2021–22 UCLA Bruins women's basketball team

The 2021–22 UCLA Bruins women's basketball team represented the University of California, Los Angeles during the 2021–22 NCAA Division I women's basketball season. The Bruins were led by eleventh-year head coach Cori Close. They played their home games at Pauley Pavilion and competed as members of the Pac-12 Conference.

2021–22 UCLA Bruins women's basketball
WNIT, semifinals
ConferencePac-12 Conference
Record18–13 (8–8 Pac-12)
Head coach
Associate head coachShannon Perry-LeBeauf
Assistant coaches
  • Tasha Brown
  • Tony Newnan
Home arenaPauley Pavilion
(Capacity: 13,800)
Seasons
2021–22 Pac-12 Conference women's basketball standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L PCTW L PCT
No. 2 Stanford160 1.000324 .889
Oregon116 .6472012 .625
Washington State116 .6471911 .633
No. 19 Arizona106 .625218 .724
Colorado97 .563229 .710
Utah87 .5332112 .636
UCLA88 .5001813 .581
Oregon State69 .4001714 .548
Arizona State49 .3081214 .462
USC512 .2941216 .429
California210 .1671113 .458
Washington212 .143716 .304
2022 Pac-12 Tournament winner
Rankings from AP poll

The Bruins were invited to the WNIT as the automatic qualifier for the Pac-12 Conference. It was the Bruins' first WNIT appearance since 2015, when they were WNIT champions.

Previous season

The Bruins finished the season 17–6, 12–4 in Pac-12 play to finish in third place. As the third seed in the Pac-12 women's tournament they advanced to the championship game where they lost to Stanford.[1] As a three seed in the NCAA tournament, the Bruins managed to beat Wyoming in the 1st round,[2] but then they lost to Texas in the second round to end their season.[3]

Offseason

Departures

Due to COVID-19 disruptions throughout NCAA sports in 2020–21, the NCAA announced that the 2020–21 season would not count against the athletic eligibility of any individual involved in an NCAA winter sport, including women's basketball. This meant that all seniors in 2020–21 had the option to return for 2021–22.

UCLA Departures
NamePos.HeightYearHometownReason for departure
Lindsay CorsaroG6'1" JuniorIndianapolis, INGraduated
Michaela OnyenwereF6'0"SeniorAurora, COGraduated; selected 6th overall by the New York Liberty in the 2021 WNBA draft
Lauryn MillerF6'1"SeniorKirkwood, MOGraduated

Incoming transfers

NameNumPos.HeightYearHometownPrevious school
Gina Conti10G5'11"Graduate StudentGrove City, OHWake Forest
IImar'I Thomas24F5'10"Graduate StudentOakland, CACincinnati
Jaelynn Penn31G5'10"Graduate StudentLouisville, KYIndiana
Angela Dugalić32F6'4"SophomoreDes Plaines, ILOregon

Preseason

  • October 12, 2021 – The Bruins were picked to finish third in both the 2021-22 Pac-12 Preseason Media and Coaches Polls, behind Stanford and Oregon
  • October 25, 2021 – Gina Conti was named to the Nancy Lieberman Award top 20 watch list (Top point guard)
  • October 26, 2021 – Charisma Osborne was named to the Ann Meyers Drysdale Award top 20 watch list (Best shooting guard)
  • November 3, 2021 – Preseason All-Pac-12 team: Charisma Osborne; Gina Conti and Natalie Chou (Honorable mention)
  • November 9, 2021 – Charisma Osborne was named to three watch lists (Wade Trophy, Wooden Award, and Naismith Trophy)

Roster

2021–22 UCLA Bruins women's basketball team
PlayersCoaches
Pos.#NameHeightYearPrevious schoolHometown
G0Chantel Horvat6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)RS SrGeelong CollegeGeelong, Australia
G1Kayla Owens6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)RS SrLangham CreekHouston, TX
G2Dominique Onu5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)RS FrBlair AcademyJacksonville, FL
G3Kiara Jefferson5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)SrWest CampusSacramento, CA
F5Brynn Masikewich6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)JrLincoln PrepCalgary, Alberta
G10Gina Conti5 ft 11 in (1.8 m)GSGrove City High
Wake Forest
Grove City, OH
F11Emily Bessoir  6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)RS FrWilhelm-Hausenstein GymnasiumMunich, Germany
G20Charisma Osborne5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)JrWindward SchoolMoreno Valley, CA
G23Natalie Chou6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)GSPlano West
Baylor
Plano, TX
F24IImar'I Thomas5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)GSSacred Heart Cathedral Prep
Cincinnati
Oakland, CA
G31Jaelynn Penn5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)GSButler Traditional
Indiana
Louisville, KY
F32Angela Dugalić6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)RS FrMaine West
Oregon
Des Plaines, IL
G35Camryn Brown5 ft 11 in (1.8 m)JrPrestonwood ChristianLewisville, TX
F43Izzy Anstey6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)RS FrCaulfieldMelbourne, Australia
G51Eliana Sigal (W)5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)SrTarbut V' TorahIrvine, CA
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)

Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • (W) Walk-on

Roster
Last update: August 24, 2021

Schedule

Date
time, TV
Rank#Opponent#ResultRecordHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsSite (attendance)
city, state
Regular Season
November 10, 2021*
7:00 pm, P12N
No. 20 PepperdineW 78–69 1–0
 24  Osborne  7  Thomas  4  Osborne Pauley Pavilion (1,363)
Los Angeles, CA
November 18, 2021*
7:00 pm, live stream
No. 20 Cal State NorthridgeW 73–46 2–0
 21  Thomas  9  Anstey  7  Penn Pauley Pavilion (794)
Los Angeles, CA
November 21, 2021*
3:00 pm, P12N
No. 20 VirginiaW 69–57 3–0
 20  Chou  6  Owens  7  Penn Pauley Pavilion (1,077)
Los Angeles, CA
November 26, 2021*
10:30 am, FloHoops
No. 19 vs. Kent State
Gulf Coast Showcase
L 69–75 3–1
 21  Osborne  8  Penn  3  Tied Hertz Arena (150)
Estero, FL
November 27, 2021*
8:00 am, FloHoops
No. 19 vs. South Dakota State
Gulf Coast Showcase consolation
L 66–76 3–2
 18  Thomas  7  Tied  2  Tied Hertz Arena (213)
Estero, FL
November 28, 2021*
8:00 am, FloHoops
No. 19 vs. St. John's (NY)
Gulf Coast Showcase seventh place
W 73–65 4–2
 19  Tied  11  Osborne  6  Osborne Hertz Arena (143)
Estero, FL
December 5, 2021*
2:00 pm, live stream
San Jose StateW 112–33 5–2
 32  Thomas  9  Owens  11  Chou Pauley Pavilion (1,362)
Los Angeles, CA
December 11, 2021*
10:00 am, ABC
vs. No. 3 UConn
Never Forget Tribute Classic
L 61–71 5–3
 26  Osborne  8  Anstey  3  Penn Prudential Center (9,236)
Newark, NJ
December 16, 2021*
7:00 pm, live stream
Texas SouthernCanceled due to COVID-19 protocols within the UCLA program[a]Pauley Pavilion 
Los Angeles, CA
December 19, 2021*
5:00 pm, P12N
Ohio StateCanceled due to COVID-19 protocols within the UCLA program[b]Pauley Pavilion 
Los Angeles, CA
December 21, 2021*
1:00 pm, live stream
Cal State BakersfieldCanceled due to COVID-19 protocols within the UCLA program[c]Pauley Pavilion 
Los Angeles, CA
December 31, 2021
6:00 pm, P12N
Arizona StatePostponed due to COVID-19 protocols within the UCLA program[d]Pauley Pavilion 
Los Angeles, CA
January 7, 2022
6:00 pm, P12N
at UtahPostponed due to COVID-19 protocols within the Utah program[e]Jon M. Huntsman Center 
Salt Lake City, UT
January 9, 2022
10:00 am, P12N
at ColoradoL 63–71 5–4
(0–1)
 15  Chou  13  Anstey  5  Chou CU Events Center (1,652)
Boulder, CO
January 14, 2022
7:00 pm, P12N
WashingtonW 63–48 6–4
(1–1)
 25  Thomas  8  Penn  6  Onu Pauley Pavilion (0)
Los Angeles, CA
January 16, 2022
12:00 pm, P12N
Washington StateW 71–58 7–4
(2–1)
 25  Osborne  10  Owens  4  Osborne Pauley Pavilion (0)
Los Angeles, CA
January 20, 2022
6:30 pm, P12N
USC
Rivalry
W 66–43 8–4
(3–1)
 20  Thomas  7  Thomas  7  Osborne Pauley Pavilion (0)
Los Angeles, CA
January 23, 2022
6:00 pm, P12N
at USC
Rivalry
W 68–58 9–4
(4–1)
 27  Osborne  9  Anstey  7  Thomas Galen Center (1,892)
Los Angeles, CA
January 26, 2022[f]
5:00 pm, P12N
No. 8 ArizonaL 63–74 9–5
(4–2)
 14  Thomas  10  Onu  5  Onu Pauley Pavilion (826)
Los Angeles, CA
January 28, 2022
8:00 pm, P12N
at No. 19 OregonForfeited to Oregon due to excess non-COVID injuries within the UCLA program.Matthew Knight Arena 
Eugene, OR
January 30, 2022
2:00 pm, P12N
at Oregon StateL 58–72 9–6
(4–4)
 13  Tied  7  Onu  4  Thomas Gill Coliseum (4,341)
Corvallis, OR
February 3, 2022
7:00 pm, ESPN
No. 2 Stanford
Blue Out
L 48–76 9–7
(4–5)
 12  Osborne  8  Owens  6  Thomas Pauley Pavilion (2,100)
Los Angeles, CA
February 6, 2022
12:00 pm, P12N
CaliforniaW 59–54 10–7
(5–5)
 16  Thomas  12  Thomas  4  Osborne Pauley Pavilion (1,620)
Los Angeles, CA
February 11, 2022
7:00 pm, P12N
at Washington StateL 65–66 10–8
(5–6)
 23  Osborne  6  Thomas  3  Tied Beasley Coliseum (1,120)
Pullman, WA
February 13, 2022
12:00 pm, P12N
at WashingtonW 69–61 11–8
(6–6)
 22  Osborne  9  Horvat  5  Osborne Alaska Airlines Arena (1,472)
Seattle, WA
February 16, 2022[g]*
4:00 pm, P12N
at OregonL 53–67 11–9
 16  Tied  9  Thomas  3  Horvat Matthew Knight Arena (7,223)
Eugene, OR
February 18, 2022
7:00 pm, P12N
ColoradoL 54–67 11–10
(6–7)
 17  Thomas  8  Thomas  6  Osborne Pauley Pavilion (2,204)
Los Angeles, CA
February 20, 2022
12:00 pm, P12N
UtahL 70–75 11–11
(6–8)
 20  Thomas  9  Thomas  3  Tied Pauley Pavilion (1,630)
Los Angeles, CA
February 24, 2022
6:00 pm, P12N
at No. 12 ArizonaW 64–46 12–11
(7–8)
 17  Osborne  11  Thomas  4  Chou McKale Center (8,067)
Tucson, AZ
February 26, 2022
11:00 am, P12N
at Arizona StateW 59–52 13–11
(8–8)
 17  Osborne  10  Horvat  4  Tied Desert Financial Arena (2,176)
Tempe, AZ
Pac-12 Women's Tournament
March 2, 2022
6:00 pm, P12N
(7) vs. (10) USC
First Round
W 73–60 14–11
 18  Thomas  12  Dugalić  3  Osborne Michelob Ultra Arena (3,010)
Paradise, NV
March 3, 2022
6:00 pm, P12N
(7) vs. (2) Oregon
Quarterfinals
L 60–63 14–12
 18  Tied  7  Osborne  8  Osborne Michelob Ultra Arena (4,428)
Paradise, NV
WNIT
March 18, 2022*
6:50 pm, Live Stream
UC Irvine
First Round
W 61–48 15–12
 19  Chou  11  Thomas  4  Osborne Pauley Pavilion (1,415)
Los Angeles, CA
March 20, 2022*
2:00 pm, Live Stream
Air Force
Second Round
W 61–45 16–12
 17  Thomas  7  Dugalić  3  Osborne Pauley Pavilion (1,050)
Los Angeles, CA
March 24, 2022*
5:30 pm, MW Network
at Wyoming
Third Round
W 82–81 3OT17–12
 20  Osborne  10  Thomas  5  Osborne Arena-Auditorium (4,297)
Laramie, WY
March 27, 2022
12:00 pm, Live Stream
at Oregon State
Quarterfinals
W 74–66 18–12
 31  Osborne  10  Osborne  4  Osborne Gill Coliseum (2,976)
Corvallis, OR
March 31, 2022*
5:00 pm, ESPN3
at South Dakota State
Semifinals
L 59–62 18–13
 24  Thomas  6  Horvat  8  Osborne Frost Arena (5,227)
Brookings, SD
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses.
All times are in Pacific Time.

Source:[8]

Rankings

Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
— = Not ranked RV = Received votes
Week
PollPre12345678910111213141516171819Final
AP2020*2019RVRVRVRVNot released
Coaches1414*14^152425RVRVRVRVRVRV

*The preseason and week 1 polls were the same.
^Coaches did not release a week 2 poll.

Awards and honors

RecipientAward (PAC-12 Conference)Stats (PPG/RPG/FG%)WeekDate awardedRef.
Natalie ChouPlayer of the Week31.0/6.0/68.8November 29-December 5December 6, 2021[9]
Charisma OsbornePlayer of the WeekJanuary 17 – January 23January 24, 2022
Charisma OsbornePlayer of the WeekFebruary 21 – February 27February 28, 2022
Charisma OsborneAll-Pac-12 teamMarch 1, 2022
IImar'I ThomasAll-Pac-12 teamMarch 1, 2022
Charisma OsborneAll-Defensive, Honorable MentionMarch 1, 2022
Izzy AnsteyAll-Freshman, Honorable MentionMarch 1, 2022
  • January 5, 2022 – Charisma Osborne named to the mid-season top 25 John R. Wooden Award watch list
  • January 31, 2022 – Charisma Osborne was named to the John R. Wooden Award's late season top 20 watch list
  • February 8, 2022 – Charisma Osborne was selected to the Ann Meyers-Drysdale Award top 10 watch list and to the Jersey Mike's Naismith Trophy midseason team
  • April 4, 2022 – IImar'I Thomas named to the WNIT All-Tournament team

Statistics

Updated through February 26, 2022
RecordUCLAOPP
Scoring15941480
Scoring Average66.461.7
Field Goals - Att582–1433509–1305
3-pt. Field Goals - Att147–437168–451
Free Throws - Att283–366294–410
Rebounds878792
Assists331298
Turnovers323358
Steals153162

Notes

References