Los Angeles, CA- UCLA finished the job on Easter Sunday and are unfinished celebrating as the party goes on three days later since they won their first national women’s basketball championship in Phoenix, Arizona to return home at Pauley Pavilion arena on Wednesday evening, for their upbeat fans to join in on the fun and congratulate head coach Cori Close alongside her twelve student-athletes plus coaching staff for a job well done.
What better way to start a celebration with a grand entrance as each member of women’s basketball coaching staff and each student-athlete names were announced while being embraced with a warm, boisterous welcome by tons of Bruins fans.
Kicking off the celebration was UCLA’s Alice and Nahum Family Director of Athletics, Martin Jarmond, was followed by coach Close and former Women Bruins, Denise Curry.
“I didn’t ask to talk twice, just so you know,” Close said. “I do want to tell you just a couple of my favorite moments and say thank you just to a few other people.”
Prior to Coach Close return to the podium, she invited her six Seniors onto the stage whom each shared a few words or remarks with Gabriela Jaquez taking lead as first student speaker.
“I just wanted to say how much we really appreciate all the support you have shown all of us all season long,” Jaquez said. “We could not have done it without you. We appreciate all the energy you bring to Pauley every time we play. I want to shout out all the little kids that give us friendship bracelets, notes, cookies, and like everything.”
All-Tournament Team and Starting Guard Kiki Rice followed Jaquez in order to speak which both spending their entire 4-year college career as a Bruin opting not to transfer or enter the transfer portal despite its commonality among college sports as it was reported nearly 1200 student-athletes entered the portal this year.
“It’s been so incredible over these last 4 years. The fans, the students, everyone else who comes out to support us, the band, cheer, dance team, literally everyone who pours into making this such a special place for us to show up every single day and play and practice,” Rice said.
Starting center and MVP Lauren Betts rounded out the Seniors speaking on stage and concluded her speech preceding one last dance opportunity center court with her teammates turned dance troupe including Jaquez and Senior Guard Charlisse Leger-Walker.
“You’ll all be my sisters for life,” Rice said. “We can’t wait to come watch you guys next year. Just so excited about the future of this program, everything that’s going to come and so grateful that you guys have poured into us and have helped us get to this point and can’t wait to continue celebrating…”
UCLA celebration continues as they receive honors from a marathon of events still to come including tonight as they proceed to Inglewood for a LA Clippers home game and more congratulatory expressions from their Southern California community at the Intuit Dome.
“You know, the definition of grit is passion and perseverance over a long period of time even when you don’t see results right away,” Close said. “And I’m going to tell the people in this building, you showed a heck of a lot of grit…Let me tell you, LA cares about women’s basketball now…and you all made that happen,” Close said following an exchange of tune from crowd boos to ooohs in appreciation of Close acknowledgment of fans engagement in women’s game today.
