed as members of the Pac-12 Conference.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2021–22 UCLA Bruins women's basketball team</span> Intercollegiate basketball season

The 2021–22 UCLA Bruins women's basketball team represented the University of California, Los Angeles during the 2021–22 NCAA Division I women's basketball season. The Bruins were led by eleventh-year head coach Cori Close. They played their home games at Pauley Pavilion and competed as members of the Pac-12 Conference.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2022–23 UCLA Bruins women's basketball team</span> American college basketball season

The 2022–23 UCLA Bruins women's basketball team represented the University of California, Los Angeles during the 2022–23 NCAA Division I women's basketball season. The Bruins were led by twelfth-year head coach Cori Close. They played their home games at Pauley Pavilion and competed as members of the Pac-12 Conference.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2023–24 UCLA Bruins women's basketball team</span> American college basketball season

The 2023–24 UCLA Bruins women's basketball team represented the University of California, Los Angeles during the 2023–24 NCAA Division I women's basketball season. The Bruins were led by 13th-year head coach Cori Close. They played their home games at Pauley Pavilion and competed as members of the Pac-12 Conference.

References

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  2. 1 2 "Cori Close is introduced as UCLA women's basketball coach". Los Angeles Times. 2011-04-21. Retrieved 2021-05-29.
  3. "Hall of Famers". Basketball Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on 2009-08-31. Retrieved 2009-08-01.
  4. Mercury's Drysdale adds title of president, Miami Herald , June 30, 2010
  5. Hernandez, Dylan (17 February 2012). "Natalie Nakase continues to dream big, beat odds" via LA Times.
  6. 1 2 THE SIDELINES : UCLA Set to Retire Numbers of Jabbar, Walton, Meyers, Curry on Los Angeles Times, 23 Jan 1990
  7. "Media Guide". UCLA. Retrieved 11 Aug 2013.