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LOS ANGELES – The UCLA women's basketball team will play 12 non-conference games this upcoming season, including facing seven teams that made postseason play a year ago, highlighted by three that made the NCAA Tournament, three that made the WNIT and one that participated in the Women's Basketball Invitational.
After a home exhibition game against Westmont on Saturday, Nov. 3, the Bruins will open their season on the road at nearby Loyola Marymount on Tuesday, Nov. 6. The Lions were 19-11 last year and 11-7 in the West Coast (tied for 3rd). The Bruins will return home to face Rice in their home opener on Sunday, Nov. 11 at 2:00 p.m. for Veteran's and First Responder's Day. The Owls went 23-10 overall and 10-6 in Conference USA (tied for 3rd) and fell to New Mexico in the second round of the WNIT.
UCLA will host two more teams before spending Thanksgiving in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Up first will be Georgia on Wednesday, Nov. 14 at 11:00 a.m. for Field Trip Day. The Bulldogs were 26-7 overall and 12-4 in the Southeastern Conference (tied for 2nd) and lost to Duke in the Second Round of the NCAA Tournament. Another postseason opponent follows when the Bruins host Seton Hall on Sunday, Nov. 18 at 2:00 p.m. for Family FUNDay. The Pirates were 16-16 overall and 7-11 in the Big East (7th), falling to Saint Joseph's in the first round of the WNIT.
"I'm excited about our challenging non-conference schedule for the upcoming 2018-19 season," The Michael Price Family UCLA Women's Head Basketball Coach Cori Close said. "I'm expecting that our team will rise up and embrace the challenge of playing teams of this caliber."
The Bruins will spend Thanksgiving in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands for the 2018 Paradise Jam, taking on national powers North Carolina on Thursday, Nov. 22, Kentucky on Friday, Nov. 23 and USF on Saturday, Nov. 24. The Tar Heels were in a rebuilding year last season, finishing with a 15-16 overall record and a 4-12 slate in the Atlantic Coast Conference (12th). The Wildcats also struggled a year ago, finishing 15-17 overall and 6-10 in the SEC (9th). The final opponent, the USF Bulls, finished 26-8 overall and 13-3 in the American Athletic Conference (2nd), behind only UConn. The Bulls lost to Buffalo in the First Round of the NCAA Tournament.
Upon returning home from the U.S. Virgin Islands, the Bruins will host three tough teams that all made the postseason last year. First up is the 2018 WNIT Champions, Indiana, on Sunday, Dec. 2 at 1:00 p.m. The Hoosiers finished 23-14 overall and 9-7 in the Big Ten (tied for 7th). Then UCLA will host Fresno State on Friday, Dec. 7. The Bulldogs were 17-15 overall and 11-7 in the Mountain West (tied for 4th) and lost to Nevada in the quarterfinals of the Women's Basketball Invitational. The Bruins will finish the three-game home stand with the Oklahoma State Cowgirls on Sunday, Dec. 16. OSU was 21-11 overall and 11-7 in the Big 12 (tied for 3rd) and lost to Mississippi State in the Second Round of the NCAA Tournament.
UCLA will conclude its non-conference slate with a road trip to Chicago, Ill., to face UIC on Wednesday, Dec. 19. The Flames went 8-22 overall and 1-17 in the Horizon League (10th). The Bruins will conclude their regular season non-conference slate at home when they host Cal Poly on Friday, Dec. 28. The Mustangs were 17-12 overall and 11-5 in the Big West (2nd).
"I really like our team and the options our versatility and depth give us this season," Close added. "I can't wait to see them come into their own and build their own identity as a team."
UCLA's complete schedule, including all game times, will be finalized in September.
Season tickets for the 2018-19 women's basketball campaign are available, starting at only $99. Call (310) 206-5991, email tickets@athletics.ucla.edu, or click here for more information.
UCLA's Non-Conference Schedule (2018-19)
| Day | Date | Opponent | Venue (City) |
| Sat. | Nov. 3 | Westmont (Exhibition) | Pauley Pavilion (Los Angeles, Calif.) |
| Tue. | Nov. 6 | at Loyola Marymount | Gersten Pavilion (Los Angeles, Calif.) |
| Sun. | Nov. 11 | Rice | Pauley Pavilion (Los Angeles, Calif.) |
| Wed. | Nov. 14 | Georgia | Pauley Pavilion (Los Angeles, Calif.) |
| Sun. | Nov. 18 | Seton Hall | Pauley Pavilion (Los Angeles, Calif.) |
| Thu. | Nov. 22 | vs. North Carolina | University of the Virgin Islands Sports & Fitness Center (St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands) |
| Fri. | Nov. 23 | vs. Kentucky | University of the Virgin Islands Sports & Fitness Center (St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands) |
| Sat. | Nov. 24 | vs. USF | University of the Virgin Islands Sports & Fitness Center (St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands) |
| Sun. | Dec. 2 | Indiana | Pauley Pavilion (Los Angeles, Calif.) |
| Fri. | Dec. 7 | Fresno State | Pauley Pavilion (Los Angeles, Calif.) |
| Sun. | Dec. 16 | Oklahoma State | Pauley Pavilion (Los Angeles, Calif.) |
| Wed. | Dec. 19 | at UIC | UIC Pavilion (Chicago, Ill.) |
| Fri. | Dec. 28 | Cal Poly | Pauley Pavilion (Los Angeles, Calif.) |
UCLA's Non-Conference Opponents
| Opponent | Conference | 2017-18 Record | 2017-18 Conf. Record | 2017-18 Conf. Finish |
| Loyola Marymount | West Coast | 19-11 | 11-7 | t-3rd |
| Rice | Conference USA | 23-10 | 10-6 | t-3rd |
| Georgia | Southeastern (SEC) | 26-7 | 12-4 | t-2nd |
| Seton Hall | Big East | 16-16 | 7-11 | 7th |
| North Carolina | Atlantic Coast (ACC) | 15-16 | 4-12 | 12th |
| Kentucky | Southeastern (SEC) | 15-17 | 6-10 | 9th |
| USF | American Athletic (AAC) | 26-8 | 13-3 | 2nd |
| Indiana | Big Ten | 23-14 | 9-7 | t-7th |
| Fresno State | Mountain West | 17-15 | 11-7 | t-4th |
| Oklahoma State | Big 12 | 21-11 | 11-7 | t-3rd |
| UIC | Horizon League | 8-22 | 1-17 | 10th |
| Cal Poly | Big West | 17-12 | 11-5 | 2nd |