WHO'S BACK
The Bruins return four starters for the 2015-16 season and a total of 10 letterwinners which accounted for 83% of UCLA's scoring last year. The four starters include senior guard Nirra Fields (15.0 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 2.3 spg), an All-Pac-12 honoree; junior guard Kari Korver (10.1 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 1.5 apg), a second team Pac-12 All-Academic selection that was one of only three Bruins to play in all 37 games and made the most starts at 36 games; sophomore point guard Jordin Canada, the reigning Pac-12 Freshman of the Year and WNIT MVP (11.8 ppg, 4.4 apg, 3.4 rpg, 2.0 spg) that made 30 starts as a true freshman and senior forward Kacy Swain (4.2 ppg, 4.5 rpg, .755 FT%), who returns for her final year after making 25 starts last season.
BATTLE-TESTED BRUINS
In addition to the four starters, UCLA also returns three players that all averaged double-digit minutes last year. All three Bruins are part of the top-rated recruiting class from 2014 and include sophomore forward Monique Billings (5.8 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 1.4 bpg), sophomore forward Lajahna Drummer (5.4 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 0.6 spg) and sophomore guard Kelli Hayes (2.4 ppg, 1.7 rpg, 0.5 apg). Three other battled-tested Bruins that return for the season are junior guard Dominique Williams (0.5 ppg, 0.8 rpg, 0.6 apg), sophomore forward Paulina Hersler (1.7 ppg, 0.9 rpg, 0.1 apg) and sophomore guard Chrissy Baird (0.4 ppg, 0.3 rpg, 0.1 bpg).
COACH CLOSE
Head Coach Cori Close is in her fifth year with the Bruins after guiding UCLA to the WNIT title last season with a 62-60 win at West Virginia (Charleston, W.Va.). She sports an overall record of 74-61 (.548).
WELCOME TO WESTWOOD
The UCLA women's basketball team entered the 2015-16 season with another top 10 recruiting class on campus. The reigning WNIT champions have added guard Kennedy Burke (Northridge, Calif./Sierra Canyon HS) and forward Ashley Hearn (Rowlett, Texas/Sachse HS). Both players were ranked in the top 40 in the overall recruiting rankings and in the top five at their respective positions. The Bruins also welcomed in Oklahoma transfer Nicole Kornet. The senior guard will redshirt the 2015-16 season but will be invaluable during practices, going against the eight players on UCLA's roster that are listed as either a freshman or a sophomore this year.
BOMBS AWAY
The Bruins have two three-point shooting contest winners on the roster this year as freshman guard Kennedy Burke won the 2015 high school three-point shooting contest, a competition won by junior guard Kari Korver in 2012.
BIG MACS ON CAMPUS
UCLA's roster will also feature a school-record-tying four McDonald's All-Americans in 2015-16 as freshman forward Ashley Hearn joins sophomores Jordin Canada and Lajahna Drummer as well as senior guard Nirra Fields.
FIELDS SET TO CLIMB CHARTS
Senior guard Nirra Fields ranks No. 15 on UCLA's career scoring list with 1,400 points. She needs 137 to pass Necie Thompson (1,536 - 1981-83) for 14th. She is 10th in 20-point scoring games (27) and needs four more to pass Nikki Blue (30 - 2003-06). She is 7th in three-point field goals made (111) and 3rd in attempts (371).
KORVER ALSO ON CAREER CHARTS
Junior guard Kari Korver is currently at No. 1 on UCLA's career free throw percentage list at 84.0 percent (105-for-125). She also ranks in the top 10 in all three categories for three-point shooting, ranking No. 4 in three-point percentage (.383), at No. 4 in makes (116) and at No. 7 in attempts (303).
PRESEASON PROJECTIONS
UCLA was picked to finish fourth in the Pac-12 in 2015-16 in a vote by the league's coaches. For the first time in the history of the poll, Oregon State was selected to win the Pac-12 title. The Beavers received the maximum first place votes with 11 and 121 total points. Stafnord, which had been voted to win the Conference 15-consecutive years prior to this year, collected 104 points for second in the polling, followed by Arizona State, which placed third with 102 points and one first-place vote. Tied for fourth with California, the Bruins and the Golden Bears had 88 points. Washington rounded out the top half of the league, coming in sixth with 68 points. The Bruins were also picked to finish fifth by the Pac-12 media.
BRUINS IN THE POLLS
UCLA is currently receiving 31 points for 28th in the USA TODAY Sports Top 25 women's basketball coaches poll, and entered the season at No. 35 with 22 votes. UCLA also received 41 votes in the AP Top 25 Poll which also ranks 28th. Several 2015-16 opponents are also ranked or receiving votes in the AP Top 25 Poll as South Carolina is at No. 2 and possible opponent Notre Dame is at No. 3. Oregon State is ranked No. 7 while Stanford, Arizona State and California are right behind at 13th, 16th, and 16th, respectively. UCLA's season-opening opponent, St. John's, received 33 points (No. 33) in the preseason poll. Oregon (five points) and Washington (one point), also received votes in this week's AP poll.
