UCLA Women's Basketball Aims to Emulate South Carolina's Success

Bruins coach and star player predicted program would reach Gamecocks' level four years ago

Apr. 5, 2026 at 12:00am

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Four years ago, UCLA women's basketball coach Cori Close and then-freshman star Kiki Rice told a reporter that their program would someday be as successful as the University of South Carolina's powerhouse team. The reporter initially didn't believe them, but UCLA has now reached that goal and must now beat South Carolina to cement their status as an elite program.

Why it matters

The University of South Carolina women's basketball team has been one of the most dominant programs in the country over the past decade, winning multiple national championships. For the UCLA Bruins to reach that level of success would be a major accomplishment and cement their status as an emerging national power in the sport.

The details

UCLA has steadily built its women's basketball program over the past four years, recruiting top talent like Kiki Rice and developing them into an elite team. The Bruins now find themselves in a position to potentially surpass South Carolina as the premier program in the country, but they must first beat the Gamecocks to solidify that status.

  • Four years ago, in 2022, Kiki Rice was a freshman at UCLA and she and coach Cori Close predicted the Bruins would become like South Carolina.
  • UCLA is now in a position to potentially surpass South Carolina as the top women's basketball program in the country.

The players

Kiki Rice

A star player for the UCLA Bruins women's basketball team who, as a freshman four years ago, predicted the program would become as successful as the University of South Carolina's.

Cori Close

The head coach of the UCLA Bruins women's basketball team who, four years ago, told a reporter that the program would someday be like the University of South Carolina's powerhouse team.

University of South Carolina

A women's basketball powerhouse that has been one of the most dominant programs in the country over the past decade, winning multiple national championships.

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What they’re saying

“Four years ago, I listened to then-freshman Kiki Rice and coach Cori Close tell me that their UCLA women's basketball program would someday be like South Carolina's. I didn't buy it at the time.”

— Mirjam Swanson, Reporter

What’s next

UCLA must now beat the University of South Carolina to cement their status as an elite women's basketball program on par with the Gamecocks.

The takeaway

UCLA's women's basketball program has rapidly risen to become one of the top programs in the country, just as coach Cori Close and star player Kiki Rice predicted four years ago. Now the Bruins have a chance to solidify their status by defeating the powerhouse University of South Carolina team.