UCLA women's basketball bringing transfer Elina Aarnisalo back

Aarnisalo spent her freshman year at UCLA before transferring to North Carolina.

Apr. 13, 2026 at 12:35am

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After just a year away from the UCLA women's basketball program, Elina Aarnisalo is returning to Westwood, committing to the Bruins out of the Transfer Portal on Sunday. Aarnisalo spent her true freshman year at UCLA before transferring to North Carolina before last season, where she showed meaningful second-year improvement, going from 27% from three as a freshman to 40% from three as a sophomore.

Why it matters

Aarnisalo will have a chance to compete for major playing time for the Bruins, and already has familiarity with Cori Close and her system, having averaged 21 minutes per game as a true freshman for Close. She was a key part of that 2024-25 team that made the Final Four, and she actually ended up starting 10 games that season.

The details

Aarnisalo spent her true freshman year at UCLA before transferring to North Carolina before last season. The belief was that she transferred out hoping for more playing time, with UCLA having a senior dominated team in 2025-26. At North Carolina, Aarnisalo played more minutes and started more games, and showed meaningful second-year improvement, going from 27% from three as a freshman to 40% from three as a sophomore. Her assist rate dipped, but her rebounding numbers improved, and overall she became a more adept scorer, taking her points per game from 5.1 as a freshman with UCLA to 10.2 as a sophomore with North Carolina.

  • Aarnisalo spent her true freshman year at UCLA before transferring to North Carolina before last season.
  • Aarnisalo committed to the Bruins out of the Transfer Portal on Sunday, April 13, 2026.

The players

Elina Aarnisalo

A sophomore guard who spent her true freshman year at UCLA before transferring to North Carolina, where she showed meaningful second-year improvement, going from 27% from three as a freshman to 40% from three as a sophomore.

Cori Close

The head coach of the UCLA women's basketball team, who Aarnisalo is familiar with after averaging 21 minutes per game as a true freshman for Close.

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What they’re saying

“After just a year away from the UCLA women's basketball program, Elina Aarnisalo is returning to Westwood, committing to the Bruins out of the Transfer Portal on Sunday.”

— David Woods, Author

The takeaway

Aarnisalo's return to UCLA gives the Bruins a proven scorer and outside shooter who is already familiar with the program and coaching staff, potentially bolstering their lineup for the upcoming season.