Trojans Wire and UCLA Wire explore future of L.A. women’s basketball

We are in a golden age for Los Angeles women’s college basketball.

The Pac-12 is ending and the USC-UCLA rivalry is moving into the Big Ten. In football, USC has the massive upper hand. In men’s basketball, UCLA is the clearly more established and powerful program. In women’s basketball, USC is set to do great things, but UCLA should also be very, very good and a part of the hunt for a Final Four berth. This is a great time to be a Los Angeles women’s basketball fan, particularly in the college game.

We sat down to talk with our friends at UCLA Wire. Former Trojans Wire staff writer Matt Wadleigh is the editor of UCLA Wire. We looked at USC and UCLA women’s basketball in this time of great expectations for both programs. USC is obviously loaded and a top contender for the 2025 Women’s Final Four. We wondered if UCLA — a solid, consistent Sweet 16-level program under coach Cori Close — can take that next step and rise to the same Final Four level USC fully expects of itself heading into next season. Women’s basketball is the revenue sport where USC and UCLA both have a chance to do really well next year. (Beach volleyball and water polo are non-revenue sports, of course.)

Visit our friends at Fighting Irish Wire, Buffaloes Wire, and Ducks Wire. Follow our newest sites, UW Huskies Wire and UCLA Wire.

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Former UCLA legend Noelle Quinn featured in WNBA X post

Back to the past.

Former UCLA Bruins are all over the WNBA. This week, however, a former Bruin and current WNBA coach made some headlines. 

In a game against the Washington Mystics, former Bruins guard Noelle Quinn and the current Seattle Storm head coach turned some heads. In a video posted by the WNBA on X, Quinn has a loose ball bounce to her where she catches and shoots. Her shot elicits laughs from the commentators and crowd. 

Quinn being back in the news, however, is the perfect opportunity to revisit her career at UCLA. In four seasons from 2003-2007, Quinn averaged 17.1 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game, as well as a UCLA-record 35.6 minutes per game.

Moreover, Quinn had success in the WNBA beyond just college. Winning the WNBA title as both an associate coach and as a player for the Seattle Storm, the former fourth-overall pick has Seattle hoping for another title this season. 

How to buy NCAA Tournament Albany Regional Women’s Sweet 16 and Elite 8 tickets

Want to watch March Madness and the women’s Sweet 16/Elite 8 live in Albany this weekend? Tickets are still available for as little as $29.

Only 16 teams remain in the 2024 NCAA Women’s Tournament, and half of them will be playing in Albany, NY this weekend.

That’s right, March Madness heads to Albany as MVP Arena is set to host a weekend of Sweet 16 and Elite matchups that will eventually send two teams onto Cleveland and the Final Four.

SHOP: Albany Regional Sweet 16 and Elite 8 tickets

Individual tickets to Albany’s Sweet 16 action give access to both games on a single day.

On Friday, March 29, No. 2 Notre Dame kicks off the Sweet 16 when they take on No. 3 Oregon State at 2:30 p.m. EDT.

That game will be immediately followed by No. 1 South Carolina vs. No. 5 Indiana.

SHOP: Friday Sweet 16 tickets for as little as $24

On Saturday, March 30, the Albany 2 Region gets underway with No. 2 UCLA vs. No. 3 LSU at 1:00 p.m. EDT.

That game will be immediately followed by Caitlin Clark and No. 1 Iowa vs. No. 5 Colorado.

SHOP: Saturday Sweet 16 tickets for as little as $170

If you want to catch all the action, weekend passes are still available for as little as $504.

The weekend passes include access to all four of Thursday and Friday’s Sweet 16 games and then both Saturday’s and Sunday’s Elite Eight showdowns between the winners of Thursday and Friday’s Sweet 16 contests.

[afflinkbutton text=”Shop NCAA Tournament Albany weekend passes” link=”https://stubhub.prf.hn/l/bxmPy4n”]

[afflinkbutton text=”Shop NCAA Tournament Albany Friday Sweet 16 tickets” link=”https://stubhub.prf.hn/l/4P4Znky”]

[afflinkbutton text=”Shop NCAA Tournament Albany Saturday Sweet 16 tickets” link=”https://stubhub.prf.hn/l/aWd1yze”]

How to buy NCAA Tournament Albany Regional Women’s Sweet 16 and Elite 8 tickets

Want to watch March Madness and the women’s Sweet 16/Elite 8 live in Albany this weekend? Tickets are still available for as little as $29.

Only 16 teams remain in the 2024 NCAA Women’s Tournament, and half of them will be playing in Albany, NY this weekend.

That’s right, March Madness heads to Albany as MVP Arena is set to host a weekend of Sweet 16 and Elite matchups that will eventually send two teams onto Cleveland and the Final Four.

SHOP: Albany Regional Sweet 16 and Elite 8 tickets

Individual tickets to Albany’s Sweet 16 action give access to both games on a single day.

On Friday, March 29, No. 2 Notre Dame kicks off the Sweet 16 when they take on No. 3 Oregon State at 2:30 p.m. EDT.

That game will be immediately followed by No. 1 South Carolina vs. No. 5 Indiana.

SHOP: Friday Sweet 16 tickets for as little as $24

On Saturday, March 30, the Albany 2 Region gets underway with No. 2 UCLA vs. No. 3 LSU at 1:00 p.m. EDT.

That game will be immediately followed by Caitlin Clark and No. 1 Iowa vs. No. 5 Colorado.

SHOP: Saturday Sweet 16 tickets for as little as $170

If you want to catch all the action, weekend passes are still available for as little as $504.

The weekend passes include access to all four of Thursday and Friday’s Sweet 16 games and then both Saturday’s and Sunday’s Elite Eight showdowns between the winners of Thursday and Friday’s Sweet 16 contests.

[afflinkbutton text=”Shop NCAA Tournament Albany weekend passes” link=”https://stubhub.prf.hn/l/bxmPy4n”]

[afflinkbutton text=”Shop NCAA Tournament Albany Friday Sweet 16 tickets” link=”https://stubhub.prf.hn/l/4P4Znky”]

[afflinkbutton text=”Shop NCAA Tournament Albany Saturday Sweet 16 tickets” link=”https://stubhub.prf.hn/l/aWd1yze”]

How to buy NCAA Tournament Albany Regional Women’s Sweet 16 and Elite 8 tickets

Want to watch March Madness and the women’s Sweet 16/Elite 8 live in Albany this weekend? Tickets are still available for as little as $29.

Only 16 teams remain in the 2024 NCAA Women’s Tournament, and half of them will be playing in Albany, NY this weekend.

That’s right, March Madness heads to Albany as MVP Arena is set to host a weekend of Sweet 16 and Elite matchups that will eventually send two teams onto Cleveland and the Final Four.

SHOP: Albany Regional Sweet 16 and Elite 8 tickets

Individual tickets to Albany’s Sweet 16 action give access to both games on a single day.

On Friday, March 29, No. 2 Notre Dame kicks off the Sweet 16 when they take on No. 3 Oregon State at 2:30 p.m. EDT.

That game will be immediately followed by No. 1 South Carolina vs. No. 5 Indiana.

SHOP: Friday Sweet 16 tickets for as little as $24

On Saturday, March 30, the Albany 2 Region gets underway with No. 2 UCLA vs. No. 3 LSU at 1:00 p.m. EDT.

That game will be immediately followed by Caitlin Clark and No. 1 Iowa vs. No. 5 Colorado.

SHOP: Saturday Sweet 16 tickets for as little as $170

If you want to catch all the action, weekend passes are still available for as little as $504.

The weekend passes include access to all four of Thursday and Friday’s Sweet 16 games and then both Saturday’s and Sunday’s Elite Eight showdowns between the winners of Thursday and Friday’s Sweet 16 contests.

[afflinkbutton text=”Shop NCAA Tournament Albany weekend passes” link=”https://stubhub.prf.hn/l/bxmPy4n”]

[afflinkbutton text=”Shop NCAA Tournament Albany Friday Sweet 16 tickets” link=”https://stubhub.prf.hn/l/4P4Znky”]

[afflinkbutton text=”Shop NCAA Tournament Albany Saturday Sweet 16 tickets” link=”https://stubhub.prf.hn/l/aWd1yze”]

How to buy NCAA Tournament Albany Regional Women’s Sweet 16 and Elite 8 tickets

Want to watch March Madness and the women’s Sweet 16/Elite 8 live in Albany this weekend? Tickets are still available for as little as $29.

Only 16 teams remain in the 2024 NCAA Women’s Tournament, and half of them will be playing in Albany, NY this weekend.

That’s right, March Madness heads to Albany as MVP Arena is set to host a weekend of Sweet 16 and Elite matchups that will eventually send two teams onto Cleveland and the Final Four.

SHOP: Albany Regional Sweet 16 and Elite 8 tickets

Individual tickets to Albany’s Sweet 16 action give access to both games on a single day.

On Friday, March 29, No. 2 Notre Dame kicks off the Sweet 16 when they take on No. 3 Oregon State at 2:30 p.m. EDT.

That game will be immediately followed by No. 1 South Carolina vs. No. 5 Indiana.

SHOP: Friday Sweet 16 tickets for as little as $24

On Saturday, March 30, the Albany 2 Region gets underway with No. 2 UCLA vs. No. 3 LSU at 1:00 p.m. EDT.

That game will be immediately followed by Caitlin Clark and No. 1 Iowa vs. No. 5 Colorado.

SHOP: Saturday Sweet 16 tickets for as little as $170

If you want to catch all the action, weekend passes are still available for as little as $504.

The weekend passes include access to all four of Thursday and Friday’s Sweet 16 games and then both Saturday’s and Sunday’s Elite Eight showdowns between the winners of Thursday and Friday’s Sweet 16 contests.

[afflinkbutton text=”Shop NCAA Tournament Albany weekend passes” link=”https://stubhub.prf.hn/l/bxmPy4n”]

[afflinkbutton text=”Shop NCAA Tournament Albany Friday Sweet 16 tickets” link=”https://stubhub.prf.hn/l/4P4Znky”]

[afflinkbutton text=”Shop NCAA Tournament Albany Saturday Sweet 16 tickets” link=”https://stubhub.prf.hn/l/aWd1yze”]

How to buy NCAA Tournament Albany Regional Women’s Sweet 16 and Elite 8 tickets

Want to watch March Madness and the women’s Sweet 16/Elite 8 live in Albany this weekend? Tickets are still available for as little as $29.

Only 16 teams remain in the 2024 NCAA Women’s Tournament, and half of them will be playing in Albany, NY this weekend.

That’s right, March Madness heads to Albany as MVP Arena is set to host a weekend of Sweet 16 and Elite matchups that will eventually send two teams onto Cleveland and the Final Four.

SHOP: Albany Regional Sweet 16 and Elite 8 tickets

Individual tickets to Albany’s Sweet 16 action give access to both games on a single day.

On Friday, March 29, No. 2 Notre Dame kicks off the Sweet 16 when they take on No. 3 Oregon State at 2:30 p.m. EDT.

That game will be immediately followed by No. 1 South Carolina vs. No. 5 Indiana.

SHOP: Friday Sweet 16 tickets for as little as $24

On Saturday, March 30, the Albany 2 Region gets underway with No. 2 UCLA vs. No. 3 LSU at 1:00 p.m. EDT.

That game will be immediately followed by Caitlin Clark and No. 1 Iowa vs. No. 5 Colorado.

SHOP: Saturday Sweet 16 tickets for as little as $170

If you want to catch all the action, weekend passes are still available for as little as $504.

The weekend passes include access to all four of Thursday and Friday’s Sweet 16 games and then both Saturday’s and Sunday’s Elite Eight showdowns between the winners of Thursday and Friday’s Sweet 16 contests.

[afflinkbutton text=”Shop NCAA Tournament Albany weekend passes” link=”https://stubhub.prf.hn/l/bxmPy4n”]

[afflinkbutton text=”Shop NCAA Tournament Albany Friday Sweet 16 tickets” link=”https://stubhub.prf.hn/l/4P4Znky”]

[afflinkbutton text=”Shop NCAA Tournament Albany Saturday Sweet 16 tickets” link=”https://stubhub.prf.hn/l/aWd1yze”]

How to buy NCAA Tournament Albany Regional Women’s Sweet 16 and Elite 8 tickets

Want to watch March Madness and the women’s Sweet 16/Elite 8 live in Albany this weekend? Tickets are still available for as little as $29.

Only 16 teams remain in the 2024 NCAA Women’s Tournament, and half of them will be playing in Albany, NY this weekend.

That’s right, March Madness heads to Albany as MVP Arena is set to host a weekend of Sweet 16 and Elite matchups that will eventually send two teams onto Cleveland and the Final Four.

SHOP: Albany Regional Sweet 16 and Elite 8 tickets

Individual tickets to Albany’s Sweet 16 action give access to both games on a single day.

On Friday, March 29, No. 2 Notre Dame kicks off the Sweet 16 when they take on No. 3 Oregon State at 2:30 p.m. EDT.

That game will be immediately followed by No. 1 South Carolina vs. No. 5 Indiana.

SHOP: Friday Sweet 16 tickets for as little as $24

On Saturday, March 30, the Albany 2 Region gets underway with No. 2 UCLA vs. No. 3 LSU at 1:00 p.m. EDT.

That game will be immediately followed by Caitlin Clark and No. 1 Iowa vs. No. 5 Colorado.

SHOP: Saturday Sweet 16 tickets for as little as $170

If you want to catch all the action, weekend passes are still available for as little as $504.

The weekend passes include access to all four of Thursday and Friday’s Sweet 16 games and then both Saturday’s and Sunday’s Elite Eight showdowns between the winners of Thursday and Friday’s Sweet 16 contests.

[afflinkbutton text=”Shop NCAA Tournament Albany weekend passes” link=”https://stubhub.prf.hn/l/bxmPy4n”]

[afflinkbutton text=”Shop NCAA Tournament Albany Friday Sweet 16 tickets” link=”https://stubhub.prf.hn/l/4P4Znky”]

[afflinkbutton text=”Shop NCAA Tournament Albany Saturday Sweet 16 tickets” link=”https://stubhub.prf.hn/l/aWd1yze”]

UCLA women’s team closing the gap in tight Pac-12 standings

The women’s Pac-12 race is heating up with March approaching.

The UCLA Bruins got back on the right track on Sunday.

After falling to Oregon State 79-77, the Bruins turned their attention to Oregon and dominated the Ducks 74-55.

While Oregon ranks last in the Pac-12 standings, a dominant performance was just what the doctor ordered as the Bruins notched another in-conference win. Now ranked 12th in the nation and fifth in the Pac-12, the Bruins are comfortably positioned for a March Madness and Pac-12 tournament run.

With four games remaining, all within conference play, the Bruins have a chance to jockey for better seeding in the Pac-12 tournament and take down nationally ranked #11 Colorado and #18 Utah. Only trailing top-seeded Stanford by three games, it is not impossible for the Bruins to catch the Cardinals.

A lot can change ahead of the Pac-12 tournament begins on March 6th. With the amount of parody in the conference this season, anything and everything seems possible.

But with how well the Bruins have played thus far this season, fans should feel confident that they will finish the season as strong as they started it.

UCLA star Kiki Rice receives her own Jordan shoe design

Kiki Rice shows off her new Jordan shoe design amid a monster year for the Bruins.

UCLA’s sophomore standout Kiki Rice made headlines in 2022 when she became the first to sign an NIL deal with Jordan.

Recently, Jordan unveiled Rice’s first player edition shoe. The Air Jordan 38 Low shoe titled “Cherry Blossom” is a tribute to her hometown of Washington, D.C. The 2022 Gatorade National Player of the Year, Rice, has already made her mark in Westwood.

Racking up awards in her freshman campaign, including a Pac-12 All-Freshman Team selection, Rice has played big minutes for the Bruins this season. Fourth in scoring on the team with 12.4 points per game, Rice adds five assists, five rebounds, and nearly two steals a game to her stat line.

With the Bruins rolling right now, ranked ninth in the nation, it is the perfect time for Rice’s shoe to drop. And based on Rice’s production on the court and UCLA’s successes this season, their game to sign a high school athlete in 2022 to a deal could not have gone more perfectly.

Be on the watch for Rice’s “Cherry Blossom” shoes this weekend as the Bruins take on Arizona and Arizona State.