UCLA women’s basketball continues to look the part. The Bruins look like an elite team and show the traits of a group which will play in Phoenix at next April’s Women’s Final Four. Thursday against No. 11 North Carolina, Megan Grant’s basket became the Bruins’ viral moment, but the big story was how competent and composed they were against a top-12 opponent from North Carolina.
Another good team throws a first punch at UCLA
On Monday, No. 6 Oklahoma scored 22 first-quarter points and blitzed UCLA’s defense. On Thursday, No. 11 North Carolina grabbed a 28-22 lead over UCLA with surprisingly good shooting from its frontcourt. It’s not as though UCLA is stomping on teams early. Opponents with talent and quality are throwing the first punch at the Bruins, who consistently respond well.
20 minutes won’t get it done against these Bruins
Oklahoma and North Carolina played 20 really good minutes — two strong quarters — against UCLA, but neither team could sustain high-level play, especially on offense, for more than that. The Bruins did not allow more than 60 points to either of these top-12-ranked opponents. They defend every position, they are solid on the boards. They don’t allow lots of free throws. They simply do not make life easy for opponents over 40 minutes. That’s the message they’re sending: Do this for 40 and you win, but let’s see you actually come close. Neither OU nor UNC did.
Cori Close portal home runs
The Bruins are experienced, disciplined and versatile, loaded with veteran players who know how to play and don’t need to be taught from square one. Cori Close’s work in the transfer portal has simply been phenomenal. Lauren Betts was — let’s remind ourselves — a transfer pickup from Stanford. That opened the floodgates for other players to want to join a winner in Westwood. Gianna Kneepkens, Charlisse Leger-Walker, the list goes on — Cori Close puts veteran pieces together and is not having to coach freshmen who need time to learn a system. For the most part, this is an experienced group of ready-to-win players. That’s a big part of this UCLA team’s identity.
Angela Dugalic
Lauren Betts and Kiki Rice get most of the publicity, and that’s entirely fair. Kneepkens has given UCLA a boost since coming over from Utah. However, the Bruins’ most consistent player in these two wins over top-12 opponents — both on neutral courts — might be Angela Dugalic, who is scoring, rebounding and defending at a high level. If this is the player Dugalic will be the whole season, good luck stopping the Bruins. She has been elite.
UCLA doesn’t need Lauren Betts to dominate
This is the really scary — scary good — part about the 2025-2026 UCLA women’s basketball team: No, Lauren Betts doesn’t have to be a superhero for this team to thrive. Betts was really good against North Carolina, but she was merely solid against Oklahoma. It didn’t matter. With Dugalic, Kneepkens, Rice, Gabriela Jaquez, and others all pitching in, UCLA has solutions everywhere on the floor and is getting production throughout the rotation. It is precisely because UCLA doesn’t have to depend on one player that the Bruins are so good and so strong.
Just wait
Just wait until Sienna Betts and Timea Gardiner get healthy and integrate themselves into this rotation. Whew! UCLA looks really good, but the fun is just beginning. This party is only getting started.
This article originally appeared on UCLA Wire: UCLA women continue to send a message to opponents: Two good quarters won’t beat us
Reporting by Matt Zemek / UCLA Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
