Cori Close, UCLA agree to contract extension through 2029-30 season

Cori Close has coached the UCLA women since 2011, logging 358 wins so far. Christian Petersen / Getty Images Share articleUCLA women’s basketball coach Cori Close will be with the program through at least the 2029-30 season after signing a contract extension. The Bruins, fresh off their first women’s NCAA national championship (they also won a title in 1978 under the Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women), announced the extension in a statement Tuesday. The school did not disclose the deal’s financial details. “We are extremely proud of what Cori has accomplished in leading our young women,” athletic director Martin Jarmond said. “Winning a national championship is a tremendous achievement, but what truly stands out with Cori is the character, leadership and daily commitment she and her staff bring to help developing her players into the best versions of themselves. We are very fortunate to have Cori leading this program, and we couldn’t be more excited about the future of this team.” Close has coached UCLA since 2011 and built a 358-144 record at the program’s helm, becoming the first UCLA women’s basketball coach to pass 300 wins. Under Close, the Bruins have made 10 NCAA Tournament appearances and reached the Final Four twice, including their championship run last season. It all culminated in the Bruins’ 79-51 win over South Carolina in the national title game. The last two seasons earned Close back-to-back honors as the nation’s best women’s basketball coach by the U.S. Basketball Writers Association, adding to a list of accolades that includes a sweep of the Associated Press, Naismith and Women’s Basketball Coaches Association coach of the year awards in 2024-25. She also took home last year’s Big Ten Coach of the Year award after winning Pac-12 Coach of the Year in 2019. “I love being here in Westwood, and I am so excited for what the future holds,” Close said in a statement released by UCLA. “… It fills me with such joy to share this with our village, and I hope we can continue to make our Bruin faithful proud.” Six UCLA players were selected in last month’s WNBA Draft, including five picked in the first round. Both are records, breaking marks set by UConn in 2002, when it had four players drafted in the first round. The Washington Mystics selected center Lauren Betts at No. 4, the Chicago Sky took guard Gabriela Jaquez at No. 5 and the expansion Toronto Tempo selected Kiki Rice at No. 6. Angela Dugalić went at No. 9, also to the Mystics, and the Connecticut Sun picked Gianna Kneepkens at No. 15. Charlisse Leger-Walker rounded out the UCLA draftees at No. 19, also heading to the Sun. Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms