Kiki Rice came into this season, looking for a big senior year. She battled injuries during her junior season, which held her back a bit. She has answered the calls about her health with success this season. With her best season yet as a college athlete. Helping lead the Bruins to a 24-1 record and 10 ranked wins this season. Which are the most in the nation. Rice is the generator of the UCLA offense, and it has led to her moving her way up WNBA Draft boards.
I love watching Kiki Rice run the UCLA offense
— Joshua (@pointmadejosh) February 12, 2026
She’s methodical and understands how to lay the table for her teammates and this is a gorgeous set by @CoachCoriClose to capitalize on Kiki’s playmaking and Gianna Kneepkens’ shooting pic.twitter.com/wHPC8Wm43r
Throughout her four seasons at UCLA, Rice has made significant strides. She is a great offensive player that can score the basketball and pass. Well, also being an elite defender and clogging lanes and suffocating the perimeter defense. What might be most impressive is only at 5’11, she quite possibly could be the best rebounding guard in the nation. Averaging 6.4 boards per game, she is a threat any night to have a double double.
Rice started the season with mini mock drafts having her going number 14 to the Seattle Storm. She has then fluctuated between number five and number nine since. With the Washington Mystics and Chicago Sky interested. Which could be very intriguing as Washington also has the number four pick. They are very interested in getting a center with that pick. If Lauren Betts were to fall, they would look to go that direction. Possibly pairing the Bruins together in the WNBA.
Kiki Rice is by far the most underrated prospect since I started covering the draft
— Hunter Cruse (@HunterCruse14) February 13, 2026
She’s athletic w/ great size, high feel, high motor & continues to improve every season. She’s closer to the top 3 than the players ranked in the teens
Through 25 games Rice is averaging 15.4 points, 6.4 rebounds and 4.6 assists per game. Doing so on 50.8/42.1/88.9 shooting splits, displaying her growth on offense through her four years. She also averages 1.7 steals per game and is a pest on that end. Playing very instinctive basketball and not allowing many defenders to go by her. It has been fun to watch how good she has been for this team.