Some coaches build through pressure. Some through systems. Coach Cori Close builds through people.
Cori has talked openly about her early years as a coach, when the “old-school” model was all around her. She watched coaches tear players down and treat intimidation as the only way to win at the highest level, but she never believed that was the only path to success. Coach Close found mentorship in John Wooden, who told her she didn’t have to compromise what she believed in to have a winning program... that she could coach people’s hearts, care about who they were becoming, and still compete for championships.
This year, UCLA did just that. They finished 37-1, went undefeated in the Big Ten, were back-to-back conference tournament champs, and won the national title. I got to see the process up close, six seniors who believed in each other and every one of them was drafted to the WNBA. After fifteen seasons, the trophy finally came home with Coach Cori and the Bruins.
I had the privilege of working alongside UCLA throughout the season. The thing I’ll remember most is the consistency and the care for everyone in the program. Coach Cori’s standard didn’t waver, even in adversity. Their trust in each other held under pressure. And the way the staff prepared was the same in November as it was in April. That’s what character looks like when it’s coached for, not just hoped for.
Every season brings a new lesson… and a new way to see and think about the game. This year, I got to witness something special, and was blessed to support a staff that proved caring about people is part of winning, not a trade-off. Congratulations to Coach Cori, the staff, and everyone who made it possible. Go Bruins!
