COLUMBIA, S.C. — A New Reign in Women’s College Basketball Coaching
For the first time in four years, Dawn Staley will not be taking home the Werner Ladder Naismith Women’s Coach of the Year award. Instead, the honor belongs to UCLA’s Cori Close, who has led the Bruins through a record-breaking season, surpassing expectations and making history in the process.
Close’s UCLA squad finished the season with an impressive 34-2 record, clinching a spot in the Final Four for the first time in school history. The Bruins set a program record for wins and achieved their first-ever 30-win season, cementing Close’s leadership as one for the history books.
Under her guidance, UCLA enjoyed a remarkable 23-game winning streak, with 22 of those victories secured by double digits. The Bruins dominated the rankings, holding the No. 1 spot for 12 consecutive weeks, setting a Big Ten record after leading the rankings for nine straight weeks. Entering the NCAA Tournament, UCLA was the overall No. 1 seed, further solidifying their powerhouse status.
“I’m not at a loss for words often, but I am about the Werner Ladder Naismith Coach of the Year award,” said Close. “I’m humbled and grateful. It’s most meaningful because it gives me a chance to thank each player, staff member, role model, and mentor. May our work in the win and loss columns always pale in comparison to the work we do to help teach, mentor, and equip for life beyond the hardwood.”
Stacy Gardella, Head of Global Marketing Technology & Operations at ProDriven Brands, praised Close’s achievement: “Werner Ladder congratulates Coach Close for her steadfast commitment and exceptional leadership throughout the season, which has earned her this well-deserved recognition. We are honored to present this award, celebrating excellence in collegiate coaching, and extend our heartfelt congratulations to her for guiding UCLA women’s basketball through this historic and remarkable season.”
The accolades didn’t stop with Close. Betts secured the Naismith Women’s Defensive Player of the Year Presented by MOLECULE, making history as the first UCLA women’s player to win a Naismith Award. She also became the first Big Ten player to win the honor in the award’s eight-year history. Notably, this marks the fourth time in eight years that both the Women’s Coach of the Year and the Defensive Player of the Year hail from the same program. Previous duos include Dawn Staley and Aliyah Boston (South Carolina, 2022 & 2023) and Vic Schaefer and Teaira McCowan (Mississippi State, 2018). Other finalists for the Defensive Player of the Year award included Hidalgo, West Virginia’s JJ Quinerly, and Watkins from USC.
Despite narrowly missing out on the Coach of the Year title, South Carolina’s Dawn Staley continues to build her legacy. Under her leadership, the Gamecocks secured SEC regular season and tournament titles for the third consecutive year, marking their seventh conference title in the last 11 seasons.
South Carolina dominated against ranked opponents, securing 12 wins over top teams with an average victory margin of 20 points. They earned the No. 1 seed in the NCAA Birmingham 2 Regional and powered through to the Sweet 16 after two decisive wins at Colonial Life Arena.
Next up for the Gamecocks is a highly anticipated showdown against newly-formed SEC rival Texas on Friday, April 4, marking their third meeting this season.
Other finalists for the Coach of the Year award included:
- Mark Campbell, TCU
- Cori Close, UCLA
- Lindsay Gottlieb, Southern Cal
With an unforgettable season behind them and the Final Four ahead, Cori Close and UCLA are proving they belong at the pinnacle of women’s college basketball.
