As part of our 1-v-1 video series, UCLA’s Camryn Brown sat down to interview her teammate Lauren Betts.
Here are five things to know from our conversation with the sophomore from Centennial, Colorado.
#1 Betts was the nation’s No. 1 recruit coming out of high school, an experience that taught her the importance of having a good mindset.
“I try to not put too many expectations on myself, I think that adds a lot of pressure. Obviously, I’m surrounded by amazing players and coaches, so I’m just trying to learn from everybody.
#2 Lauren transferred from Stanford to UCLA after her freshman season. When asked about the hardest part of the transfer process she said, “The reactions to when I entered the portal would have to be the hardest. Just trying to not listen to what other people were saying. But it was a huge [decision], so I went to my mom’s house and blocked out the entire world for a few weeks.”
#3 On the best advice she’s been given about life on the big stage: “Staying where my feet are. Just staying present, not comparing myself to anybody in any type of way.”
#4 Lauren shared her perspective on how she’s grown throughout the last year.
“I can do hard things. I’ve built a lot of confidence. I just know when things go low, I can get myself out of that situation, out of that mindset. As long as I’m surrounded by the right people, I can do whatever.”
#5 Lauren is a big Disney fan. If she had to make a starting five out of Disney characters, she would pick Sully from Monster’s Inc., Hercules, Merida from Brave, Lightning McQueen from Cars, and Moana (as point guard of course).
Watch the full conversation on the Just Women’s Sports YouTube channel.
As part of our 1-v-1 video series, UCLA’s Camryn Brown sat down to interview her teammate Gabriela Jaquez.
Here are five things to know from our conversation with the sophomore forward from Camarillo, California.
#1 Playing basketball at UCLA has been Gabriela's lifelong dream. She often reminds herself of that, especially during challenging moments.
“When it gets hard, I just think back to the times where I dreamed of this. If your 12-year-old self could see you doing this, she would be so proud and so happy and wouldn’t trade it for the world.”
#2 Gabriela’s older brother, Jaime Jaquez Jr., played basketball at UCLA and now plays for the Miami Heat in the NBA. She has learned a lot by watching his calm demeanor on the court.
His advice to her? “You have to be so good that your coach can’t take you off the floor.”
#3 The LA native, recognizes the impact of having both UCLA and USC ranked in the top-10 this year.
“I think it’s really amazing for Southern California basketball, but also women’s basketball as a whole.”
#4 She is known for being the fashionista of the team. If she could swap closets with anyone, she’d pick Hailey Bieber, Sofia Richie, and Kendall Jenner. But she has her eyes on teammate Kiki Rice’s Jordan shoe collection.
#5 Jaquez has a strict pregame ritual routine going into games.
“I do the same things. I’m always first to sprint in line after we warm up and smile the biggest smile to my coaches.”
Watch the full conversation on the Just Women’s Sports YouTube channel.
As part of our 1-v-1 video series, UCLA’s Camryn Brown sat down to interview her teammate Charisma Osborne.
Here are five things to know from our conversation with the graduate student guard from Moreno Valley, California.
#1 When she was recruited, Charisma had offers from both USC and UCLA basketball. She ultimately chose UCLA for the program's traditions and people. But she also had one special requirement of Coach Cori during her official visit.
“The ‘In My Feelings’ dance was brand new and big. Coach Cori doesn’t really dance much. I’ve gotten her out of her comfort zone a bit. I told her she had to do the dance on my visit. And she did it! And I told her if she did it, well then, I would commit.”
#2 Charisma was projected to be a top pick in last year’s WNBA draft, but chose to come back for another year at UCLA. She said she wanted another year with family and friends.
“And obviously I came back to win a championship.”
#3 Charisma’s expectations for this year’s NCAA Women's Basketball tournament?
“I expect us to have a lot of fun. I think sometimes that gets lost when there’s so much pressure and so many things going on. But to have a lot of fun and enjoy it. And I expect us to win. We’re such a good, talented team who works hard all the time and we love each other. We have so much fun with each other. So I just expect that to keep going.”
#4 She has one pregame ritual she can’t go without.
“I drink pickle juice before the game. And I love pickle juice. People think it’s gross, but it helps!
#5 If she had to compare her game to a current WNBA player, Charisma sees the most similarities with Jewel Lloyd.
“I like her game. I like her style. We’re similar in height. She plays really good defense and she’s a bucket. Kobe was her favorite player, too. I do see the similarities.”
Watch the full conversation on the Just Women’s Sports YouTube channel.
No. 2 UCLA beat No. 6 UConn basketball for the first time in the history of the program on Friday night, 78-67 — not for Paige Bueckers’ lack of trying.
Despite the Huskies receiving their second loss of the season at the Cayman Islands Classic, Bueckers performed exceedingly well. But even with her multiple team-leading outings, UConn has earned its second double-digit loss this season, its most in its first five games since the 1991-92 slate.
The Huskies’ struggles are best summed up by their head coach Geno Auriemma: “You can’t beat a really good team with one player.”
Bueckers’ 31 points against the Bruins came in at just under half of her squad’s total on the night. The senior guard is a consistent high-scorer, but without Azzi Fudd and Caroline Ducharme in the lineup, UConn is going to need more.
“It was disappointing that we didn’t get more contributions from more people. Our combinations are all screwed up right now, so that’s got to get sorted out. We struggled, we had our runs, we just didn’t have enough,” Auriemma said.
Aubrey Griffin went off on a few runs to register a good performance for the Huskies. She clocked 11 points, seven rebounds, four steals and a block.
“The way Aubrey played for long stretches in that game, that’s how she’s got to start the game,” Auriemma said. “Aubrey needs to do it before we get down 15 points. That’s the issue with some of our players, they just take a long time to get going.”
No other UConn players had notable performances against the Bruins. Even Aaliyah Edwards, the Huskies highest scorer last season, struggled in the Cayman Islands. She went 2-12 before fouling out late in the game.
“Basically, UCLA defended one player and was content to let anyone else have any shot they wanted and they didn’t make any,” Auriemma said. “… Other people are going to have to step up and have to make shots. We have to find a way to get some sort of cohesiveness on offense, we look disjointed a lot of times. I’ve got to fix that.”
No. 2 UCLA basketball remains undefeated this season, in no small part due to Kiki Rice’s contributions against No. 6 UConn.
The sophomore guard dropped 24 points en route to her program’s first-ever win against the Huskies. She also grabbed 11 rebounds and eight assists. She led her squad to its fifth win of the season in its toughest match so far, 78-67.
“We wanted her to come out with an attack mentality,” UCLA head coach Cori Close said to Michael Voepel. “She has put so much work in. She’s just been a rock star for us.”
Charisma Osborne and Lauren Betts also showed out at the Cayman Islands Classic with 18 and 13 points, respectively.
“We really were confident that if we executed the game plan, that we were going to win,” Close said to the Associated Press. “I say that with great respect (for UConn) but I really believe in what this team is building.”
Paige Bueckers had a standout night for the Huskies, leading all scorers with her 31 points — almost half of UConn’s total. But no one else on the team scored more than 11 points. And head coach Geno Auriemma does not believe that is enough to win games.
“You can’t beat a really good team with one player,” Auriemma said. “It was disappointing that we didn’t get more contributions from more people. Our combinations are all screwed up right now, so that’s got to get sorted out.. We struggled, we had our runs, we just didn’t have enough.”
The best time of the year is here, with the NCAA women’s soccer tournament set to kick off on Friday, Nov. 10.
A total of 64 teams are set to compete for the national title, with defending champion UCLA among them after the Bruins took home the Pac-12 conference crown. They are joined by Florida State, Clemson and BYU as No. 1 seeds in the tournament.
Four teams will play in the tournament for the first time: Idaho, Maine, Ohio and Towson. Check out the full bracket here.
The first round will be played Nov. 10-12, and the second and third rounds will take place on Nov. 17 and 19. The quarterfinals will take place on Nov. 24-25.
This year’s College Cup will take place in Cary, North Carolina, at WakeMed Soccer Park on Dec. 1 and 4. The first semifinal will be played on Friday, Dec. 1, at 6 p.m. ET, with the second semifinal at 8:30 p.m. ET.
The national championship will kick off at 6 p.m. ET Monday, Dec. 5. The College Cup matches will be televised on ESPNU.
NCAA women’s soccer tournament: Schedule
- Round of 64: Nov. 10-12
- Round of 32: Nov. 17
- Round of 16: Nov. 19
- Quarterfinals: Nov. 24-25
- Semifinals: Dec. 1
- Championship: Dec. 4
The U.S. women’s national team is preparing to welcome its next head coach. And as the new chapter begins, college soccer stars could get their chances on the USWNT roster.
With the NCAA tournament kicking off Friday, Just Women’s Sports highlights four players who deserve a look from incoming USWNT coach Emma Hayes.
The recent debuts of Mia Fishel, 22, and Jaedyn Shaw, 18, underscored the shift in the national team, as a youth movement is beginning to take over in the presence of veterans. Already, Fishel and Shaw have provided a sneak peek at what the future could look like, with each scoring a goal in the last match against Colombia.
Our previous edition of this list picked out NWSL players who should get USWNT consideration. This time around, we turn to the college ranks to spotlight prospects who could receive call-ups in 2024.
Trinity Byars, 20, Texas
A standout for Texas, which claimed a No. 5 seed in the 64-team bracket, Byars has the abilities to be a top pick in the 2024 NWSL draft. Through three seasons with the Longhorns, she has had 46 goals and 32 assists in 64 games. She also was an all-state sprinter in high school, making her an explosive forward with the power to outrun opposing defenses – a skill which has helped other USWNT forwards, including Mallory Swanson.
While the USWNT certainly has options at forward, Byars could warrant a look as the team retires star players such as Megan Rapinoe. She also has extensive youth experience, including being nominated for U.S. Soccer’s Young Female Player of the Year award in 2019.
Lexi Missimo, 20, Texas
Missimo is another star out of of Texas that has spent time in the USWNT’s youth system. The midfielder has been linked to both Manchester City and Arsenal, and she has at times been compared to the likes of Lindsey Horan, Rose Lavelle and Sam Mewis.
Considering what those three have accomplished, Missimo could be the next big thing for the USWNT midfield.
Ayo Oke, 20, UCLA
Oke transferred to UCLA from Cal ahead of the 2023 season, and she and the Bruins enter the NCAA tournament with a No. 1 seed. In the 2022 season, she posted nine assists as a right back.
The 20-year-old defender also has youth national team experience, playing as a starter on the U-23 national team in March 2023. She also played at the U-20 Women’s World Cup and helped the U.S. to the U-20 Concacaf Championship in 2022.
She’s been a part of U.S. Soccer’s youth system since the U-15 age group, and as the USWNT looks to replace aging defenders (and Emily Sonnett seemingly transitions to the midfield), Oke deserves a look.
Reilyn Turner, 21, UCLA
Reilyn Turner, who became the first college athlete to sign an NIL deal with Nike, has been a star for UCLA in three seasons. In 2022, she was named the Most Outstanding Player at the College Cup, helping UCLA to the national championship. And in 2023, she is putting together her best year to date, with 10 goals and six assists through 18 games played.
While Turner would have to compete against a stacked forward group on the USWNT, she has the ability to show up in big moments. A fixture on U.S. youth national teams, she should see a senior USWNT call-up soon.
Defending champion LSU basketball is the odds-on favorite to win another NCAA title this upcoming season.
The Tigers lead the pack both on FanDuel Sportsbook (+230) and DraftKings Sportsbook (+300). UConn comes in just behind them, at +600 on FanDuel and +500 on DraftKings, even after the Huskies snapped their Final Four streak in 2023.
LSU and UConn also hold No. 1 seeds in ESPN’s preseason bracketology. In the 2023 edition of March Madness, LSU entered with a No. 3 seed, and UConn with a No. 2 seed.
While 2023 runner-up Iowa sits immediately behind LSU and UConn in the betting odds, at +800 on FanDuel and +900 on DraftKings, ESPN projects Iowa as a No. 2 seed for the NCAA Tournament. Ohio State and UCLA are the other two top seeds in the preseason prediction.
South Carolina entered the 2023 postseason as the No. 1 overall seed and as a huge favorite for the title. But after losing their entire starting lineup, the Gamecocks are fifth in championship odds on DraftKings (+1100), sixth on FanDuel (+1300) and a No. 2 seed in ESPN’s bracketology.
NCAA women’s basketball: 2024 national championship odds
These are the top 16 teams in betting odds for the 2024 national championship, as listed by FanDuel Sportsbook on Oct. 31.
- LSU (+230)
- UConn (+600)
- Iowa (+800)
- Utah (+1100)
- Indiana (+1100)
- South Carolina (+1300)
- Stanford (+1300)
- UCLA (+1700)
- Ohio State (+1700)
- Notre Dame (+1700)
- Maryland (+2700)
- Tennessee (+2700)
- Texas (+2700)
- Ole Miss (+5000)
- Duke (+5000)
- Baylor (+5000)
Reigning champions Angel Reese, Kim Mulkey and LSU top the preseason AP Top 25 poll, while UConn jumped to second.
The Huskies hopped national runner-up Iowa, so the top three teams feature the three of the top players in the nation in Reese, Caitlin Clark and Paige Bueckers. The No. 2 ranking also signals a return to prominence for UConn, which crashed out in the Sweet 16 in the NCAA Tournament last season.
UCLA and Tennessee both made the biggest jumps from last season’s final poll, with the Lady Vols up 13 spots to No. 11. The Bruins, meanwhile, hopped 10 spots to No. 4.
Utah, South Carolina, Ohio State, Virginia Tech, Indiana and Notre Dame round out the top 10.
The Tigers never before have entered the season with the No. 1 spot in the preseason poll. They received 35 of 36 total votes, with UConn receiving the other top vote. UConn has been ranked for 565 consecutive weeks, tying Tennessee’s record.
LSU has been ranked second before, in 1977, and were third in 2004 and 2005. The defending champions return Reese and Flau’jae Johnson, and they added Hailey Van Lith and Aneesah Morrow in the offseason to head coach Mulkey’s stacked roster.
“We appreciate the recognition of being the No. 1 ranked team going into the season and it is something we will embrace,” Mulkey told the Associated Press. “A ranking doesn’t win championships, but it brings great awareness to our program and our school. We want to be ranked No. 1 at the end of the season.”
Stanford is at No. 15, the lowest mark for the Cardinal since 2015. Meanwhile, Ole Miss is ranked in the preseason poll for the first time since 1995, while Illinois is ranked for the first time since 1999.
AP Top 25: Preseason poll
- LSU
- UConn
- Iowa
- UCLA
- Utah
- South Carolina
- Ohio State
- Virginia Tech
- Indiana
- Notre Dame
- Tennessee
- Ole Miss
- Texas
- Maryland
- Stanford
- North Carolina
- Louisville
- Florida State
- Baylor
- Colorado
- USC
- Creighton
- Illinois
- Washington State
- Mississippi State
Former No. 1 recruit Lauren Betts is transferring to UCLA from Stanford, and the balance of women’s basketball power in California could be shifting with her.
With the transfer decision, the Bruins will have the No. 1 and No. 2 prospects from the 2022 class, with Betts joining Bruins guard Kiki Rice.
Rice made the Pac-12 all-freshman team in 2023, averaging 11.6 points, 4.5 rebounds and 3.0 assists en route to UCLA’s first NCAA Sweet 16 appearance since 2019 — making it one round farther than Stanford, which lost in the second round. UCLA also upset Stanford in the semifinals of the Pac-12 tournament.
The addition of a 6-foot-7 center in Betts makes UCLA an even bigger threat in the upcoming season, particularly as seniors Charisma Osborne and Camryn Brown have announced they will be staying for a fifth year.
Osborne originally declared the draft but withdrew her name to stay with the Bruins. She has been a major part of the Bruins lineup, averaging 15.9 points and 5.9 rebounds per game last season.
Additionally, the team will add McDonald’s All-American forward Amanda Muse as a highly-touted recruit.