UCLA Women’s Basketball Ranked #9 in Preseason USA Today Poll
The UCLA Women’s Basketball team has landed in the Top 10 of the preseason USA Today poll as they come in at #9.
The UCLA Women’s Basketball team under Head Coach Cori Close has been on a winning trajectory the last two years.
In 2015, the Bruins turned what could have been a disappointing season into a stepping stone for the future. The Bruins did not make the NCAA Tournament but was invited to the NIT.
UCLA took that opportunity not to hang their heads, but to keep playing with each other and for each other for another few weeks. The result was an NIT Championship over West Virginia in which freshman Jordin Canada scored 31 points.
Related Story: Jordin Canada Named to Nancy Lieberman Award Watch List
The next season, the Bruins started flexing their muscles as they battled to the top of the Pac-12 Conference and got to the Sweet Sixteen for the first time since 1999. The Bruins ended the 2015-16 season with a #10 ranking in the AP Poll.
This season the Bruins look to improve on all of that and was given a push in the right direction with a #9 ranking in the inaugural USA Today Top 25 poll. This falls in line with the Bruins being chosen to win the Pac-12 Conference last week during Pac-12 Media Day.
This Bruin team is going to be one of the best Close has assembled in her six seasons in Westwood. With recruiting and development, she has put together a team that is looking to not only claim a Pac-12 Championship, but to go farther than the Sweet Sixteen.
Next: UCLA Women's Basketball Picked to Win the Pac-12
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The Bruins will once again be led by Canada, but will also have a deep roster full of veteran players like sharpshooter Kari Korver and low post threat Monique Billings. This is going to be a great season for the Women of Westwood, so get out to Pauley Pavilion and support your UCLA Women’s Basketball team because they are going to be a sight to see. Go Bruins!