UCLA Missed Out on a Spot in the Women’s NCAA Tournament
UCLA Women’s Basketball Faces Tough Road Ahead in NCAA Tournament
UCLA women’s basketball coach Cori Close remains focused on the journey ahead as her team prepares for the upcoming NCAA tournament. Close has consistently emphasized the importance of winning each day and maximizing practice opportunities throughout the season. Reflecting on last season’s struggles in the Final Four, she has encouraged her players to value their shared experiences over the competition’s final outcome.
On Selection Sunday, Close dismissed suggestions that UCLA had been overlooked by the NCAA tournament selection committee. “Everybody else can talk about whatever they want,” Close stated. “We’re going to talk about what that takes, and we are completely committed to just being really focused on us and our journey and keeping the main thing, the main thing.”
However, the Bruins face a challenging landscape in the tournament. Despite having a difficult schedule that resulted in numerous wins, UCLA was denied the No. 1 overall seed. Instead, the Bruins were assigned to the toughest regional bracket, competing against high-ranked teams including LSU, the highest-rated No. 2 seed, and Duke, the top No. 3 seed. Ole Miss, led by standout freshman Cotie McMahon, adds further difficulty to UCLA’s path.
“The Sacramento region with UCLA has the toughest matchup when you look at the LSU-Duke pairing — the No. 1 two seed and No. 1 three seed,” said former Notre Dame coach Muffet McGraw on ESPN. She expressed her confusion over the committee’s decision-making, given UCLA’s strong performance this season.
McGraw has been vocal in supporting UCLA’s case for the top seed, highlighting their undefeated regular season, 14 Quad 1 wins, and a challenging schedule. “Does anyone else think UCLA deserved the overall [No. 1] seed?” she tweeted on March 2. “They have had as much success against a much tougher schedule.”
Despite the criticisms of the selection committee, Committee Chair Amanda Braun explained that UCLA, while successful, ultimately fell short when compared directly to UConn. “The way we watched UConn win throughout the year from beginning to the end, UCLA did a lot of winning too, but ultimately we gave UConn the edge,” Braun stated.
As UCLA prepares for the tournament, Close and her players remain committed to their goal of focusing solely on their performance. Overcoming a challenging bracket may not only showcase their resilience but also enrich the potential for success.
Crosstown rival USC, meanwhile, also faces a daunting challenge, awarded a No. 9 seed and set to face No. 8 Clemson. If successful, they will likely encounter top-seeded South Carolina on the latter’s home court.
A recent survey asked fans how far they believe the UCLA women will advance in the NCAA tournament. Out of 460 votes, 80.8% indicated they believe the Bruins will win it all, while 14.6% expect a loss in the title game.
