‘We're not done': UCLA women look to reload for another NCAA title chase
TAMPA, Fla. — Lauren Betts buried her face in a towel at the end of the UCLA bench. The Bruins center breathed deeply, lifted her head and wiped her tears.
She doesn't want to go out like this.
'Coming back next year, I think I'm just going to continue to grow as a leader,' Betts said after UCLA's historic season ended with an 85-51 loss to Connecticut in the national semifinal Friday, 'and remind everybody what that standard is and show that with urgency every single day.'
UCLA broke ground with the program's first NCAA Final Four appearance. The Bruins set a single-season program record with 34 wins. They claimed their first conference tournament title since 2006.
Yet the disappointment of the worst Final Four loss in NCAA tournament history has motivated them to push further toward UCLA's first national championship since 1978.
'Really unusual to be in this position at the Final Four and have zero seniors in your locker room,' head coach Cori Close said, 'and to have an opportunity to come back stronger, more connected, learning from this experience and be better the next time.'
Every player on UCLA's roster has eligibility to return, including Betts, a draft-eligible junior who already expressed her desire to play with her younger sister Sienna. A stretch 6-foot-4 wing, Sienna is set to join the Bruins after being named the most valuable player of the McDonald's All-American game this month.
'She's a way better shooter than I am,' Lauren said. 'To be honest, I feel like for her being younger, I think she is a little bit smarter than I am, too. She's genuinely one of the smartest basketball players I've ever been around.'
The Bruins have also signed guard Lena Bilic to reach the NCAA scholarship limit of 15. Playing for Croatia's ZKK Tresnjevka 2009 in the country's top league, the 6-foot-3 guard averaged 15.4 points, six rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.7 steals per game.
With Sienna's addition, the Bruins have stockpiled talent at the four position, where Angela Dugalic, Timea Gardiner and Janiah Barker split time this season. Dugalic, a graduate student who has one year of eligibility remaining because of a knee injury in 2022, started 63 games in the last two seasons. She said she has not made a decision about her next steps, balancing a possible return with the WNBA draft and her Serbian national team obligations.
The logjam of athletic, sharp-shooting forwards places a higher emphasis on improved guard play after the Bruins' backcourt turned the ball over seven times with just three assists against Connecticut. The biggest reinforcement might already be on UCLA's sideline.
Graduate student Charlisse Leger-Walker is expected to play next season after redshirting while rehabbing a knee injury suffered in 2024. While sidelined, she became a respected motherly figure around the team because of her maturity and leadership. But when the former Washington State star returned to practice last month, she quickly reminded teammates of what a three-time All-Pac-12 honoree can still bring on the court.
'I just tell people Charlisse was definitely one of the best players I played against my freshman year and the entire season,' junior guard Kiki Rice said. 'She's so talented, has a really high IQ, does everything well on the court.'
Every day for more than a year, Rice wrote in her notebook that the Bruins would go to the Final Four. The experience was grander than she had imagined. Nearly 20,000 people packed Tampa's Amalie Arena for the Final Four games. Back home in L.A., city monuments were lighted up in blue and gold to honor the Bruins.
It was the kind of support Rice dreamed of when she signed with UCLA.
So as the junior guard watched the final seconds tick off the clock Friday, Rice acknowledged the frustration of a bad performance and the sadness of a season's end, but also felt the pride of a historic run. She still mustered a smile.
'I'm not going to forget the fact that we had such a great year,' Rice said. 'To be in the Final Four, that's what you dream of, and that's what you work for. But I think obviously, we're not done. We want to win a national championship.'
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Fox Sports
an hour ago
- Fox Sports
NBA mock draft: While Duke's Flagg stands out, guards could have their own big Round 1 showing
Associated Press While Duke's Cooper Flagg is the headliner, this month's NBA draft could be just as much about the high-end guard prospects available. Flagg has long been the heavy favorite to be the No. 1 overall pick. But beyond the versatile forward is a bevy of guards prominently positioned in the top tiers of the talent pool, which could make for a very good night for the position when the first round begins June 25. It starts with multiple freshmen in Rutgers' Dylan Harper, Baylor's VJ Edgecombe, Texas' Tre Johnson and Oklahoma's Jeremiah Fears. Throw in Illinois' Kasparas Jakucionis, and guards make up five of the top nine picks — and ultimately, roughly half of the first-round selections — in the second edition of The Associated Press' NBA mock draft. 1. Dallas Mavericks: Cooper Flagg, forward, Duke Fresh off trading away Luka Doncic, the Mavericks luck into a versatile 6-foot-8, 221-pound forward who led the Blue Devils to the Final Four while becoming only the fourth freshman named AP men's college basketball national player of the year. He can thrive as a scorer ( Atlantic Coast Conference freshman-record 42 points against Notre Dame) or playmaker (team-best 4.2 assists). His length and competitive edge can impact games defensively (team highs of 1.4 steals and 1.4 blocks). And he has an all-around game more advanced than his age with room to develop as he turns 19 in December. 2. San Antonio Spurs: Dylan Harper, guard, Rutgers The son of former NBA guard Ron Harper offers size at the point (6-5, 213 pounds) and averaged 19.4 points, 4.6 rebounds and 4.0 assists as a freshman. He could join NBA rookie of the year Stephon Castle in the backcourt for star Victor Wembanyama. Still, there's an awkward question of how a team with Harper and fellow one-and-done prospect Ace Bailey went just 15-17. 3. Philadelphia 76ers: VJ Edgecombe, guard, Baylor The only benefit to injury-riddled seasons for stars Joel Embiid and Paul George was landing a high pick for a team that still has designs on contending in the Eastern Conference. The 6-4, 193-pound Edgecombe, who turns 20 in July, could help with two-way potential, rim-attacking athleticism and 3-point shooting. 4. Charlotte Hornets: Ace Bailey, forward, Rutgers The 6-8 forward is a versatile athlete capable of stretching defenses (five January games with at least four made 3s) and tools to develop defensively. He averaged 17.6 points and 7.2 rebounds, though for a losing team despite featuring Bailey and Harper as the NBA-bound headliners. The Hornets already have 2023 No. 2 overall pick Brandon Miller as a wing forward, so this would bet on talent over position need. 5. Utah Jazz: Tre Johnson, guard, Texas It's a simple selling point for the league's worst team: the 6-5, 190-pound freshman can score. He averaged 19.9 points to lead the Southeastern Conference and all freshmen nationally while shooting 39.7% on 3s. He broke Durant's freshman Longhorns record when he scored 39 points against Arkansas in February. 6. Washington Wizards: Jeremiah Fears, guard, Oklahoma The Wizards need help in multiple areas after winning 18 games. They can start with the 6-3, 180-pound combo guard who averaged 17.1 points, 4.1 rebounds and 4.1 assists in his lone college season. Highlights included a four-point play to beat a ranked Michigan team, along with scoring 57 points in two SEC Tournament games. He also got to the line 6.3 times per game while ranking tied for 11th in Division I by making 183 free throws. But he made just 28.4% of his 3s and must add bulk. 7. New Orleans Pelicans: Kon Knueppel, forward, Duke The 6-7, 217-pound Knueppel is an efficient scorer who was named ACC Tournament MVP while Flagg was sidelined by injury. Knueppel shot 40.6% on 3-pointers and ranked sixth in Division I by shooting 91.4% at the foul line. The freshman also had 10 games with at least four assists to show potential as a secondary playmaker for a Final Four team. 8. Brooklyn Nets: Khaman Maluach, center, Duke With four first-round picks, the Nets could start with a long-term bet on the 7-1, 253-pound South Sudanese big man to hit his potential as a rim-protecting lob threat. Maluach had the combine's biggest wingspan (7-6 3/4) and showed stretches of capably defending guards on switches in his lone college season. He shot 71.2% largely on dunks and putbacks, so he'll need time to refine a raw offensive game. 9. Toronto Raptors: Kasparas Jakucionis, guard/forward, Illinois The 6-5 freshman has shown an all-around floor game. He averaged 15 points, 5.7 rebounds and 4.7 assists as a freshman, including one run of six straight 20-point games that featured matchups against three ranked teams — including then-No. 1 Tennessee. He also had four double-digit rebounding games and eight games with at least seven assists. 10. Houston Rockets: Derik Queen, center, Maryland The 6-9, 248-pounder earned a spot in March Madness lore by banking in a buzzer-beating runner to beat Colorado State and reach the NCAA Sweet 16. The nimble move illustrated the still-developing upside for a skilled freshman who nearly averaged a double-double (16.5 points, 9.0 rebounds). 11. Portland Trail Blazers: Collin Murray-Boyles, forward, South Carolina The sophomore has a strong frame (6-7, 240) that could allow him to work some on the wing and bang inside with a nearly 7-1 wingspan. He contributed as a capable scorer (16.8), rebounder (8.3) and defender (1.3 blocks, 1.5 steals). 12. Chicago Bulls: Carter Bryant, forward, Arizona The 6-7, 215-pound freshman reserve shot 37.1% on 3s and showed defensive potential by averaging a block per game despite playing just 19 minutes a night. He had one of the top max vertical leaps at the combine (39.5 inches). 13. Atlanta Hawks: Asa Newell, forward/center, Georgia The 6-9, 224-pound freshman who helped the Bulldogs return to the NCAAs for the first time in a decade offers an upside that could allow him to contribute as a small-ball big man or alongside another big man as a power forward. He could be a home-state frontcourt boost for the Hawks, though the 19-year-old must get stronger and improve his shooting (29.2% on 3s). 14. San Antonio Spurs: Noa Essengue, forward, Ratiopharm Ulm (Germany) The lanky 6-9, 194-pound forward from France has been honing versatile skills in Germany and turns 19 in December. He has the ability to run the court and attack off the dribble, averaging 12.4 points and 5.3 rebounds in Germany this season. 15. Oklahoma City Thunder: Thomas Sorber, center, Georgetown The 6-9, 263-pound freshman offers a sturdy interior presence with a 7-6 wingspan, proving capable of operating in the post or in traffic while also flashing face-up skills. Sorber, 19, also averaged 2.0 blocks to offer defensive potential. It would help for him to improve his 3-point shot (6 of 37, 16.2%) but he would be a luxury boost up front for a team that won a league-best 68 games and reached the NBA Finals. 16. Orlando Magic: Jase Richardson, guard, Michigan State The son of former NBA guard Jason Richardson is small (6-1, 178) for a combo guard, and he mentioned after a recent workout with Portland that he's working to prove he can play the point. Shooting 41.2% on 3s is enticing regardless. 17. Minnesota Timberwolves: Rasheer Fleming, forward/center, Saint Joseph's The 6-8, 232-pound Fleming increased his output in three college seasons and brings a sturdy frame to the NBA. He averaged 14.7 points, 8.5 rebounds and 1.5 blocks, and has improved his 3-pointing from 31.3% through his first two college seasons to 39% last year. He also had one of the combine's biggest wingspans at better than 7-5. 18. Washington Wizards: Egor Demin, guard/forward, BYU A top international prospect from Russia, the 19-year-old Demin spent a season at BYU as a playmaker with size (6-9, 199). That could allow teams to run offense through him as a strong passer who had 15 assists against two turnovers in 54 minutes of work during his last two NCAA Tournament games for a Sweet 16 team. 19. Brooklyn Nets: Ben Saraf, guard, Ratiopharm Ulm (Germany) After grabbing Maluach at eight, the Nets could bolster their perimeter with the 6-6, 201-pound lefty from Israel. Saraf has proven adept as a scoring playmaker, averaging 12.8 points and 4.6 assists this season in Germany. 20. Miami Heat: Liam McNeeley, forward, UConn The 6-7, 215-pound McNeeley jumped right in as a freshman starter for the two-time reigning NCAA champion Huskies and projects as a floor-stretching wing, including with 22 points in the NCAAs against eventual champion Florida and a 38-point showing against then-No. 24 Creighton. 21. Utah Jazz: Danny Wolf, forward/center, Michigan The 6-11, 252-pound junior thrived in moving from the Ivy League (Yale) to the Big Ten as a low-post presence, averaging 13.2 points and 9.7 rebounds while ranking among Division I leaders with 15 double-doubles. He also showed the ability to step outside (38 made 3s in 37 games). 22. Atlanta Hawks: Nolan Traore, guard, Saint-Quentin BB (France) The 6-5, 175-pound guard from France is a scoring playmaker and has been regarded as a possible lottery prospect. The 19-year-old had previously drawn recruiting interest from programs like Duke, Alabama and Gonzaga before opting to remain in his home country last year. 23. Indiana Pacers: Cedric Coward, guard, Washington State The 6-5, 213-pound Coward has taken an interesting path. He started his career at Division III Willamette and spent two seasons at Eastern Washington, then played six games at Washington State due to injury and planned to transfer to Duke. But he stayed in the draft after testing well at the combine, including the best wingspan (7-2+) and standing reach (8-10) among guards, a 38.5-inch max vertical leap, and solid shooting-drill showings. 24. Oklahoma City Thunder: Nique Clifford, guard, Colorado State The 6-5, 202-pound Clifford took his time developing as a five-year player, though the 23-year-old is coming off a huge year (18.9 points, 9.6 rebounds, 4.4 assists). He also improved his outside shot, going from making 33.8% over three seasons at Colorado to 37.7% on higher volume in two years with the Rams. 25. Orlando Magic: Walter Clayton Jr., guard, Florida The 6-2, 199-pound combo guard was an AP first-team All-American and Final Four's most outstanding player in the Gators' national title run. That included monster tournament performances — notably the frantic comeback against Texas Tech in the Elite Eight and a career-best scoring effort against Auburn in the Final Four — that bode well for a gamer who repeatedly rose to the challenge. 26. Brooklyn Nets: Will Riley, guard/forward, Illinois The freshman from Canada worked as a top reserve averaging 12.6 points. Riley, 19, has potential as a scorer and passer with size (6-8) as he refines his game and develops physically (186 pounds). 27. Brooklyn Nets: Drake Powell, guard/forward, North Carolina The 6-6, 195-pound freshman offers athleticism, outside shooting (37.9% on 3s) and defensive potential. Powell led all combine players in standing vertical leap (37.5 inches, 4+ inches more than anyone else) and max vertical (43.0) to go with a 7-foot wingspan. 28. Boston Celtics: Maxime Raynaud, center, Stanford The fourth-year senior from France is a skilled 7-footer who can step outside and space the floor. He joined Flagg as the only unanimous AP all-ACC first-team picks after averaging 20.2 points and 10.6 rebounds while making 67 3s in 35 games. 29. Phoenix Suns: Joan Beringer, center, Cedevita Olimpija (Slovenia) Beringer, who turns 19 in November, projects as a mobile threat who can work in the pick-and-roll and as a lob threat. The French big man needs time to strengthen a lean 6-11, 230-pound frame. 30. Los Angeles Clippers: Hugo Gonzalez, guard/forward, Real Madrid (Spain) The 19-year-old with a 6-6, 205-pound frame has flashed shooting range and the ability to attack off the dribble. He earned MVP honors after helping the Under-18 Real Madrid team win last year's Euroleague Basketball Adidas Next Generation Tournament (ANGT) in Berlin. ___ Also considered (in alphabetical order): Kam Jones, guard, Marquette; Ryan Kalkbrenner, center, Creighton; Noah Penda, forward, Le Mans Sarthe Basket (France); Hansen Yang, center, Qingdao (China). ___ The AP NBA mock draft analyzes the top prospects who have declared for the league's annual event. More AP NBA: ___ AP Basketball Writers Tim Reynolds, Aaron Beard, Brian Mahoney and John Marshall contributed to this report. ___ AP NBA: recommended
Boston Globe
2 hours ago
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Marco Sturm's diverse coaching journey was a key selling point, but will he prove to be the right guy?
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Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Yahoo
Mwenentanda eager for opportunity with Vanderbilt
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — Ndjakalenga Mwenentanda is a former Washington high school standout, who just made a run to the Final Four with Texas. Now, she's on the move to another SEC School. Ndjakalenga played three season with the Texas Longhorns, appearing in 37 games this past year as a junior. She started in 15 games, including the Final Four contest against South Carolina. 'I love Texas and I got what I needed out of Texas. I got my degree,' Mwenentanda said. 'I just wanted something different.' Mwenentanda entered the transfer portal following her junior season. 35 teams reached out to her, but she had to picky, knowing she has just one year of eligibility left. 'Being a part of some rebuilding process wouldn't have allowed me enough time. I had to look at the options that were the best fit for me, as far as teams that were a little bit more established,' Mwenentanda said. Another factor in Ndjakalenga's decision was the ability to help fill her goals, which include playing basketball beyond college. 'The goal is to play pro basketball and that's why I entered to portal, to see where I can best take that stepping stone to achieve my goal of playing basketball,' Mwenentanda said. Her decision brought her to the Music City of Nashville, becoming the newest player for Vanderbilt. 'There are a lot of girls on the team that want to go pro. I know, being in a final four atmosphere, you've got to have everybody that really wants it,' Mwenentanda said. 'Those who are willing to sacrifice and put time towards the same goal.' While Ndjakalenga is taking her talents to Vandy, her heart will always be in South Dakota, a state providing plenty of support for the Sioux Falls native. 'I grew up in Sioux Falls and I've still got friends I keep in touch with. I keep in touch with Parish over at Washington as well,' Mwenentanda said. 'I think Sioux Falls definitely has a permanent place in my heart, because of what it has provided me.' Mwenentanda will make some trips back and forth to Nashville throughout the summer as she gets ready for the basketball season later this year. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
