The UCLA Bruins fulfilled their dream with a national championship following an incredible regular season outing for two years in a row. ESPN’s Holly Rowe called the side a possible champion with the talent on the floor, and Cori Close’s Team delivered on the biggest night of the program’s history. There were many heroes to the victory, but the championship was a special one for Michaela Onyenwere.
The Chicago Sky forward joined her alma mater as an assistant coach and delivered a championship in the very first season.
Michaela Onyenwere Delivered For Her Alma Mater
Cory Close won the championship after 15 years of work on the project to build a championship side. Caitlin Clark praised Close for the championship, acknowledging her relentless efforts for the title and her efforts behind the same.
Another player who ‘re-joined’ the program was Onyenwere, who last played for the Chicago Sky in the 2025 season and decided to join UCLA during the offseason. Interestingly, she won the National championship and is still an active player in the WNBA.
Michaela Onyenwere of the Chicago Sky wins her first National Championship as an assistant coach 🙌 pic.twitter.com/vQc2NoarCn
— WNBA (@WNBA) April 5, 2026
The 26-year-old joined the league as the sixth overall pick in the 2021 draft and went on to win the Rookie of the Year award for her performance with the Liberty Team. Sadly, she couldn’t make much impact in the later season, limiting her game time in the league.
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Re-joining the UCL program, the player not only showed her connection with Coach Close, but her dedication towards the program’s quest for glory. As a player, Onyenwere finished her college career fourth on UCLA’s all-time scoring list with 1,888 career points.
Michaela Onyenwere Reacts To UCLA’s Historic Feat
Playing at the forward position, the WNBA star made a massive impact on the Bruins’ preparations. She last played for the side in 2021 and now notices a palpable shift in the energy and work ethic of the Bruins team.
Commenting on the win, she said, “The way this team has embraced the hard and the work ethic and showing up early, staying late, it’s definitely shifted the culture in a great way.”
“It was written for us” 🏆
— WNBA (@WNBA) April 5, 2026
Michaela Onyenwere reflects on her journey as a student-athlete to winning the National Championship as an assistant coach with @uclawbb! pic.twitter.com/5DnaDHncrg
While the player would return to the league, she is currently a free agent and could be a prime target for many franchises.