UCLA Bruins women's basketball

UCLA Bruins
2024–25 UCLA Bruins women's basketball team
University	University of California, Los Angeles
All-time record	890–549 (.618)
Head coach	Cori Close (14th season)
Conference	Big Ten
Location	Los Angeles, California
Arena	Pauley Pavilion (capacity: 12,829)
Nickname	Bruins
Student section	The Den
Colors	Blue and gold [1]
Uniforms
Home 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

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.

2012–13 season

• November 9, 2012 – The team returned to the newly renovated Pauley Pavilion and defeated San Diego State 66–52
• November 23, 2012 – No. 19 UCLA were defeated by No. 5 Notre Dame 76–64
• January 13, 2013 – UCLA opened the conference with 4 straight victories.

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.

• April 21, 2011 – Cori Close was named head coach. ^[2]

2010–11 season

• November 12, 2010 – The No. 16 Bruins opened the season with a win over San Diego State 55–48.
• November 18, 2010 – UCLA upset No. 12 Notre Dame in double overtime, 86–83 at Notre Dame to begin the season with a 3–0 record.
• February 6, 2011 – UCLA defeated USC for the second time this season at Galen Center.
• March 12, 2011 – The Bruins were defeated by Stanford in the 2011 Pac-10 Women's Basketball Tournament Final in the Staples Center.
• March 25, 2011 – Mariah Williams, Rebekah Gardner and Markel Walker were named to the 2011 Pac-10 Conference Women's Basketball All-Academic Team.

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
• Nikki Fargas
• Kathy Olivier
• Billie Moore
• Ellen Mosher
• Kenny Washington

Notable players

Bruins in the WNBA

Drafted

Player	Draft	Seasons	Years
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

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

Other Players

• Denise Curry ^[3]
• Jackie Joyner-Kersee
• Ann Meyers, Phoenix Mercury Vice President ^[4]
• Natalie Nakase, Las Vegas Aces Assistant Coach ^[5]
• Teiko Nishi
• Anita Ortega

Retired numbers

No.	Player	Pos.	Tenure	No. Ret.	Ref.
12	Denise Curry		1977–81	1990	[6]
15	Ann Meyers	SG	1974–78	1990	[6]

Year by year results

Conference tournament winners noted with # Source ^[7]

Season	Team	Overall	Conference	Standing	Postseason	Coaches' poll	AP poll
Kenny Washington (Independent, SCWIAC)(1974–1975)
1974–75	Kenny Washington	18–4	9–1	1st (SCWIAC)	NWIT Second Place
Kenny Washington:		18–4	9–1
Ellen Mosher (Independent, SCWIAC)(1975–1977)
1975–76	Ellen Mosher	19–4	12–1	1st	AIAW West Regional, NWIT Second Place
1976–77	Ellen Mosher	20–3	7–1	1st	AIAW West Regional, NWIT Second Place		13
Ellen Mosher:		39–7	19–2
Billie Moore (Independent, WCAA, Pac-12)(1977–1993)
1977–78	Billie Moore	27–3	8–0	1st (WCAA)	AIAW Champions		5
1978–79	Billie Moore	24–10	7–1	1st	AIAW Third Place		6
1979–80	Billie Moore	18–12	9–3	2nd	AIAW West Regional
1980–81	Billie Moore	29–7	9–3	2nd	AIAW Quarterfinals		7
1981–82	Billie Moore	16–14	7–5	4th
1982–83	Billie Moore	18–11	9–5	3rd	NCAA First Round
1983–84	Billie Moore	17–12	6–8	5th
1984–85	Billie Moore	20–10	10–4	2nd	NCAA Sixteen		18
1985–86	Billie Moore	12–16	3–5	4th
Pac-12 Conference
1986–87	Billie Moore	18–10	11–7	4th (Pac-12)
1987–88	Billie Moore	19–11	12–6	4th
1988–89	Billie Moore	12–16	8–10	4th
1989–90	Billie Moore	17–12	12–6	3rd	NCAA First Round
1990–91	Billie Moore	15–13	10–8	T-4th
1991–92	Billie Moore	21–10	12–6	T-3rd	NCAA Sixteen	18
1992–93	Billie Moore	13–14	8–10	7th
Billie Moore:		296–181	141–87
Kathy Olivier (Pac-12)(1993–2008)
1993–94	Kathy Olivier	15–12	10–8	5th
1994–95	Kathy Olivier	10–17	5–13	T-8th
1995–96	Kathy Olivier	13–14	8–10	T-6th
1996–97	Kathy Olivier	13–14	7–11	6th
1997–98	Kathy Olivier	20–9	14–4	T-2nd	NCAA Second Round	20	25
1998–99	Kathy Olivier	26–8	15–3	T-1st	NCAA Quarterfinals	15	15
1999–2000	Kathy Olivier	18–11	12–6	4th	NCAA First Round
2000–01	Kathy Olivier	6–23	5–13	10th
2001–02	Kathy Olivier	9–20	4–14	8th
2002–03	Kathy Olivier	18–11	12–6	4th
2003–04	Kathy Olivier	17–13	11–7	T-3rd	NCAA First Round
2004–05	Kathy Olivier	16–12	10–8	6th
2005–06	Kathy Olivier	21–11	12–6	3rd#	NCAA Second Round	18	21
2006–07	Kathy Olivier	14–18	7–11	7th
2007–08	Kathy Olivier	16–15	10–8	T-4th
Kathy Olivier:		232–208	142–128
Nikki Fargas (Pac-12)(2008–2011)
2008–09	Nikki Fargas	19–12	9–9	T-4th
2009–10	Nikki Fargas	25–9	15–3	2nd	NCAA Second Round	23	22
2010–11	Nikki Fargas	28–5	16–2	2nd	NCAA Second Round	13	7
Nikki Fargas:		72–26	40–14
Cori Close (Pac-12)(2011–2024)
2011–12	Cori Close	14–16	9–9	T-5th
2012–13	Cori Close	26–8	14–4	3rd	NCAA Second Round	12	11
2013–14	Cori Close	13–18	7–11	8th
2014–15	Cori Close	19–18	8–10	6th	WNIT champions
2015–16	Cori Close	26–9	14–4	T-3rd	NCAA Sweet Sixteen	10	13
2016–17	Cori Close	25–9	13–5	4th	NCAA Sweet Sixteen	15	13
2017–18	Cori Close	27–8	14–4	T-3rd	NCAA Elite Eight	9	9
2018–19	Cori Close	22–13	12–6	4th	NCAA Sweet Sixteen	20	14
2019–20	Cori Close	26–5	14–4	T-2nd	Tournament cancelled	10	9
2020–21	Cori Close	17–6	12–4	3rd	NCAA round of 32	9	12
2021–22	Cori Close	18–13	8–8	7th	WNIT semifinals
2022–23	Cori Close	27–10	11–7	T-4th	NCAA Sweet Sixteen	14	13
2023–24	Cori Close	27–7	13–5	T-2nd	NCAA Sweet Sixteen	6	6
Cori Close (Big Ten)(2024–present)
2024–25	Cori Close	23–1	11–1			1	1
Cori Close:		310–141	Pac-12: 149–91 Big Ten: 11–1
Total:		954–561
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

Year	Seed	Round	Opponent	Result
1983	#6	First Round	#3 Oregon State	L 62–75
1985	#6	First Round Sweet Sixteen	#3 Washington #2 Georgia	W 78–62 L 42–78
1990	#10	First Round	#7 Arkansas	L 80–90 (OT)
1992	#5	First Round Second Round Sweet Sixteen	#12 Notre Dame #4 Texas #8 SW Missouri State	W 93–72 W 82–81 L 57–83
1998	#7	First Round Second Round	#10 Michigan #2 Alabama	W 65–58 L 74–75
1999	#3	First 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	#10	First Round	#7 George Washington	L 72–79
2004	#10	First Round	#7 Minnesota	L 81–92
2006	#5	First Round Second Round	#12 Bowling Green #4 Purdue	W 74–61 L 54–61
2010	#8	First Round Second Round	#9 NC State #1 Nebraska	W 74–54 L 70–83
2011	#3	First Round Second Round	#14 Montana #11 Gonzaga	W 55–47 L 75–89
2013	#3	First Round Second Round	#14 Stetson #6 Oklahoma	W 66–49 L 72–85
2016	#3	First Round Second Round Sweet Sixteen	#14 Hawaii #6 South Florida #2 Texas	W 66–50 W 72–67 L 64–72
2017	#4	First Round Second Round Sweet Sixteen	#13 Boise State #5 Texas A&M #1 Connecticut	W 83–56 W 75–43 L 71–86
2018	#3	First 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	#6	First Round Second Round Sweet Sixteen	#11 Tennessee #3 Maryland #2 Connecticut	W 89–77 W 85–80 L 61–69
2021	#3	First Round Second Round	#14 Wyoming #6 Texas	W 69–48 L 62–71
2023	#4	First Round Second Round Sweet Sixteen	#13 Sacramento State #5 Oklahoma #1 South Carolina	W 67–45 W 82–73 L 43-59
2024	#2	First Round Second Round Sweet Sixteen	#15 California Baptist #7 Creighton #3 LSU	W 84–55 W 67–63 L 69-78

AIAW Division I

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

Year	Round	Opponent	Result
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

References

1. "Style Guide // UCLA Athletics for Print and Digital Applications" (PDF). UCLA Nike Jordan Style Guide. July 7, 2021. Retrieved March 15, 2022.
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. 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.

External links

• Official website