LOS ANGELES – No. 4 UCLA Women's Basketball is set to host future Big Ten foe Purdue on Monday, Nov. 6, at 5:30 p.m. PT inside Pauley Pavilion presented by Wescom. The game is the first of a doubleheader with UCLA Men's Basketball – the men take on Saint Francis University at 8:30 p.m. PT.
The game will be broadcast to Pac-12 Los Angeles and the Pac-12 Now app with Ted Robinson (play-by-play) and Mary Murphy (analyst) on the call. UCLA will play its first of four-consecutive home games Monday night; the Bruins are set to host 15 games in Pauley Pavilion during the 2023-24 regular season. The team will travel to the Cayman Islands for a pair of games against UConn and Niagara the weekend of Nov. 24-26.
Monday's matchup will be the fourth time in program history that the Bruins face the Boilermakers, with Purdue holding a 2-1 advantage in the all-time series matchup. The teams last met in the 2006 NCAA tournament, where Purdue defeated UCLA 54-61. UCLA is 1-0 all-time at home against the Boilermakers.
GAME INFORMATION
Venue: Pauley Pavilion presented by Wescom
Location: Los Angeles, Calif.
Tip-off Time: 5:30 p.m. PT
TV: Pac-12 Los Angeles, Pac-12 Now app
TV Talent: Mary Murphy (analyst), Ted Robinson (play-by-play)
Radio: ucla.leanplayer.com
Radio Talent: Dave Marcus
TICKET INFORMATION
UCLA's season ticket packages for the 2023-24 women's basketball campaign are still available. Fans can call (310) 206-5991, visit uclabruins.com/tickets, or email tickets@athletics.ucla.edu for more information. Single-game tickets for UCLA's nonconference home games can be purchased online (link here). For more information about tickets, call UCLA Athletic Sales & Service at (310) 206-5991 or via email at tickets@athletics.ucla.edu.
Parking and game day information can be found here.
2022-23 IN REVIEW
• The Bruins started off hot, winning six-straight games before falling to then-No. 1/1 South Carolina at the end of November. UCLA went undefeated in December to capture an 11-1 non-conference record, including a Battle 4 Atlantis championship trophy.
• Early conference play presented challenges to the Bruins - a Charisma Osborne injury on New Year's Eve, four-consecutive road games and three-consecutive top-25 match-ups.
• UCLA's Osborne, Kiki Rice and Emily Bessoir were named to the 2023 Pac-12 All-Tournament team for their performances in the run to the title game. Bessoir recorded her first-career double-double (18 PTS, 13 REB) in the victory over Arizona in the quarterfinal, and Rice poured in 22 points (12-13 FT) in UCLA's comeback win over No. 1-seed Stanford in the semifinal. The Bruins eventually fell to No. 7-seed Washington State in the championship matchup.
• Osborne had a career-high 36 points in the win over No. 5-seed Oklahoma in the second round of the NCAA Tournament, marking the most points scored in a single game by a Bruin in program postseason history. Rice (14 points: 3-4 FG, 7-8 FT) joined the shooting guard as the only other Bruin in double figures. The trip to the Sweet 16 was the eighth in program history (1985, 1992, 1999, 2016-2019, 2023).
• UCLA made 473 free throws last season. Shooting 77.9% on the year, UCLA recorded its best free throw shooting performance in team history (2021-22: .767 FT%). The Bruins also led the Pac-12 in offensive boards (14.6 ORPG) for the season.
KEY NOTES ON THE BRUINS
• Charisma Osborne scored 571 points (2nd - Pac-12) in 36 games, averaging 15.9 PPG (5th - Pac-12). She was 3rd in the Pac-12 in field goals made (199 FGM) on the most field goal attempts (514 FGA) in the Pac-12. Osborne ranked 1st the Pac-12 in minutes played (1,189 MIN), 6th in FT% (83.2%), and 6th in FTM (119). The senior has 1,798 career points, most recently passing Anita Ortega (1,751 PTS), Monique Billings (1,761 PTS), and Nikki Blue (1,797 PTS) for 9th on UCLA's all-time scoring list. Natalie Williams (1990-94) sits ahead of Osborne at 8th all-time with 1,813 career points.
• Kiki Rice started 36 of her 37 games during her first collegiate season, averaging 28.0 minutes per game (1,034 MIN, 1st among Pac-12 freshmen). The first-year floor general ranked second on the team in assists (111 AST), which was the second most among freshmen in the Pac-12 (T-10th overall).
• Emily Bessoir was a key contributor in the frontcourt for the Bruins as a versatile stretch big, appearing in all 37 games. Bessoir led the team in scoring on eight occasions (16 PTS vs. UC Riverside - Nov. 10; 16 PTS at USC - Dec. 15; 12 PTS vs. CSU Bakersfield - Dec. 17; 13 PTS at Wash. St. - Jan. 22; 17 PTS at Utah - Jan. 29; career-high 20 PTS vs. Oregon - Feb. 12; 17 PTS vs. Arizona State - March 1; 18 PTS vs. Arizona - March 2). The forward ranked third on the team in points (9.4 PPG) and 2nd in rebounds (5.8 RPG) in 25.11 MPG. She had 60 PTS, 33 REB in the Pac-12 Tournament and recorded her first-career double-double against Arizona in the quarterfinals (18 PTS, 13 REB).
• Camryn Brown set single-game career highs in points (9 vs. Arizona, Mar. 2), rebounds (10 vs. South Dakota State, Nov. 19), assists (5 at Utah, Jan. 29) and steals (5 vs. Marquette, Nov. 21) last season.
• Londynn Jones shot a scorching 9-for-13 against the Arizona schools, and she ranked 3rd in the conference in 3P% during Pac-12 play (.466 3FG%). The freshman averaged 11.3 points per game in conference matchups, and she led the conference in FT% on the year (.892, min. 2 FTM/G).
• Angela Dugalic will return after missing the entire 2022-23 season due to injury. The senior played all three exhibition games on UCLA's summer tour - against Senegal's A' U25 squad, Dugalic poured in 20 points on 6-of-9 shooting (4-of-5 3FG) and grabbed six boards with two blocks in the 87-59 victory. Dugalic's return is highly anticipated by Coach Cori Close, who has praised the work Dugalic has done to improve her game through injury.
• Amanda Muse joins UCLA as the lone Bruin in the class of 2027. Muse comes off an impressive senior season in which she averaged 14.5 points, 12.1 rebounds and 4.1 blocks per game. Muse was named a 2023 McDonald's All American and totaled 18 points in the all-star game.
RELOADING THE NO. 1 RECRUITING CLASS OF 2022
• The Bruins added 6-foot-7 center Lauren Betts from the transfer portal after the 2022-23 season. Betts adds key depth in the front court as an inside presence. The sophomore shot a team-best .602 FG% during her freshman season, averaging 5.9 points and 3.5 rebound in just 9.7 minutes per game (33 GP).
• Betts was the No. 1 recruit in the class of 2022, edging out now-teammate Kiki Rice (No. 2 overall, No. 1 PG) in the espnW HoopGurlz Recruiting Class of 2022.
• Kiki Rice led the team in assists in 10 games in 2022-23 (Cal Poly, UC Riverside, Troy, No. 11/12 Tennessee, at No. 17/16 Oregon, Cal, No. 22 Arizona, Arizona State, No. 21/20 Arizona, No. 6/5 Stanford). Rice (36 starts) joined Jordin Canada (2014-15: 30 GS, 34 GP) and Lindsey Corsaro (2018-19: 34 GS, 35 GP) on the list of Bruin freshmen with 30+ starts during their rookie campaign since the 2009-10 season. Rice, Jones and Jaquez all appeared in every game of the 2022-23 season (37 GP).
• Londynn Jones scored 250 of her 317 points during conference play and the postseason. Her 47 3PM ranks third all-time for a UCLA freshman. The 5-foot-4 guard landed Pac-12 All-Freshman selections in the Coaches and Media teams, and she was also named Pac-12 Freshman of the Week on Feb. 20 after torching Cal (19 PTS, 7-12 FG, 3-4 3FG).
• Lina Sontag earned a starting spot in seven games last season. The German had 9 PTS and a team-high 8 REB against the Tigers on Nov. 25. The forward was a perfect 4-for-4 from the free throw line in the Bruins' 1-point win over the USC Trojans (Jan. 8), and she had an 11-PT, 8-REB performance in the win over Washington (Jan. 20). Sontag had an impressive 11p/6r/4a/5stl/2blk performance in the win over Oregon State (Feb. 10) and proved to be a valuable asset on the Bruin defense (37 blocks, 40 steals in 2022-23).
• Gabriela Jaquez averaged 6.3 PTS and 3.5 RPG in 37 contests and became a key contributor with her energy off the bench in the 2022-23 season. Jaquez has two starts under her belt in a Bruin uniform, and she shot 34.0% from three-point land on the season (18-for-53 FG). Jaquez scored 11 points in back-to-back games (Nov. 13 vs. Troy, Nov. 19 vs. South Dakota State) and grabbed 7 rebounds against the Jackrabbits in UCLA's first game of the Battle 4 Atlantis. Jaquez put up 12 points and grabbed 5 rebounds in the Dec. 3 win over UC Santa Barbara, then followed it up by leading the team in rebounds (9 REB) vs. Cal State Fullerton on Dec. 10. Jaquez had a season-high 15 points on Dec. 20 against Fresno State and season-high five steals at Utah (Jan. 29).
• Christeen Iwuala averaged 2.9 PPG and 3.4 RPG in 12.1 minutes per game and was named the team's "Passion Player of the Game" for her hustle plays against South Dakota State (Nov. 19), Jackson State (Nov. 25) and Fresno State (Dec. 20). Iwuala earned Pac-12 Freshman of the Week after a career game (10 PTS, 4-6 FG, 8 REB) against Cal State Fullerton (Dec. 10). Iwuala made appearances in 35 games as a freshman.
PRESEASON HONORS
• Osborne was named an AP All-American Honorable mention and to the Ann Meyers-Drysdale Shooting Guard of the Year Preseason Watch List. Rice joins Osborne on the 2023-24 Jersey Mike's Naismith Women's Player of the Year Watchlist.
• Betts was tabbed to the Lisa Leslie Center of the Year Award Preseason Top 20.
BRUIN FIBA PHENOMS
UCLA had six student-athletes compete in four separate FIBA tournaments during the summer of 2023.
• FIBA Women's EuroBasket 2023: Emily Bessoir and Lina Sontag joined Germany for the Women's EuroBasket in Slovenia over the summer. Bessoir averaged 7.1 points and 5.7 rebounds in 27.8 minutes per game, and Sontag added 4.6 points and 2.4 boards on 40.7% shooting. Germany placed sixth in the tournament, which earned them a spot in the Olympic Qualifying Tournament.
• FIBA Women's AmeriCup - Mexico 2023: Charisma Osborne and Lauren Betts teamed up in Mexico to help Team USA earn a silver medal at the Women's AmeriCup. Betts was second on the team in PPG (11.4) and RPG (10.9), averaging a double-double in the tournament. Osborne scored 5.1 PPG and had a team-best 3.0 assists per game.
• FIBA U19 Women's Basketball World Cup - Spain 2023: Kiki Rice and Londynn Jones teamed up for their third gold medal together (2023, 2022 FIBA Women's U18 Americas Championship, 2019 FIBA Women's U16 Americas Championship). Rice averaged a team-high 20.1 minutes per game, shot .429 FG%, scored 10.0 PPG, grabbed 5.0 RPG and threw 2.1 APG. Jones added 8.7 PPG in 18.4 minutes, shooting .375 from the field. The SG collected 1.9 steals per game, displaying more aggressiveness on the defense end coming into her second year in the NCAA.
• FIBA U20 Women's European Championship - Craiova, Division B: Lina Sontag played her second FIBA tournament of the summer with Germany's U20 squad. Sontag played only one game - she scored 14 points and had three assists before getting injured and sitting out the remainder of the tourney. Germany earned a bronze medal.
• FIBA Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament 2024 - Brazil: Bessoir will join the German senior national team in Brazil in February to try to qualify for Germany's first Olympic Games. Angela Dugalic, a gold medalist with the Serbian national team (Eurobasket 2021), will play for Serbia in the same tournament on Feb. 8-11, 2024.
BRUIN SUMMER TOUR: SENEGAL AND GERMANY
• The Bruins headed overseas in late August, traveling to Senegal in Africa and Germany in Europe on the 11-day foreign tour.
• UCLA visited historical sites like Goree Island and held a basketball clinic in Senegal before playing the A' U25 national team at NBA Academy Africa.
• After departing Senegal, the Bruins landed in Berlin, hometown of sophomore Lina Sontag. The Bruins experienced immersive walking tours in the city and at the Olympic Stadium before facing off against Alba Berlin, a professional team in the German capital.
• UCLA made its final stop in Munich, Emily Bessoir's hometown. The Bruins toured Allianz Arena, home to FC Bayern Munich, and other parts of the city prior to an exhibition against TS Jahn Munchen - Bessoir's former club.
• Full coverage of the Summer Tour can be found at https://uclabruins.com/feature/wbb_summer_tour.
WNBA BRUINS
UCLA maintained a strong presence in the WNBA this past season, as the Bruins had representation on the court, the sideline, and the front office across various organizations.
• The WNBA champions, the Las Vegas Aces, had three Bruins on staff during its second-consecutive championship season. UCLA's Natalie Williams ('94) served as the team's General Manager, Natalie Nakase ('03) was an assistant coach, and Nikki Fargas (formerly Nikki Caldwell, UCLA's HC from 2008-11) acted as the team's President.
• Rebekah Gardner ('12) played only three game before sitting out for the 2023 season due to injury. She averaged 7.0 PPG, 3.7 RPG and 2.0 steals in her three appearances. Gardner was named to the 2022 WNBA All-Rookie team after contribuiting 8.4 points, grabbing 3.3 rebounds and snatching 1.4 steals per game in 35 appearances for the Chicago Sky.
• Michaela Onyenwere was traded to the Phoenix Mercury prior to the 2023 season. The third-year pro averaged a career-high 23.8 minutes, 8.9 points, .404 FG%, 3.7 rebounds and 0.8 steals per game in 2023.
• Jordin Canada ('18) finished her sixth season in the W, her second with the Los Angeles Sparks, in 2023. The former Bruin guard built on a successful year in Los Angeles, averaging career highs in point (13.3 PPG), three-point percentage (.333 3FG%), free-throw percentage (.873 FT%), assists (6.0 APG) and steals (2.3 STL). Canada wa named to the 2023 WNBA All-Defensive First Team for her efforts on that end.
• Monique Billings ('18) finished her sixth season in the WNBA, all with the Atlanta Dream. Billings averaged 4.8 points and 5.0 rebounds per game in 39 appearances with the team. The Dream fell to the Dallas Wings in the first round of the 2023 WNBA playoffs.
• Noelle Quinn ('07) was named Head Coach of the Seattle Storm during the 2021 season and has guided the team to the WNBA playoffs in two of the last three seasons. The Storm won the 2020 WNBA Finals with Quinn as an assistant coach.
The game will be broadcast to Pac-12 Los Angeles and the Pac-12 Now app with Ted Robinson (play-by-play) and Mary Murphy (analyst) on the call. UCLA will play its first of four-consecutive home games Monday night; the Bruins are set to host 15 games in Pauley Pavilion during the 2023-24 regular season. The team will travel to the Cayman Islands for a pair of games against UConn and Niagara the weekend of Nov. 24-26.
Monday's matchup will be the fourth time in program history that the Bruins face the Boilermakers, with Purdue holding a 2-1 advantage in the all-time series matchup. The teams last met in the 2006 NCAA tournament, where Purdue defeated UCLA 54-61. UCLA is 1-0 all-time at home against the Boilermakers.
GAME INFORMATION
Venue: Pauley Pavilion presented by Wescom
Location: Los Angeles, Calif.
Tip-off Time: 5:30 p.m. PT
TV: Pac-12 Los Angeles, Pac-12 Now app
TV Talent: Mary Murphy (analyst), Ted Robinson (play-by-play)
Radio: ucla.leanplayer.com
Radio Talent: Dave Marcus
TICKET INFORMATION
UCLA's season ticket packages for the 2023-24 women's basketball campaign are still available. Fans can call (310) 206-5991, visit uclabruins.com/tickets, or email tickets@athletics.ucla.edu for more information. Single-game tickets for UCLA's nonconference home games can be purchased online (link here). For more information about tickets, call UCLA Athletic Sales & Service at (310) 206-5991 or via email at tickets@athletics.ucla.edu.
Parking and game day information can be found here.
2022-23 IN REVIEW
• The Bruins started off hot, winning six-straight games before falling to then-No. 1/1 South Carolina at the end of November. UCLA went undefeated in December to capture an 11-1 non-conference record, including a Battle 4 Atlantis championship trophy.
• Early conference play presented challenges to the Bruins - a Charisma Osborne injury on New Year's Eve, four-consecutive road games and three-consecutive top-25 match-ups.
• UCLA's Osborne, Kiki Rice and Emily Bessoir were named to the 2023 Pac-12 All-Tournament team for their performances in the run to the title game. Bessoir recorded her first-career double-double (18 PTS, 13 REB) in the victory over Arizona in the quarterfinal, and Rice poured in 22 points (12-13 FT) in UCLA's comeback win over No. 1-seed Stanford in the semifinal. The Bruins eventually fell to No. 7-seed Washington State in the championship matchup.
• Osborne had a career-high 36 points in the win over No. 5-seed Oklahoma in the second round of the NCAA Tournament, marking the most points scored in a single game by a Bruin in program postseason history. Rice (14 points: 3-4 FG, 7-8 FT) joined the shooting guard as the only other Bruin in double figures. The trip to the Sweet 16 was the eighth in program history (1985, 1992, 1999, 2016-2019, 2023).
• UCLA made 473 free throws last season. Shooting 77.9% on the year, UCLA recorded its best free throw shooting performance in team history (2021-22: .767 FT%). The Bruins also led the Pac-12 in offensive boards (14.6 ORPG) for the season.
KEY NOTES ON THE BRUINS
• Charisma Osborne scored 571 points (2nd - Pac-12) in 36 games, averaging 15.9 PPG (5th - Pac-12). She was 3rd in the Pac-12 in field goals made (199 FGM) on the most field goal attempts (514 FGA) in the Pac-12. Osborne ranked 1st the Pac-12 in minutes played (1,189 MIN), 6th in FT% (83.2%), and 6th in FTM (119). The senior has 1,798 career points, most recently passing Anita Ortega (1,751 PTS), Monique Billings (1,761 PTS), and Nikki Blue (1,797 PTS) for 9th on UCLA's all-time scoring list. Natalie Williams (1990-94) sits ahead of Osborne at 8th all-time with 1,813 career points.
• Kiki Rice started 36 of her 37 games during her first collegiate season, averaging 28.0 minutes per game (1,034 MIN, 1st among Pac-12 freshmen). The first-year floor general ranked second on the team in assists (111 AST), which was the second most among freshmen in the Pac-12 (T-10th overall).
• Emily Bessoir was a key contributor in the frontcourt for the Bruins as a versatile stretch big, appearing in all 37 games. Bessoir led the team in scoring on eight occasions (16 PTS vs. UC Riverside - Nov. 10; 16 PTS at USC - Dec. 15; 12 PTS vs. CSU Bakersfield - Dec. 17; 13 PTS at Wash. St. - Jan. 22; 17 PTS at Utah - Jan. 29; career-high 20 PTS vs. Oregon - Feb. 12; 17 PTS vs. Arizona State - March 1; 18 PTS vs. Arizona - March 2). The forward ranked third on the team in points (9.4 PPG) and 2nd in rebounds (5.8 RPG) in 25.11 MPG. She had 60 PTS, 33 REB in the Pac-12 Tournament and recorded her first-career double-double against Arizona in the quarterfinals (18 PTS, 13 REB).
• Camryn Brown set single-game career highs in points (9 vs. Arizona, Mar. 2), rebounds (10 vs. South Dakota State, Nov. 19), assists (5 at Utah, Jan. 29) and steals (5 vs. Marquette, Nov. 21) last season.
• Londynn Jones shot a scorching 9-for-13 against the Arizona schools, and she ranked 3rd in the conference in 3P% during Pac-12 play (.466 3FG%). The freshman averaged 11.3 points per game in conference matchups, and she led the conference in FT% on the year (.892, min. 2 FTM/G).
• Angela Dugalic will return after missing the entire 2022-23 season due to injury. The senior played all three exhibition games on UCLA's summer tour - against Senegal's A' U25 squad, Dugalic poured in 20 points on 6-of-9 shooting (4-of-5 3FG) and grabbed six boards with two blocks in the 87-59 victory. Dugalic's return is highly anticipated by Coach Cori Close, who has praised the work Dugalic has done to improve her game through injury.
• Amanda Muse joins UCLA as the lone Bruin in the class of 2027. Muse comes off an impressive senior season in which she averaged 14.5 points, 12.1 rebounds and 4.1 blocks per game. Muse was named a 2023 McDonald's All American and totaled 18 points in the all-star game.
RELOADING THE NO. 1 RECRUITING CLASS OF 2022
• The Bruins added 6-foot-7 center Lauren Betts from the transfer portal after the 2022-23 season. Betts adds key depth in the front court as an inside presence. The sophomore shot a team-best .602 FG% during her freshman season, averaging 5.9 points and 3.5 rebound in just 9.7 minutes per game (33 GP).
• Betts was the No. 1 recruit in the class of 2022, edging out now-teammate Kiki Rice (No. 2 overall, No. 1 PG) in the espnW HoopGurlz Recruiting Class of 2022.
• Kiki Rice led the team in assists in 10 games in 2022-23 (Cal Poly, UC Riverside, Troy, No. 11/12 Tennessee, at No. 17/16 Oregon, Cal, No. 22 Arizona, Arizona State, No. 21/20 Arizona, No. 6/5 Stanford). Rice (36 starts) joined Jordin Canada (2014-15: 30 GS, 34 GP) and Lindsey Corsaro (2018-19: 34 GS, 35 GP) on the list of Bruin freshmen with 30+ starts during their rookie campaign since the 2009-10 season. Rice, Jones and Jaquez all appeared in every game of the 2022-23 season (37 GP).
• Londynn Jones scored 250 of her 317 points during conference play and the postseason. Her 47 3PM ranks third all-time for a UCLA freshman. The 5-foot-4 guard landed Pac-12 All-Freshman selections in the Coaches and Media teams, and she was also named Pac-12 Freshman of the Week on Feb. 20 after torching Cal (19 PTS, 7-12 FG, 3-4 3FG).
• Lina Sontag earned a starting spot in seven games last season. The German had 9 PTS and a team-high 8 REB against the Tigers on Nov. 25. The forward was a perfect 4-for-4 from the free throw line in the Bruins' 1-point win over the USC Trojans (Jan. 8), and she had an 11-PT, 8-REB performance in the win over Washington (Jan. 20). Sontag had an impressive 11p/6r/4a/5stl/2blk performance in the win over Oregon State (Feb. 10) and proved to be a valuable asset on the Bruin defense (37 blocks, 40 steals in 2022-23).
• Gabriela Jaquez averaged 6.3 PTS and 3.5 RPG in 37 contests and became a key contributor with her energy off the bench in the 2022-23 season. Jaquez has two starts under her belt in a Bruin uniform, and she shot 34.0% from three-point land on the season (18-for-53 FG). Jaquez scored 11 points in back-to-back games (Nov. 13 vs. Troy, Nov. 19 vs. South Dakota State) and grabbed 7 rebounds against the Jackrabbits in UCLA's first game of the Battle 4 Atlantis. Jaquez put up 12 points and grabbed 5 rebounds in the Dec. 3 win over UC Santa Barbara, then followed it up by leading the team in rebounds (9 REB) vs. Cal State Fullerton on Dec. 10. Jaquez had a season-high 15 points on Dec. 20 against Fresno State and season-high five steals at Utah (Jan. 29).
• Christeen Iwuala averaged 2.9 PPG and 3.4 RPG in 12.1 minutes per game and was named the team's "Passion Player of the Game" for her hustle plays against South Dakota State (Nov. 19), Jackson State (Nov. 25) and Fresno State (Dec. 20). Iwuala earned Pac-12 Freshman of the Week after a career game (10 PTS, 4-6 FG, 8 REB) against Cal State Fullerton (Dec. 10). Iwuala made appearances in 35 games as a freshman.
PRESEASON HONORS
• Osborne was named an AP All-American Honorable mention and to the Ann Meyers-Drysdale Shooting Guard of the Year Preseason Watch List. Rice joins Osborne on the 2023-24 Jersey Mike's Naismith Women's Player of the Year Watchlist.
• Betts was tabbed to the Lisa Leslie Center of the Year Award Preseason Top 20.
BRUIN FIBA PHENOMS
UCLA had six student-athletes compete in four separate FIBA tournaments during the summer of 2023.
• FIBA Women's EuroBasket 2023: Emily Bessoir and Lina Sontag joined Germany for the Women's EuroBasket in Slovenia over the summer. Bessoir averaged 7.1 points and 5.7 rebounds in 27.8 minutes per game, and Sontag added 4.6 points and 2.4 boards on 40.7% shooting. Germany placed sixth in the tournament, which earned them a spot in the Olympic Qualifying Tournament.
• FIBA Women's AmeriCup - Mexico 2023: Charisma Osborne and Lauren Betts teamed up in Mexico to help Team USA earn a silver medal at the Women's AmeriCup. Betts was second on the team in PPG (11.4) and RPG (10.9), averaging a double-double in the tournament. Osborne scored 5.1 PPG and had a team-best 3.0 assists per game.
• FIBA U19 Women's Basketball World Cup - Spain 2023: Kiki Rice and Londynn Jones teamed up for their third gold medal together (2023, 2022 FIBA Women's U18 Americas Championship, 2019 FIBA Women's U16 Americas Championship). Rice averaged a team-high 20.1 minutes per game, shot .429 FG%, scored 10.0 PPG, grabbed 5.0 RPG and threw 2.1 APG. Jones added 8.7 PPG in 18.4 minutes, shooting .375 from the field. The SG collected 1.9 steals per game, displaying more aggressiveness on the defense end coming into her second year in the NCAA.
• FIBA U20 Women's European Championship - Craiova, Division B: Lina Sontag played her second FIBA tournament of the summer with Germany's U20 squad. Sontag played only one game - she scored 14 points and had three assists before getting injured and sitting out the remainder of the tourney. Germany earned a bronze medal.
• FIBA Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament 2024 - Brazil: Bessoir will join the German senior national team in Brazil in February to try to qualify for Germany's first Olympic Games. Angela Dugalic, a gold medalist with the Serbian national team (Eurobasket 2021), will play for Serbia in the same tournament on Feb. 8-11, 2024.
BRUIN SUMMER TOUR: SENEGAL AND GERMANY
• The Bruins headed overseas in late August, traveling to Senegal in Africa and Germany in Europe on the 11-day foreign tour.
• UCLA visited historical sites like Goree Island and held a basketball clinic in Senegal before playing the A' U25 national team at NBA Academy Africa.
• After departing Senegal, the Bruins landed in Berlin, hometown of sophomore Lina Sontag. The Bruins experienced immersive walking tours in the city and at the Olympic Stadium before facing off against Alba Berlin, a professional team in the German capital.
• UCLA made its final stop in Munich, Emily Bessoir's hometown. The Bruins toured Allianz Arena, home to FC Bayern Munich, and other parts of the city prior to an exhibition against TS Jahn Munchen - Bessoir's former club.
• Full coverage of the Summer Tour can be found at https://uclabruins.com/feature/wbb_summer_tour.
WNBA BRUINS
UCLA maintained a strong presence in the WNBA this past season, as the Bruins had representation on the court, the sideline, and the front office across various organizations.
• The WNBA champions, the Las Vegas Aces, had three Bruins on staff during its second-consecutive championship season. UCLA's Natalie Williams ('94) served as the team's General Manager, Natalie Nakase ('03) was an assistant coach, and Nikki Fargas (formerly Nikki Caldwell, UCLA's HC from 2008-11) acted as the team's President.
• Rebekah Gardner ('12) played only three game before sitting out for the 2023 season due to injury. She averaged 7.0 PPG, 3.7 RPG and 2.0 steals in her three appearances. Gardner was named to the 2022 WNBA All-Rookie team after contribuiting 8.4 points, grabbing 3.3 rebounds and snatching 1.4 steals per game in 35 appearances for the Chicago Sky.
• Michaela Onyenwere was traded to the Phoenix Mercury prior to the 2023 season. The third-year pro averaged a career-high 23.8 minutes, 8.9 points, .404 FG%, 3.7 rebounds and 0.8 steals per game in 2023.
• Jordin Canada ('18) finished her sixth season in the W, her second with the Los Angeles Sparks, in 2023. The former Bruin guard built on a successful year in Los Angeles, averaging career highs in point (13.3 PPG), three-point percentage (.333 3FG%), free-throw percentage (.873 FT%), assists (6.0 APG) and steals (2.3 STL). Canada wa named to the 2023 WNBA All-Defensive First Team for her efforts on that end.
• Monique Billings ('18) finished her sixth season in the WNBA, all with the Atlanta Dream. Billings averaged 4.8 points and 5.0 rebounds per game in 39 appearances with the team. The Dream fell to the Dallas Wings in the first round of the 2023 WNBA playoffs.
• Noelle Quinn ('07) was named Head Coach of the Seattle Storm during the 2021 season and has guided the team to the WNBA playoffs in two of the last three seasons. The Storm won the 2020 WNBA Finals with Quinn as an assistant coach.