UCLA prepared for high expectations this season

The Bruins, who now enter the season ranked fifth in the AP poll, struck gold once again in the transfer portal this offseason picking up Janiah Barker, Charlisse Leger-Walker and Timea Gardiner, giving head coach Cori Close one of the most talented rosters she’s had during her tenure at UCLA. The only Big Ten team ranked higher is fellow newcomer USC.

With the new talent comes higher expectations. Not only that, but with Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) now playing such a huge role in college athletics, Close understands the need to block out what she calls “potential for distraction.”

There’s the on-court chemistry aspect as well. Out of the 13 players on UCLA’s roster, seven of them are newcomers via either the transfer portal or incoming freshmen. Making sure everybody stays on the same page throughout the year is one Close’s key areas of focus as the season opener rapidly approaches.

”It’s a constant feeding of the right things and the right attitudes. You get what you celebrate and you get what you allow. . .it’s not just about what we’re doing in between the lines, it’s about what we committed to and how we treat each other and how we talk to each other,” Close said during a media availability session last week. “I think it’s spending time relationally and putting those deposits in on a consistent basis. I think it’s having an absolute commitment to give to your teammates and to grow with intentionality every single day.”

”No energy vampires allowed. I don’t want to coach your feelings in between the lines. I’ll care about your feelings outside of that, but you’re just an energy vampire if you’re letting your feelings get in the way of your commitments,” Close continued. “And so bottom line for us is feeding those things, honoring the right things and holding them accountable to those things day in and day out.”

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One player in particular who is line for an increased role is Gabriela Jaquez. The junior wing has sort of played a utility role in that she her production doesn’t always show up in the box score, but her impact is certainly felt.

And her role isn’t just going to entail on-court production. It’s also going to include being more of a leader, especially with so many freshman and newcomers joining the team. Keeping them together and focused amid high expectations is something Jaquez is confident she can help with.

”I think just really set the tone, and it starts in practice and in the film room, in the weight room, of how we do things here. It’s really difficult playing two years being to the Sweet 16. We haven’t been farther than that, so I hope this year we can change that,” Jaquez said during a media availability session last week. “Obviously having more experience is going to be very helpful. . .we’re a majority upperclassmen, so just all of us leading the freshmen, leading everyone to that will be really important.”

As far as the on-court production, one of the Bruins’ key strengths is going to be their frontcourt. Betts is considered a potential lottery pick in the 2026 WNBA Draft while Angela Dugalic compliments her well with her ability to space the floor and shoot from three-point range.

Nothing is quite set in stone just yet, but it’s a good bet to assume Dugalic starts alongside Betts in the frontcourt throughout this season. In addition to being a matchup issue for opposing teams, going against each other in practice is another way to keep sharp.

“Having Lauren on this team is a blessing. I’d rather have her on my team than play against her. Over the past year I think we’ve learned how to not only play with each other but grow in our own role and then learn from each other and what we can do to make each other better,” Dugalic said during a media availability session last week. “There are days where we have to guard each other, and that’s always a fun experience for me. I love guarding her because it’s always a good challenge.”

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And as the Bruins prepare for a season where tournament success is going to be expected, Close looks back to what she learned from the late legendary UCLA men’s basketball head coach John Wooden.

Walking into the storied Pauley Pavilion each day, there are constant reminders about what has come before, while also recognizing what’s most important.

“It’s everything from what Coach Wooden used to tell me, ‘you’re not coaching people’s jump shots, you’re coaching people’s hearts. . .people first, it’s inside out. Champions are made here but from the inside out and I have to remind myself that,” Close said. “I walk down that hallway before every game and on my right is all the banners and on my left is all the faces of the people in men’s basketball that Coach Wooden mentored.”

“I always think to myself, don’t focus on my right on the banners. Focus on the people, the faces, the hearts, the process, loving people well,” Close continued. “Training them up relentlessly, on what it takes to be successful, and the outcomes will take care of themselves.”

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