UCLA Bruins head coach DeShaun Foster ended his media availability on Monday with a special message to the UCLA women’s basketball team and head coach Cori Close after they defeated defending champion South Carolina on Sunday and became the AP #1 team in the nation for the first time in school history.
“Hold on, there was one team that beat SC this weekend,” Foster said. “Our women’s basketball team did a great job, came out dominated the #1 team. They’re also the #1 now themselves. I’m just so proud of them and Coach Close, she does a good job over there, she’s truly built a culture.”
After becoming the Bruins head coach in 2011, Close has led UCLA to a 287-140 record, the third coach in program history to record 200 wins. She’s likely to tack onto to that win total, with the Bruins starting the season 5-0 and earning the title as top team in the country.
“They’re always in the top-ten but it was awesome to see them,” Foster said. “The atmosphere that was in that arena, I hadn’t seen anything like that since Baron Davis. It was pretty cool.”
Close responded back to Foster on X saying “Thank you @DeShaunFoster26 and @UCLAFootball . You are really special to us. We appreciate you coming and for all the support. Bruins stick together.”
Foster and the Bruins will host the Fresno State Bulldogs in the regular season finale for the 4-7 UCLA squad.