Five Concerns UCLA Must Address Before Facing Texas in Final Four

Bruins look to avenge early-season loss and reach national championship game

Mar. 31, 2026 at 2:20am

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A fragmented, geometric painting depicting the action of a college basketball game, with the players and ball broken down into abstract shapes and planes of vibrant colors representing the uniforms of UCLA and Texas.A cubist interpretation of the high-stakes Final Four matchup between UCLA and Texas, capturing the intensity and physicality of the clash between the two elite programs.Los Angeles Today

UCLA has shown some vulnerabilities during its run to the Final Four that the Bruins must shore up before taking on surging Texas in Phoenix. The Longhorns handed UCLA its only loss of the season in November, and the Bruins will need to play a complete 40-minute game, improve their outside shooting, and limit turnovers to reach the national title game.

Why it matters

After reaching the Final Four for the first time last season, UCLA is determined to prove itself on the biggest stage. But the Bruins will face a tough test against a Texas team that has been one of the best defensive squads in the country all year. How UCLA responds to the Longhorns' pressure and physicality could determine whether the Bruins advance to the championship game.

The details

UCLA finally knows its opponent in the Final Four - fellow No. 1 seed Texas, the only team to beat the Bruins all season. In their November matchup, the Longhorns' Rori Harmon scored a game-high 26 points in a 76-65 win over UCLA. Since then, the Bruins have gotten healthier, with Sienna Betts emerging as a key bench piece and Lauren Betts recovering from an early-season injury. But UCLA will still need to address several areas of concern to avenge that early-season loss and reach the national championship game.

  • UCLA lost to Texas 76-65 on November 26.
  • The Final Four matchup between UCLA and Texas will take place on Friday.

The players

Rori Harmon

A Texas guard who scored a game-high 26 points against UCLA in the teams' earlier matchup.

Lauren Betts

A UCLA center who was limited by a left arm injury in the November loss to Texas but has since returned to full strength.

Sienna Betts

A UCLA bench player who has emerged as a key contributor since the team's early-season loss to Texas.

Breya Cunningham

A Texas center who will present a tough matchup for UCLA's Lauren Betts, as she shoots 58.7% from the floor, all in the paint.

Cori Close

The head coach of UCLA, who has emphasized the importance of the Bruins' response to adversity rather than focusing on the events themselves.

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What they’re saying

“We need to put 40 minutes together. I think we're still continuing to get better in that... It's not about whether shots go in. It's about how we're consistently playing and on the defensive end.”

— Kiki Rice, UCLA guard

“We try to put ourselves in situations every day in practice where we're facing adversity, where we're being pushed to our edge, and that's where you're forced to grow and feel forced to make decisions. It shows you who you really are as competitors, and I think we've learned how [to adapt.]”

— Charlisse Leger-Walker, UCLA guard

“I've learned a lot [about] the poise we've had since [that game]. I feel like in these moments, like being down at halftime, we just stayed so steady and consistent. And I think that has to do with our experience.”

— Gianna Kneepkens, UCLA guard

“Instead of focusing on the events, which are usually out of your control, we have to look at the response. It could be a bad shot. It could be a lack of rhythm. It could be your nerves. Instead of focusing on the events, focus on the response. We want to strengthen our [response] to be stronger than any [event] we're going to have to face. And I actually think the first half is going to be really valuable to us in having us strengthen our [response.]”

— Cori Close, UCLA head coach

What’s next

The winner of the UCLA-Texas matchup will advance to the national championship game on Monday.

The takeaway

UCLA's ability to play a complete 40-minute game, improve its outside shooting, and limit turnovers against Texas' stifling defense will be crucial in determining whether the Bruins can avenge their early-season loss and reach the national title game for the second straight year.