UCLA Bruins women's basketball

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UCLA Bruins
2023–24 UCLA Bruins women's basketball team
UniversityUniversity of California, Los Angeles
All-time record890–549 (.618)
Head coachCori Close (10th season)
ConferencePac-12
LocationLos Angeles, California
ArenaPauley Pavilion
(Capacity: 12,829)
NicknameBruins
Student sectionThe Den
ColorsBlue and gold[1]
   
Uniforms
Home jersey
Team colours
Home
Away jersey
Team colours
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[edit]

  • 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[edit]

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[edit]

  • 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[edit]

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[edit]

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

Notable players[edit]

Bruins in the WNBA[edit]

Drafted[edit]

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; Current Phoenix Mercury Assistant Coach
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 Los Angeles
2x WNBA Champion
Monique Billings 2018 – 15th by Atlanta 6 (2018-Present) Currently with Atlanta
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 Phoenix
WNBA Rookie of the Year

Undrafted[edit]

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

Other Players[edit]

Retired numbers[edit]

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[edit]

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–present)
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 14–1 3–1 2 2
Cori Close: 274–134 139–77
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[edit]

NCAA Division I[edit]

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

AIAW Division I[edit]

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[edit]

  1. ^ "Style Guide // UCLA Athletics for Print and Digital Applications" (PDF). UCLA Nike Jordan Style Guide. July 7, 2021. Retrieved March 15, 2022.
  2. ^ a b "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. ^ a b 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[edit]