UCLA Women's Basketball Documentary Captures Team's Heart and Humanity

Creators of 'You See L.A.' and Coach Cori Close discuss the making of the Fox Sports series that goes beyond wins and losses.

Apr. 18, 2026 at 8:19pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a UCLA women's basketball game, with sharp, overlapping planes of the team's colors representing the dynamic action and energy of the sport.The 'You See L.A.' documentary series offers an intimate, human-centered look at the UCLA women's basketball team, going beyond the court to capture the personal stories and struggles of the players.Los Angeles Today

The creators of the Fox Sports documentary 'You See L.A.' and UCLA women's basketball head coach Cori Close discussed how the series aimed to capture the humanity and vulnerability of the players, going beyond just the on-court action. Close, who recently led the Bruins to a national championship, emphasized her desire to tell authentic stories that focus on mentoring players for the next 40 years of their lives, rather than just highlight wins and losses.

Why it matters

The documentary provides a rare behind-the-scenes look at the lives of female college athletes, a demographic that is often overlooked in sports media. By highlighting the personal journeys and struggles of the players, the series aims to challenge perceptions and showcase the diversity and humanity of women's basketball.

The details

Producers Kelsey Trainor and Jeff Luini envisioned the project as a way to tell women's sports stories in a compelling way, comparable to men's sports coverage. They were granted unprecedented access to the team, embedding with them in the locker room and during difficult conversations. The goal was to capture the players as authentic, vulnerable individuals rather than just as athletes.

  • The documentary series 'You See L.A.' was filmed during the 2025-2026 UCLA women's basketball season.
  • The series premiered on Fox Sports in April 2026.

The players

Cori Close

The head coach of the UCLA women's basketball team, who recently led the Bruins to a national championship. Close was mentored by legendary UCLA coach John Wooden and aims to develop her players as people, not just athletes.

Kelsey Trainor

An executive producer of the 'You See L.A.' documentary series, who previously collaborated with Jeff Luini on 'Welcome to Wrexham'.

Jeff Luini

An executive producer of the 'You See L.A.' documentary series, who worked with Kelsey Trainor to capture the humanity and personal stories of the UCLA women's basketball team.

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What they’re saying

“If it's not about teaching, mentoring, equipping for the next 40 years of their lives, it really doesn't mean a whole lot.”

— Cori Close, UCLA Women's Basketball Head Coach

“It's a human story. Sports stories are great. The stakes are there. You win, you lose. But who are the people behind the scenes? Who are the players and their support system?”

— Jeff Luini, Executive Producer, 'You See L.A.'

“We hoped there would be a national championship – that was the goal, but it was really just 'Rocky doesn't win in the first movie.' So we knew that you could tell a story no matter the result, if you're caring about the human part of it.”

— Kelsey Trainor, Executive Producer, 'You See L.A.'

What’s next

The creators of 'You See L.A.' have indicated that they plan to continue filming the UCLA women's basketball team in future seasons, providing an ongoing behind-the-scenes look at the program.

The takeaway

The 'You See L.A.' documentary series demonstrates the power of storytelling to humanize female athletes and challenge stereotypes. By focusing on the personal journeys and struggles of the UCLA women's basketball team, the series offers a refreshing perspective that goes beyond just wins and losses, highlighting the diversity, vulnerability, and humanity of these young athletes.