A New Era for UCLA Women's Basketball
UCLA has announced that head coach Cori Close will remain with the program through the 2029‑30 season, locking in a five‑year agreement that keeps the architect of the program’s recent resurgence in place.
Close’s tenure already boasts a national championship in 2026, a milestone that capped a stretch in which she amassed more than 350 career victories and collected multiple Coach of the Year accolades.
The 2025‑26 campaign was particularly dominant, featuring a 31‑game winning streak, an unbeaten conference schedule and a program‑record 37 wins that stood as the most ever by a Big Ten team.
UCLA finished the season atop both the Associated Press and USA Today Coaches Polls, underscoring the team’s dominance on the national stage.
Beyond the hardwood, the squad posted a 3.714 team GPA for winter quarter 2026, setting a new academic benchmark for the program.
Close has also mentored 23 players who have gone on to be selected in the WNBA draft, a testament to her ability to develop talent that translates to the professional level.