PHOENIX – It’s one more chance to get another game together.
Another game beside Kiki Rice and Gabriela Jaquez, who have become cornerstones of the UCLA women’s basketball program and a community that has embraced them over their four seasons.
Another game beside Lauren Betts, who has bravely documented her mental health struggles after arriving from Stanford.
Another game beside Angela Dugalic, who has selflessly come off the bench despite being good enough to be in anyone’s starting lineup.
Another game beside transfers Charlisse Leger-Walker and Gianna Kneepkens, who have completed what’s widely considered the greatest team in program history.
None of them wants this season-long joyride to end.
“I just want to play more games with these girls,” Jaquez said Thursday as the Bruins (35-1) prepared to face fellow top seed Texas (35-3) in the Final Four on Friday evening inside the Mortgage Matchup Center.
Beating the Longhorns in a national semifinal would give UCLA a chance at the program’s first NCAA championship against either UConn or South Carolina, a fitting sendoff for a special group.
“I think in the back of our heads, we all know that this is our last go at this,” Betts said. “It’s all or nothing for all of us.”
There could be more special memories left to be made for a group that has enjoyed four trips to the Sweet 16, including two that went on to the Final Four. Along the way, they’ve traveled to Paris, the Bahamas, Senegal, Germany, the Cayman Islands, Paris and New York.
“We got to do so many fun experiences,” Jaquez said. “I’ve really got to see the world with this team.”
If all goes well, nothing could beat April in Phoenix.
Here are five things to watch when the Bruins play the Longhorns:
Disrupting the Bruins offense, the Longhorns surged ahead by 10 points at the end of the first quarter and 20 points at halftime of their 76-65 victory in late November in Las Vegas.
This time, UCLA players have vowed to be the aggressors.
“Coming out ready to dominate,” Jaquez said of her mindset. “I think that’s the big one. Coming out ready to play. Coming out to get every loose ball, creating catches, playing as a team. Just play like we know how to play. Play confident.”
Leger-Walker, who had a season-worst six turnovers in the first meeting, said being the aggressor also meant resisting the urge to force things.
“It’s making aggressive decisions,” Leger-Walker said, “and that can be what’s the best pass, who has the best shot, am I attacking here and then also bringing that energy on the defensive end as well.”
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Three years ago, the UCLA coach’s team lost by double digits to South Carolina in the Sweet 16.
Two years ago, the Bruins faded late in a loss to LSU in the same round.
Last year, they got to the Final Four before getting smoked by UConn in a semifinal.
Closing in on the end of her 15th season, Close said she did “a crappy job as a leader” a year ago because she was distracted during her first trip to the Final Four.
“The moment we touched down, I was in transfer portal,” Close said, referring to being preoccupied with roster management. “Not a great situation.
“One of my biggest regrets of last spring is I didn’t celebrate them enough. I didn’t find ways to go, ‘This team was the most – at that point – successful team since 1978-79.’ I let myself get wrapped up in everything that was transpiring in the portal. I don’t think I did a good enough job in that way.”
Fortunately for Close and her team, she said she’s used that as a learning experience for a team that gets another chance.
The battle of the point guards will be essential viewing.
Texas’ Rori Harmon bedeviled the Bruins during the first meeting between the teams, scoring a season-high 26 points – 10 more than she’s scored in any other game – to go with five assists while playing all 40 minutes.
UCLA will have multiple options to defend Texas’ all-time leader in assists and steals given it starts two point guards in Rice and Leger-Walker. Expect them to alternate in trying to limit the Longhorns’ pass-first counterpart who certainly wouldn’t mind duplicating her big showing from earlier in the season.
“I’m sure UCLA will make some adjustments,” Harmon said, “but as far as us forcing turnovers, we’re going to continue to push the pedal and put some pressure on them.”
While she didn’t have one of her better showings when these teams met earlier this season, Texas star Madison Booker must be circled multiple times in UCLA’s scouting report.
The junior guard averages a team-leading 19.3 points and is on pace to become the Longhorns’ all-time leading scorer next season.
The Bruins would be smart not to send Booker to the free-throw line, where she’s shooting 84.9% on high volume.
It’s always hard to be a good team twice in the same season.
UCLA gets some payback on a massive stage, pulling away for a 77-69 victory that sends the Bruins to their first NCAA championship game.
