As the excitement builds around the 2025 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament, the UCLA Bruins stand poised to make a significant impact. Preparing to host the opening games at Pauley Pavilion, UCLA earned the top overall seed for the tournament and will face off against No. 16 Southern University on March 21, 2025, at 10 p.m. ET. This is not just another game; it's the beginning of their quest for a coveted national championship.
What’s remarkable about this season isn't just the Bruins’ performance on the court, but the extraordinary journey that brought them here. Over the past season, the Bruins have logged an astonishing 36,116 miles in the air. That’s equivalent to one and a half trips around the globe or enough to send them one-seventh of the way to the moon, and it totals about 78 hours and 16 minutes of air travel. Guard Kiki Rice shared her perspective, saying, “It felt like we were in the air for a while, honestly. But at the same time, it felt like it’s what we do. We get our schedule, we get on the plane, we leave L.A., we land wherever we land, and we get to work.”
The Bruins’ transition to the Big Ten has drastically increased their travel demands, with the team flying 18,038 miles for conference games—more than double the 7,071 miles they flew during their last season in the Pac-12. Coach Cori Close, understanding the challenges of long-distance travel, scheduled several cross-country trips ahead of the conference shift to prepare her players for the upcoming season. This included intense matchups like a game against South Carolina, which involved a grueling 2,130-mile flight.
Each road trip has necessitated a careful balance of preparation and recovery to maintain the players’ performance. The Bruins spent 30 nights in hotels and had a strict sleep goal of nine hours per night. Close worked with trainers, dietitians, and sleep scientists to prioritize rest and recovery, a strategy that has proven critical as they navigate the demands of high-level competition.
Nutrition has also played a vital role in their success. The players consumed a substantial amount of tart cherry juice concentrate—12.25 cups per player over the season—as part of their routine to reduce inflammation and aid in sleep. “That was beneficial,” said performance dietician Delaney Smith. “It just became habit for the athletes.” The team also remained vigilant about hydration, ensuring each player drank 16 ounces of water for every hour spent in flight, summing up to nearly 140 gallons of water consumed across the entire team this season.
On the court, the Bruins have shown their mettle, winning the Big Ten Championship and earning their place as the No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. Leading the charge is Lauren Betts, a standout player averaging 19.6 points, 9.7 rebounds, and 2.9 blocks per game. Betts’ dominance in the post allows UCLA to leverage her physical presence to create opportunities for her teammates, making them a formidable force in the tournament.
The matchup in the first round will also see the No. 8 Richmond team facing the No. 9 Georgia Tech at 7:30 p.m. ET on the same day. The stakes are high as the Bruins aim to break through the Elite Eight barrier—something they’ve struggled to achieve in recent years.
Fans can expect a thrilling atmosphere in Los Angeles, where tickets for the March Madness games are available on platforms like StubHub. An all-sessions pass is currently priced at a minimum of $111 while a first round-only ticket can be purchased for as low as $38, making it accessible for many fans to witness the action live.
As the tournament progresses, UCLA's path to the Final Four will not be easy. Analysts anticipate tough competition, with dark horse predictions suggesting teams like Ole Miss could challenge the Bruins, potentially halting their march to glory in the Sweet 16. Yet with the depth, skill, and strategic groundwork they’ve laid throughout the season, it’s clear UCLA is not just participating; they’re contenders hungry for a championship.
As we look forward to the start of the tournament on March 19, UCLA’s blend of experience, meticulous preparation, and raw talent perfectly positions them to make a deep run. With just two more flights to navigate after their upcoming games, fans are hopeful that this could finally be the year the Bruins capture their first national title in women’s basketball.
UCLA’s journey serves as a reminder of the dedication it takes not just to be in the spotlight but to shine in it during March Madness. The organizational efforts behind the scenes and the tireless commitment from every player will either culminate in long-awaited success or invigorate them for the next season’s endeavors.
The eyes of the basketball world are on UCLA, and the Bruins are ready to take flight.
