UCLA Women's Basketball: Cori Close Setting Standard For Bruins Before Sweet Sixteen Matchup

Matt Levine | Mar 29, 2024

NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament - First Round - Los Angeles UCLA / Harry How/GettyImages

As the UCLA Bruins women's basketball team gets set for their Sweet Sixteen matchup, they are taking signs from their head coach. Cori Close has helped keep this team together all year long, despite some adversity along the way.

UCLA has been one of the better teams in the country all season, as they try to maximize their chance to win this year. A thrilling come-from-behind victory over Crieghton in the Round of 32 has the Bruins buzzing entering their next tournament game.

Close has kept things light for the Bruins, even in the face of hard times. The entire roster looks to her to set the tone and she has passed the test with flying colors.

Senior guard Charisma Osbourne spoke about her head coach, saying that she is the engine that helps this Bruins team run high.

“She’s a little bit cornier than us,” senior guard Charisma Osborne said, “but yeah, I think she really sets the standard.”

Sometimes in sports, coaching can be taken for granted. But for the Bruins, they have the right person leading the way. Close has managed to get the most out of her players this season and has them on the cusp of reaching the Elite Eight.

They will be taking on the LSU Tigers, which will be no easy task. LSU is the reigning National Champions, but they have been dealing with their own drama of late. UCLA will look to take them off guard to continue their magical season.