"Four years ago, I listened to then-freshman Kiki Rice and coach Cori Close tell me that their UCLA women's basketball program would someday be like South Carolina's. I didn't buy it, but I admired their aspirational attitude like I admired someone who dreamed of visiting the moon."
"Both programs obviously hold themselves to very high standards. They are a little bit ahead of us, in the fact that they've won two national championships. But that's where we want to be. We want to be that level of a program."
"UCLA and South Carolina, the last teams standing in the 2025-26 season. The best teams in the country. And besides that, with their hard-fought Final Four victories Friday over Texas and Connecticut, respectively, barometers for other programs that dream of ascending to such elite heights."
UCLA women's basketball, led by Kiki Rice and coach Cori Close, has worked towards transforming their program to match South Carolina's success. The Bruins have shown resilience through triumphs and challenges over four years. Their journey culminates in a championship game against South Carolina, a program with three national titles. Coach Close expressed aspirations to reach the same elite level as South Carolina, highlighting the high standards both programs maintain. The matchup represents a significant achievement for UCLA, showcasing their growth and ambition in women's basketball.
Read at Los Angeles Times
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