The NCAAW games are just on the horizon, and many past rivalries will impact the progress of different sides. Although the undefeated UConn side is still the favorite to retain the title, ESPN’s Holly Rowe gives reasons why fans must keep their eyes on Cori Close and her UCLA side in the national championship race.
One thing apart from the talented roster that would help the UCLA win its first championship is Close’s eyes on big opponents and rivals such as Kim Mulkey’s LSU side. She even spoke about a game from the 2023 season as the side prepares for the title race.
Cori Close Disagrees With Kim Mulkey’s Comments On Angel Reese
Over the years, the UCLA program became one of the title contenders under Coach Close. The side lost in the Sweet 16 in 2023 and 2024, while reaching the championship game in 2025. Three different teams defeated the UCLA side, but one that stuck in her mind was the loss against LSU.
So when the ‘Behind The Lines’ podcast host, Lis Leslie, asked her about her rival, she said,
Close recalled taking on the Tigers’ side again in 2025 at the Elite Eight level. Though UCLA won the game, Kim Mulkey brushed aside the impact of 2024 on the game. Close, though, disagreed with her counterpart and said, “Boy, that program, from Kim Mulkey to Angel Reese to Flau’jae to all of that, they’ve brought eyes, they’ve brought new eyeballs onto our sport. I have respect for that, and I appreciate it, and I benefit from that.”
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With Reese and Flau’jae Johnson running the floor, fans are going to fill the arenas, and UCLA’s 15-season coach admired their impact. One player she also looks forward to having a similar impact is UCLA’s own superstar Lauren Betts.
Cori Close’s Special Training For Lauren Betts
Lauren Betts mentioned that transferring from Stanford backup to UCLA was one of her best decisions. Coach Close also helped a lot in her progress, and her recent matchup against the Washington side was an example of the same.
Teaching the center about strategy, the coach bodied up forward Timea Gardiner and said, “Like, go after people. Do not call for the ball until you have contact, until you have somebody behind you, because we’re not giving it to you unless you do that.”
Betts did exactly the same and lifted the top-seeded side against the eighth-seeded side in the Big 10 quarterfinals.