‘You have to show up and be the best versions of yourself’: UCLA women’s basketball gears up for Friday’s Final Four

Tonight is the night. The UCLA Bruins women's basketball team takes on Texas in the Final Four of the NCAA tournament at 6:30 p.m. - and they can't wait.

"We're excited," head coach Cori Close said at Thursday's media day. "We're excited for the opportunity to play Texas. I'm really confident in our team and how we're going to be ready to compete. But the bottom line is you have to show up and be the best versions of yourselves under the things that are under your control and take care of business. But we're really excited to be here."

The Bruins, who fans can watch at Pauley Pavilion at Friday night's free watch party (register here), have been in full Final Four mode all week, practicing, speaking to the media, filming promos and taking part in photoshoots.

The March Madness and NCAA accounts shared this carousel (below) of Bruin portraits.

Tonight's opponents, the Texas Longhorns, are the only team UCLA lost to across their historic 35-1 season, so Friday's matchup is one the Bruins have been preparing for. Senior center Lauren Betts reflected on that November 2025 game and shared her takeaways for the Final Four as she heads into tonight's matchup.

"I think the biggest difference, looking back at the film, is just creating opportunities to get the ball as much as I can. I think just creating easier catches," Betts said Thursday. "They're [a] really amazing defensive team. I think as the guards are getting pressured on the perimeter, just trying to become so open that they just can't like, not give me the ball; I think trying to help out my teammates as much as I can. It's not one person versus Texas; it's a full team. We as a team are trying to beat them. I think, yeah, just coming out with a certain level of aggression is going to be really important. I'm going to make sure I do that from the very beginning."

As their second trip to the Final Four in as many years kicks off, Betts and senior teammate Gabriela Jaquez, guard, took a moment to reflect on their pride over being Bruins. The moment came when a reporter asked Jaquez whether she would have left college for the WNBA if the opportunity had presented itself.

"I would just say I would probably have stayed at UCLA all four years just because developmental-wise, I just needed the development. Also, I think getting a degree from UCLA is something I wouldn't want to pass up on," Jaquez said. "I just really enjoy the college experience. Playing four years at one school, you develop a community."

"Same," Betts added. "Same exact answer."