UCLA entering NCAA title game with ‘businesslike’ mindset

Phoenix– UCLA She may be making her first appearance in the NCAA championship game, but head coach Corey Close said Saturday that he felt his team faced more pressure when making the Final Four for the first time last year.

The Bruins lost in the semifinals a year ago, and it propelled their run to this year’s national title game, where they will face South Carolina On Sunday. Close said last year’s experience has helped the team approach the game in a different way.

“Last year, we were reacting to everything, not anticipating,” Close said during a press conference previewing the title game. “Whereas we’ve become a part of it now, it was a completely different planning experience. I just felt like we were able to be more strategic in putting our players in positions to be successful.”

Close said he heard many of his returning players from last year talking about what to expect from the new players in the Final Four. “It makes all the difference in the world.”

UCLA will face an experienced South Carolina team that has been to this stage many times. The Gamecocks have made six consecutive Final Fours and are playing for their fourth national title. UCLA has not won a national title since 1978, before the NCAA took control of women’s basketball.

Close said his team took a “businesslike” approach and did not celebrate in the locker room after defeating Texas 51–44 to clinch their spot in the title game.

“We came into this tournament really focused,” Close said. “We really believe the job is not done yet. We want a chance to compete for a national championship. We want to do it at the highest level. I don’t think anyone was sighing, ‘Oh, thank God we took that next step.’ We want to compete to win.”

gabriela jacquezShe, who played at UCLA her entire college career, said the team is much more “calm and confident” this year.

“We have a sense of peace that we know we have to stay here,” Jacquez said. “We know we’ve put in the work. We know we’re prepared. We’re going to be focused, and we’re going to come ready to play.”

guard kiki rice Reiterated that the team has taken a different approach this year, and the fact that the Bruins have yet to experience a title game will not be a factor.

“I felt like we were a lot better prepared,” Rice said. “We know we have to go out there and compete and not let the title game distract us from the work we have to do. We’ll be ready.”