Photo by: Caren Nicdao
Women’s Basketball Earns First NCAA No. 1 Seed in Program History
March 16, 2025 | Women's Basketball
LOS ANGELES – UCLA Women's Basketball (30-2, 16-2 B1G) earned a No. 1 seed in the NCAA March Madness tournament for the first time in program history. The Bruins earned the overall number one seed in the women's tournament and headline the Spokane 1 region; UCLA is back in Pauley Pavilion presented by Wescom Financial hosting the First and Second Rounds next weekend.
No. 16 Southern U. (20-14) takes on UC San Diego (20-15) in the First Four on Wednesday, March 19, to determine UCLA's First Round matchup. The Bruins will take on the eventual No. 16 seed on Friday, March 21.
Game times and television assignments are still to be determined.
The Bruins are coming off a historic regular season in which they amassed 23-consecutive wins, 22 of which came by a double-digit margin. UCLA was ranked as the No. 1 team in the Associated Press Top 25 poll for 12-consecutive weeks, setting a Big Ten record after nine weeks atop the rankings.
UCLA was led by juniors Lauren Betts, who was the unanimous Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, All-Big Ten First Team honoree Kiki Rice and Big Ten Sixth Player of the Year Janiah Barker. Gabriela Jaquez and Londynn Jones also earned All-Big Ten Honorable Mention for their efforts this season.
The Bruins claimed their first conference championship in the Big Ten at the 2025 TIAA Big Ten Women's Basketball Tournament in Indianapolis, Ind., to cap off its inaugural season in the new conference. UCLA defeated USC 72-67 after overcoming a 13-point second half deficit in the championship match.
Bruins in the NCAA Tournament
UCLA has appeared in seven of the last eight tournaments – the 2025 postseason marks the ninth NCAA tournament appearance for the program under The Michael Price Family UCLA Women's Head Basketball Coach Cori Close. The Bruins reached the Sweet 16 in back-to-back seasons; the Bruins have advanced to the Second Round or further in seven of the last eight tournaments. UCLA made its first Elite Eight appearance in 2017-18.
No. 16 Southern U. (20-14) takes on UC San Diego (20-15) in the First Four on Wednesday, March 19, to determine UCLA's First Round matchup. The Bruins will take on the eventual No. 16 seed on Friday, March 21.
Game times and television assignments are still to be determined.
The Bruins are coming off a historic regular season in which they amassed 23-consecutive wins, 22 of which came by a double-digit margin. UCLA was ranked as the No. 1 team in the Associated Press Top 25 poll for 12-consecutive weeks, setting a Big Ten record after nine weeks atop the rankings.
UCLA was led by juniors Lauren Betts, who was the unanimous Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, All-Big Ten First Team honoree Kiki Rice and Big Ten Sixth Player of the Year Janiah Barker. Gabriela Jaquez and Londynn Jones also earned All-Big Ten Honorable Mention for their efforts this season.
The Bruins claimed their first conference championship in the Big Ten at the 2025 TIAA Big Ten Women's Basketball Tournament in Indianapolis, Ind., to cap off its inaugural season in the new conference. UCLA defeated USC 72-67 after overcoming a 13-point second half deficit in the championship match.
Bruins in the NCAA Tournament
UCLA has appeared in seven of the last eight tournaments – the 2025 postseason marks the ninth NCAA tournament appearance for the program under The Michael Price Family UCLA Women's Head Basketball Coach Cori Close. The Bruins reached the Sweet 16 in back-to-back seasons; the Bruins have advanced to the Second Round or further in seven of the last eight tournaments. UCLA made its first Elite Eight appearance in 2017-18.
Players Mentioned
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