LOS ANGELES — Pauley Pavilion stands as a revered symbol in the world of college basketball, and the UCLA women’s team has upheld its legacy. Across the past two seasons, the Bruins have experienced just a couple of losses on this historic court, consistently outplaying their rivals with a mix of modern play energized by the respect for the tradition established by John Wooden’s iconic establishment.
This season’s top-seeded Bruins team, boasting a commendable 31-2 record, is arguably the finest squad in the history of UCLA women’s basketball. On Sunday night, they will grace Pauley Pavilion for possibly the last time this season as they confront the eighth-seeded Richmond team (28-6) in the second round of the women’s NCAA Tournament.
The Bruins started their tournament journey strong, with a supportive audience rooting them against Southern in the opening round. Head coach Cori Close is hoping for an even larger turnout in their final home game against the adept Spiders, ushering a memorable close to what has been an exceptional season for women’s basketball in Los Angeles.
“Let’s fill these seats,” Coach Close encouraged. “We’re making history as a No. 1 seed, specifically an overall No. 1 seed—something UCLA hasn’t achieved before. And with Richmond on our heels, we’ll need to elevate our game if we wish to maintain our streak. It would be fantastic to see the Galen Center packed for USC as well as a full house at Pauley Pavilion for UCLA. This is a defining moment for women’s basketball in our city.”
Fans in Westwood are in for an exciting night as the Bruins strive to clinch their third consecutive Sweet Sixteen appearance, marking their seventh in nine tournaments under Close’s guidance.
Led by the remarkable All-American center Lauren Betts, the team is formidable, characterized by immense talent and depth. However, Richmond won’t be underestimated. With their Atlantic 10 player of the year, Maggie Doogan, who dominated the court with 30 points and 15 rebounds against Georgia Tech, the Spiders promise a tough fight.
“To witness the growing number of fans rally behind us is incredible,” shared UCLA guard Gabriela Jaquez. “The support is heartening. When we faced Creighton last year in the second round, the atmosphere was electric—I’ve never heard the Pauley so lively. This year, the energy from the fans has been equally ecstatic, especially during March Madness.”
Richmond also enjoyed a jubilant supporter turnout during their history-making first NCAA Tournament win on Friday night. With that victory still fresh, the Spiders are eager to challenge a team that seems unbeatable at its home venue.
“Winning 30 games and only suffering losses from a team featuring JuJu Watkins is no minor feat,” said Richmond coach Aaron Roussell about UCLA. “A lot of strategies have been attempted against them, although probably not many have succeeded. It’s tricky finding similar teams, but scanning their game list shows they haven’t had many close calls. We need to see what might work against them.”
Richmond’s Resolve
Facing UCLA is intimidating, yet Richmond has held strong against major national opponents this season. Leading up to Christmas, the Spiders competed against Texas, Tennessee, and Alabama over seven days during a tournament in West Palm Beach, Florida.
These matches all resulted in defeats, but they remained competitive against Texas and Alabama, bolstering their confidence for a successful Atlantic 10 title chase. Richmond achieved 17 straight victories before a last-second loss to St. Joseph’s in their conference tournament.
“There’s a certain—I wouldn’t say ‘comfort’—but a familiarity since we’ve faced teams of this caliber,” Roussell explained. “We’ve navigated these challenges before and aimed for this when planning our schedule. If we are to make an impact in this tournament and hopefully secure a win, we must face teams like this.”
Celebrity Encounter
Though a Hollywood figure herself, Betts was starstruck meeting Adam Sandler on Friday. Hoping the actor known for “Happy Gilmore” and “Hustle” might reciprocate affection by attending a game, Betts recounted the meeting.
During brunch with her family, including her 6-foot-4 sister Sienna, who will be joining UCLA next year, they spotted Sandler dining at The Terrace in Beverly Hills. A photo opportunity ensued, and the Betts family invited Sandler to the Sunday game.
“My family adores Adam Sandler,” Betts admitted with a smile. “He’s our absolute favorite. His films are our go-to comfort movies… So there we were, and I glimpsed him out the corner of my eye. My sister Sienna was beside herself, and my dad couldn’t help but take a picture with him before we even moved.”