UCLA has several players going to the WNBA, and they might set a new record. But the crazy thing is that none of them are after individual stats. Cori Close put together something special, a team of future pros who were willing to give up scoring to win championships. They want to win as a team, not just boost their own stats.

Cori Close made a bold statement about the future of her team on Just Women’s Sports. “It’s the most complete team. It’s the most complete puzzle I’ve ever had. We’re projecting to have six, maybe five. But all six of our seniors drafted. That would be a record that’s never happened before,” Close stated. “The thing I’m most proud of is that they’ve all been willing to give up their own statistics for the sake of going to win it, win things, and to win the conference.”

Cori Close’s belief that six UCLA seniors will make it to the WNBA is based on history. Tennessee (1999, 2008), Notre Dame (2019), and South Carolina (2023) are the only schools to have had five players chosen in the same draft class. Lauren Betts, Kiki Rice, Gianna Kneepkels, Gabriela Jaquez, Charlisse Leger-Walker, and Angela Dugalić are six seniors from UCLA who have real chances of becoming professionals and have real draft credentials. Betts has scored double digits in 19 straight games, shooting 56.8% from the field and averaging 9.6 rebounds and 35 blocks this season.

Cori Close’s focus on giving up personal stats is based on what really happens in the world. The Bruins won the regular season with a record of 28-1 and an 18-0 record in the conference. They won by large margins most of the time. Most of the time, this kind of overwhelming success comes from a balanced offense rather than relying on a few stars to do all the work. Close’s system works well because several players can score while also playing great defense.

The selfless nature of UCLA will result in all six seniors getting drafted into professional basketball. WNBA scouts evaluate players through two main criteria, which include their scoring ability, their basketball IQ, and their competitive drive. The ability of top players to surrender their statistical achievements for team success demonstrates their capacity to alter their professional conduct.

Cori Close’s UCLA team proves draft class dominance in tournament

But UCLA needs to keep winning championships with its historic roster before any WNBA dreams can come true. UCLA showed something important in its quarterfinal game against Washington in the Big Ten Tournament. The Bruins were behind 22-12 at first, but they came back to win 78-60, proving that all six seniors should be in the WNBA. Scouts want to see college players who are going to the draft play disciplined, professional basketball, and this wasn’t a onetime thing.

Lauren Betts scored 26 points and grabbed eight rebounds, while Kiki Rice scored 18 points and had six assists. The most impressive thing wasn’t the individual stats; it was how the team worked together to make up for the loss. There was no one player who made the comeback happen. Instead, a number of future pros played winning basketball, extending their winning streak to 23 games.

Washington maintained its presence throughout the entire match, and it achieved its first lead during the third quarter when it brought the score to 34-33. UCLA responded to the situation with composed, professional behavior. Rice scored three points through a three-pointer and added free throws, while Betts contributed a basket which brought UCLA’s score to 40-34. The players showed two types of reactions through their composed movements, which demonstrated the gap between draft prospects and actual draft picks.

The next game for the Bruins will be against either Ohio State or Minnesota. The team has shown through their performance that they will make history in the WNBA draft regardless of which team they face.