Cori Close Focuses on Final Four Goals for UCLA Women’s Basketball

Cori Close, the coach of UCLA women’s basketball, isn’t concerned with being among the top four teams in the polls. Her sole focus is on being among the final four teams standing at the end of the season.

With their highest preseason ranking since 1999-2000, the No. 4 Bruins have high expectations for the upcoming season. They have the majority of their starting lineup returning, an experienced freshman class, and a strong frontcourt that has become their “super power.”

However, Close understands that potential and talent alone won’t lead to success. She emphasizes the importance of hard work and consistent practice in order to achieve postseason glory. Close wants her team to have Final Four habits, training, and mindset if they want to reach their goals.

Last season, UCLA came close to winning their first conference tournament title since 2006 and made it to the Sweet 16. The team’s late-season surge gave them confidence and momentum for the future. Guard Charisma Osborne, who led the Bruins in scoring and rebounding, believes in the team’s potential and the depth of talent they possess.

Osborne’s decision to return for another season was followed by the addition of transfer center Lauren Betts, the No. 1 recruit in the 2022 class. Betts has already proven herself as a valuable asset, winning a gold medal in the FIBA U19 World Cup with Close as her coach.

The addition of Betts and the return of key players will strengthen UCLA’s frontcourt, which struggled against dominant post players in the past. The team’s inside-out game has improved, making it easier for players like Osborne to make plays.

Close is aware of the potential sophomore slump that can occur when freshmen transition into larger roles. However, she has confidence in the work ethic of her players and believes that as long as they continue to focus on getting better every day and helping each other grow, their talent will shine through.

UCLA is no longer flying under the radar. They are embracing the attention and have a responsibility to reshape the conversation surrounding their team. Close wants her players to use the expectations as fuel to improve and create the habits necessary for success.

If the Bruins can fulfill their goals and reshape program history, they have the opportunity to make a deep postseason run and reach the Final Four, a feat they have never accomplished before.

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