UCLA Women’s Basketball 2026 NCAA Tournament Capsule
March 3, 2026 · CSM Staff
UCLA Bruins
Big Ten (31-1, 18-0)
Big Wins: 11/27 vs Duke (89-59), 2/8 at Michigan (69-66)
Bad Losses: 11/26 vs Texas (65-76)
Coach: Cori Close
Probable Starters:
Lauren Betts, Senior, Center, 16.4 ppg, 8.6 rpg, 3.2 apg, 1.9 bpg
Charlisse Leger-Walker, Senior, Guard, 8.9 ppg, 5.6 apg, 4.2 rpg
Gianna Kneepkens, Senior, Guard, 13.4 ppg, 3.0 apg, 3.3 rpg
Gabriela Jaquez, Senior, Guard, 13.6 ppg, 2.0 apg, 5.4 rpg
Kiki Rice, Senior, Guard, 15.3 ppg, 4.5 apg, 6.0 rpg
Key Role Players:
Sienna Betts, Freshman, Forward, 6.6 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 1.3 apg
Angela Dugalic, Senior, Forward, 9.0 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 2.1 apg
By the Numbers:
Scoring Offense: 85.4 (5th in nation, 1st in conference)
Scoring Defense: 57.1 (24, 1)
Field-Goal Percentage: 51.0 (2, 1)
Field-Goal Defense: 36.1 (16, 1)
Three-Point Field Goals Per Game: 7.7 (58, 4)
Three-Point Field-Goal Percentage: 37.6 (5, 1)
Free-Throw Percentage: 78.4 (11, 4)
Rebound Margin: 15.8 (2, 1)
Assists Per Game: 22.1 (2, 1)
Turnovers Per Game: 12.8 (24, 3)
Recent Postseason Appearances:
| 2025 | NCAA | First Round win over Southern |
| 2025 | NCAA | Second Round win over Richmond |
| 2025 | NCAA | Regional Semifinal win over Mississippi |
| 2025 | NCAA | Regional Final win over LSU |
| 2025 | NCAA | National Semifinal loss to Connecticut |
| 2024 | NCAA | Round of 64 win over Cal Baptist |
| 2024 | NCAA | Round of 32 win over Creighton |
| 2024 | NCAA | Regional Semifinal loss to LSU |
| 2023 | NCAA | Round of 64 win over Sacramento State |
| 2023 | NCAA | Round of 32 win over Oklahoma |
| 2023 | NCAA | Regional Semifinal loss to South Carolina |
| 2022 | NIT | First Round win over UC Irvine |
| 2022 | NIT | Second Round win over Air Force |
| 2022 | NIT | Third Round win over Wyoming |
| 2022 | NIT | Quarterfinal win over Oregon State |
| 2022 | NIT | Semifinal loss to South Dakota State |
| 2021 | NCAA | Round of 64 win over Wyoming |
| 2021 | NCAA | Round of 32 loss to Texas |
| 2019 | NCAA | First Round win over Tennessee |
| 2019 | NCAA | Second Round win over Maryland |
| 2019 | NCAA | Third Round loss to Connecticut |
| 2018 | NCAA | Round of 64 win over American |
| 2018 | NCAA | Round of 32 win over Creighton |
| 2018 | NCAA | Regional Semifinal win over Texas |
| 2018 | NCAA | Regional Final loss to Mississippi State |
| 2017 | NCAA | Round of 64 win over Boise State |
| 2017 | NCAA | Round of 32 win over Texas A&M |
| 2017 | NCAA | Regional Semifinal loss to Connecticut |
| 2016 | NCAA | Round of 64 win over Hawaii |
| 2016 | NCAA | Round of 32 win over South Florida |
| 2016 | NCAA | Regional Semifinal loss to Texas |
| 2015 | NIT | First Round win over Cal State Bakersfield |
| 2015 | NIT | Second Round win over San Diego |
| 2015 | NIT | Third Round win over Northern Colorado |
| 2015 | NIT | Quarterfinal win over Saint Mary’s |
| 2015 | NIT | Semifinal win over Michigan |
| 2015 | NIT | Championship win over West Virginia |
| 2013 | NCAA | Round of 64 win over Stetson |
| 2013 | NCAA | Round of 32 loss to Oklahoma |
| 2011 | NCAA | Round of 64 win over Montana |
| 2011 | NCAA | Round of 32 loss to Gonzaga |
| 2010 | NCAA | Round of 64 win over North Carolina State |
| 2010 | NCAA | Round of 32 loss to Nebraska |
| 2006 | NCAA | Round of 64 win over Bowling Green |
| 2006 | NCAA | Round of 32 loss to Purdue |
| 2004 | NCAA | Round of 64 loss to Minnesota |
| 2000 | NCAA | Round of 64 loss to George Washington |
*all team stats through 3/5
