A New Chapter for the Bruins
The UCLA Bruins, fresh off a 37‑1 season that culminated in the 2026 NCAA championship, held a media availability that doubled as a preview of their first overseas test.
Coach Cori Close, who recently signed a four‑year extension worth roughly $2 million annually, emphasized that 98 percent of the game is played without the ball, focusing on screening, rebounding and defensive rotations.
The returning core features Sienna Betts, the team’s leading scorer from last year, and Elina Aarnisalo, who doubled her output and sharpened her three‑point shooting, both poised to assume expanded roles.
Close has bolstered the lineup with a top‑five transfer portal class that includes Donovyn Hunter, KK Bransford, Addy Brown and Bonnie Deas, while also welcoming back Kiki Rice, Lauren Betts and Gianna Kneepkens.
Staff changes include the departure of mental performance coach Tasha Brown for the University of Washington and the return of Shannon LeBeauf as associate head coach after a stint at Rutgers.
Across the border, Canada’s senior women’s national team, currently seventh in the FIBA world rankings, is using the exhibition as a springboard for the Women’s Olympic Pre‑Qualifying Tournament in August.
The game will be played in Victoria, British Columbia, a city that offers a familiar West Coast vibe for the Bruins and a chance to test their chemistry in a high‑stakes environment.