GABRIELA JAQUEZ TRIED to remain centered. It was a month earlier than the WNBA draft, however simply days earlier than the NCAA match, and the UCLA senior guard needed to stay within the current.
However because the Bruins continued their pursuit of a nationwide title, the conversations surrounding the way forward for the UCLA graduating class of six grew.
“I gotta get by the school expertise, school profession first,” Jaquez stated.
Regardless of her efforts to dam out the noise, Jaquez could not absolutely escape it. The following step in her basketball profession could be right here earlier than she knew it. Nevertheless it wasn’t till one night time when her cousin stated to her, “It is gonna be so bizarre whenever you and Kiki [Rice] play towards one another,” that she absolutely realized the scope of what was about to occur.
“I assume I by no means thought of that,” Jaquez stated. “We have been taking part in with one another for thus lengthy now. Not simply Kiki, however all the seniors. We’re bonded. We’re a unit. It is gonna be bizarre, there isn’t any denying that. Nevertheless it’s simply the following step in our journeys. And who is aware of, we could possibly be teammates once more!”
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The six graduating gamers are all eligible and getting into the 2026 WNBA draft: Jaquez, Rice, senior heart Lauren Betts, graduate scholar guard Gianna Kneepkens, graduate scholar guard Charlisse Leger-Walker and graduate scholar ahead Angela Dugalić. They discover themselves in a singular place the place each participant is predicted to go within the first and second rounds — ESPN projections have Betts (No. 4), Kneepkens (No. 8), Jaquez (No. 11) and Rice (No. 12) going within the first — and if that occurs, they may make historical past as the primary collegiate program in WNBA historical past to have six gamers taken in a single draft.
And simply how prolific had been these seniors within the Bruins’ title run? They scored all the Bruins’ 130 factors within the Ultimate 4. Earlier than this yr, no group had ever had its seniors rating all the group’s factors in a Ultimate 4 recreation; UCLA did it twice (semifinal towards Texas and championship towards South Carolina).
Now, lower than one week after profitable the nationwide championship, the Bruins’ six graduates know that the WNBA draft might be one other stage to show UCLA’s dominance — even when which means changing into every others’ opponents.
“We have now constructed a legacy,” Jaquez stated. “And we’ll proceed to construct it on the draft. Our legacy might be our nationwide title. It will likely be the arduous work that we have put in from day one. It will likely be the enjoyment we now have taking part in with one another. It will likely be the love that we now have for each other. And all of that might be seen once we stroll throughout the stage on the draft. It will likely be all of UCLA basketball’s second.”
AT THE START of the brand new yr, Toronto Tempo head coach Sandy Brondello sat courtside at a packed Pauley Pavilion because the Bruins hosted USC, scouting UCLA’s high expertise.
For a lot of the recreation, the Bruins obliterated the Trojans. In an 80-46 win in its house enviornment, UCLA showcased the expertise of their six future graduates. With Betts main the way in which, the seniors placed on a masterclass in group chemistry and unity.
After ending the primary quarter tied at 16, the Bruins went on a run with 5 gamers scoring within the breakout second-period efficiency. Brondello watched as Betts battled towards a number of defenders, attacked within the paint and helped solidify her group’s eighth straight win. The 6-foot-7 Betts towered over her opponents and demonstrated what she has to supply on the subsequent degree as she completed with 18 factors and 12 rebounds.
However, as Betts stated, “I am solely nearly as good as my teammates. I can not do what I do on the courtroom with out them. It takes all of us. And there is six seniors who come out right here and present precisely why they’re on this place.”
Rice added 14 factors and 9 assists, whereas Jaquez had 12 factors and 6 rebounds.
Betts, who transferred from Stanford earlier than her sophomore season, acknowledged the eye she was receiving from WNBA coaches and scouts — as she stated, it was not a “distinctive” place. Nevertheless it was a possibility for her teammates to obtain the highlight, too, she added, and he or she credited UCLA for all of it.
“I feel that each one of us being put in that place is due to all of the folks on this program and the way in which that they’ve fed into us all this confidence, all this perception that we will do one thing like that,” Betts stated. “Coach Cori [Close], Coach T [Tasha Brown], everyone on the employees, everyone on the group, they’ve carried out such an important job of pouring into each single physique right here.”
Months after her efficiency towards USC, Betts raised her WNBA prospects after profitable the MVP award on the nationwide championship. Inching nearer to her subsequent chapter, Betts nonetheless would not really feel prefer it’s actual.
“It is actually unbelievable for me to even take into consideration that. That is a dream come true that we have all had you already know, rising up,” Betts stated. “That is one thing we have all needed. I’m so pleased with all the ladies. Everybody deserves all the things that is coming their manner.”
Cori Shut stated her gamers had been all the time prepared to place the group above themselves. Melina Pizano/Getty Pictures
FOR CLOSE, IT’S not unusual to have a wave of WNBA coaches and scouts attend video games and practices months earlier than the draft. However what was totally different this season was the unity these graduating seniors displayed.
“It is actually easy,” Shut stated. “It is work ethic and selflessness and a willingness to place the group above themselves.”
With Shut’s 2025-26 roster that includes majority graduating members, she knew that this yr could be atypical. She knew this may be Betts’ final alternative to vary the narrative round her recreation. After carrying a lot of the load within the 2025 Ultimate 4, Betts wanted to drag again her time and work alongside her teammates to create a stronger entrance.
“This season, it isn’t about one star or 5 particular person stars,” Shut stated. “It is a few unit of 5 on the courtroom. And for Betts, that meant pulling again her minutes on the courtroom and making the others step up.”
Shut additionally knew this may be Leger-Walker’s probability to show she may come again from a torn ACL and that she was able to shifting her roles. Going from Washington State’s first possibility and large scorer, the New Zealand native altered her recreation for UCLA and have become the group’s high facilitator.
Equally to Leger-Walker, Dugalić transferred from Oregon to UCLA earlier than succumbing to an harm that stored her off the courtroom for a whole season. Since her return throughout the 2023-24 season, the Serbian Nationwide Group member turned a starter and improved her discipline objective share to a career-high 50.2% in her last season.
Rounding out her 2025-26 squad, Shut added Utah switch Kneepkens. Regardless of being new to the group, Kneepkens wasted no time in dominating. Enjoying in 37 of 38 video games for UCLA, Kneepkens averaged 12.8 factors per recreation this season and confirmed within the Ultimate 4 that underneath high-pressure conditions, she may produce outcomes for her group.
However for Shut’s seniors, she stated all of it comes again to Rice and Jaquez. The 2 seniors started their careers at UCLA and performed all 4 years for the Bruins. Shut stated it was these two seniors’ “dedication to the mission from begin to finish” that turned foundational in this system and set the precedent for all her graduating members.
“I do not know if I can really put it into phrases what it means to me,” Shut stated. “It begins with Gabs and Kiki. Nevertheless it’s additionally gamers like Lauren, who stayed three years after which Angela who transferred, however she has been right here 5 years. The loyalty throughout the board. And the dedication to the expansion course of.”
Shut added, “Now we have earned the fitting to be [known as] among the best improvement applications, I feel, within the nation. And I feel that is being acknowledged by the WNBA. We all know how one can put together younger ladies for a championship degree.”
A part of Shut’s improvement plan concerned hiring Michaela Onyenwere as an assistant coach. Onyenwere, who was the No. 6 decide within the 2021 WNBA draft and the 2021 Rookie of the Yr, has performed with the New York Liberty, Phoenix Mercury and Chicago Sky. Onyenwere, at present a free agent, has been instrumental to the success of the seniors.
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“This season has been all about what can we do to realize our targets. And the way can we obtain them collectively,” Rice stated.
Shut witnessed the “development mindset” in motion when she noticed all her seniors dedicating these further hours to growing their video games — each on and off the courtroom. Rice and her teammates spent a lot of the season within the gymnasium collectively or with one another exterior of basketball actions. She additionally famous that these seniors created a brand new “behavior” for her program.
“This isn’t only a one off,” Shut stated. “That is the tradition of our group.”
For WNBA coaches, based on ESPN sources, “the work ethic of the UCLA gamers” and the “intentionality for ability improvement simply months and weeks earlier than the draft aren’t one thing you see this time of yr.”
One in all them added, “Placing the group above themselves, placing in work earlier than or after follow, working collectively towards that objective, we do not all the time see that. And that is what separates this group and these gamers.”
Because the draft looms, Shut and her gamers perceive that they’ve the prospect to affix an elite class of applications with 5 or extra draftees.
In 2023, South Carolina had 5 gamers drafted together with No. 1 Aliyah Boston, who went on to win the WNBA Rookie of the Yr award. Previous to the Gamecocks producing 5 draft picks, Notre Dame had all 5 starters drafted in 2019, together with No. 1 Jackie Younger and No. 5 Arike Ogunbowale. Eleven years earlier than Notre Dame’s 5 draft picks, Tennessee had 5 gamers drafted together with Candace Parker. In 2002, UConn had 4 first-round draft picks (Sue Hen, Swin Money, Asjha Jones and Tamika Williams). With 4 Bruins at present projected within the first spherical and two within the second spherical, UCLA would turn into the primary program to have six gamers drafted within the WNBA.
For UCLA, it isn’t simply in regards to the alternative to be drafted, it is about persevering with to rise to the event and pursue development on the subsequent degree. Gamers from the likes of Notre Dame, Tennessee and UConn proved that their basketball careers continued to flourish after their draft night time. Racking up titles and accolades, it is these three applications’ draft courses that paved the way in which for the Bruins.
“That is what we put together them for,” Shut stated. “I am so excited for them to look at and chase their desires and to simply watch them come to fruition due to the sacrifices they have been prepared to make. We have ready and developed them and given them a singular parallel ability set that brings them to the WNBA. That is just the start for them.”
All six UCLA seniors are anticipated to be drafted. Greg Fiore/Icon Sportswire
BETTS RACED DOWN the courtroom, maneuvered towards Texas’ Madison Booker earlier than elevating from the courtroom and knocking the ball away from her palms.
With simply 20 seconds left on the clock within the nationwide semifinal recreation, Betts helped safe her group’s place in its first NCAA title recreation.
Embracing her teammates at heart courtroom, Betts screamed, “Oh my f—cking God, we’re taking part in within the nationwide championship.”
For Betts, she stated, “That is all or nothing. For all of us seniors. That is our final probability. Now we have no alternative however to go away all of it on the market.”
By the point the Bruins took the courtroom towards South Carolina, their destiny was sealed earlier than the second half as they held a 13-point lead (36-23) and by no means relinquished.
The seniors exited the courtroom with three minutes left within the title recreation and an almost 30-point lead. Sitting shoulder-to-shoulder on the bench, their eyes locked onto the courtroom for the ultimate minutes. Because the seconds ticked nearer to the ultimate whistle, Betts, Rice and Kneepkens put their palms over their mouths. In disbelief of their championship, they turned to one another earlier than standing. The ultimate whistle blew, and so they erupted in celebration.
Hugging one another at heart courtroom, the six seniors jumped up and down as confetti fell. Tears streamed down their faces, as the gang roared in celebration, the seniors held onto one another for one final time on the courtroom.
This was it.
“We have identified all season there was a chance of us getting drafted,” Leger-Walker stated. “I feel it has been a driving drive of understanding who we’re taking part in with every single day. We perceive the caliber of the gamers we now have to our left and proper, and it has been much more cause to play as a group.”
In lower than every week, they are going to be on a distinct stage, getting into a distinct chapter of their lives, taking part in for brand spanking new groups, sporting new jerseys.
However as they replicate on this new journey, all of them agree on one factor: “If a WNBA group needs to draft all of us collectively, we’d be OK with that,” Dugalić stated with a smile.
ESPN’s Michael Voepel contributed to this story.