UCLA Women’s Basketball Faces Roster Shake-Up After Historic Final Four Run

The UCLA Women’s Basketball team is coming off a historic season.

It was the first time in which the Lady Bruins made it to the Final Four. Cori Close was named National Coach of the Year. Center Lauren Betts was a First Team All-American and the Defensive Player of the Year.

Despite going 34-3, the Bruins have seen six team members transfer out less than two weeks from the Final Four loss to eventual champ UConn.

The team’s entire freshmen class from this year — Elina Aarnisalo, Kendall Dudley, Avary Cain, Zania Socka-Ngueman — have all entered the portal. This was considered the No. 4 recruiting class nationally a year ago. Dudley and Socka-Ngueman were 5-star prospects both hailing from the same high school in Washington D.C. Dudley was the jewel of the class, and she did see consistent playing time this year as more of an athlete/hustle player on the wing.

While Cain and Socka-Ngueman rarely played, Aarnisalo was entrenched as the team’s backup point guard. At times, she was also thrust into a starting role. A native of Finland, she broke through and was a rotation player her entire time in Westwood. With Wazzu transfer Charlisse Leger-Walker coming back next year, along with senior Kiki Rice, Aarnisalo’s ability to see the floor likely would’ve been limited.

To make matters more complicated, starting guard Londynn Jones and reigning Big Ten 6th Player of the Year also have left. Jones was the team’s starting shooting guard. Having said that, she struggled with the consistency on her jumper this past year. Her lack of height and length also made her a target of the opposing team.

Barker was a ballyhooed recruit out of high school. Transferring from Texas A&M to UCLA, she brought a real punch off the bench. With Betts returning for her senior year, Barker likely wants to seek an opportunity where she’ll start and play heavy minutes.

It’s now up to Close to hit the portal hard and further build out the depth on the team — particularly behind Betts and at the guard spot with shooting.

As it stands, Betts will be joined by returners Rice, Leger-Walker, Gabriela Jaquez, Timea Gardiner, and Amanda Muse. Sienna Betts — Lauren’s sister — will enter the program as the No. 2 prospect nationally. There’s a good chance she’ll start as a freshman next to her older sister. Croatian wing Lena Bilic has also signed up to play with the Bruins. The 6’3″ guard is considered to be the best European prospect coming to the college game stateside.

There’s also a chance Angela Dugalic opts to return for a fifth season.