PHOENIX — UCLA's women's basketball team used the painful memory of a 34-point Final Four loss to UConn last season as fuel for a remarkable turnaround. Senior Lauren Betts and her teammates repeatedly watched the game film, channeling their frustration into a renewed focus on mental toughness for the 2025-26 campaign.
The Bruins, featuring six seniors, made psychological preparation a cornerstone of their spring workouts. Assistant coach Tasha Brown implemented individualized reset routines for each player, helping them move past mistakes during games. This focus was tested in a gritty 51-44 Final Four victory over Texas, where UCLA committed 23 turnovers but repeatedly responded with defensive stops.
"We do so much mental work," Betts said. "We're constantly trying to improve our mental space and our mental toughness." Players like Kiki Rice and Gabriela Jaquez emphasized special situation drills, preparing for any game scenario. This collective resilience, forged from last year's disappointment, has the Bruins poised for their first NCAA-era national championship as they face South Carolina on Sunday.