Anita Ortega (2002) - Hall of Fame

Anita Ortega

Induction:
2002

One of the “Bruin Elite” in women’s basketball, Ortega was a four-year starter (1976-79) and three-time first-team all-conference selection and 1979 All-American on Bruin teams that went 90-20 during her career. She played in the national collegiate semifinals her last two years. Playing alongside current UCLA Hall of Famers Ann Meyers and Denise Curry, she was an integral part of the 1978 National Championship team. She was the leading scorer in the championship game against Maryland and also made the winning basket in the Regionals that allowed UCLA to advance to the semifinals. A great all-around player, Ortega still ranks among the Top 10 in many of the Bruins career records. She ranks seventh in career scoring average (16.1 ppg), fifth in points (1751), fifth in steals (240), 10th in assists (317), and 14th in rebounding (559). She competed in the 1979 Pan American Games as a member of the Puerto Rican National Team and led the team in scoring. She went on to earn All-Pro honors in the women’s professional basketball league before returning to UCLA to serve as an assistant coach from 1981-83. Since 1984, Ortega has served as an LAPD officer. She was recently promoted to the rank of captain, and is one of the highest-ranking women in the department. Ortega also currently works as a Pac-10 basketball official.

* Accomplishments listed above were at the time of induction.