A new era for UCLA Athletics is here. After 96 years in the “Conference of Champions,” UCLA is now a member of the Big Ten. Before the inaugural year, Daily Bruin Sports staff break down the best- and worst-case scenarios for each team, as well as a key storyline to follow throughout each season.
Baseball
Kai Dizon, assistant Sports editor
Best case: NCAA Regionals qualification
Plastered on the wall at the Jackie Robinson Stadium are the words “Road to Omaha.” Before the Bruins can walk down that road, however, they’ll need to make the NCAA tournament and win their regional and super regional. UCLA has not made the tournament since 2022, but with a returning rising sophomore trio of shortstop Roch Cholowsky, third baseman Roman Martin and first baseman Mulivai Levu – who ranked second, third and fourth in OPS among Bruin hitters with at least 100 plate appearances, respectively – there could be enough firepower to push the Bruins back to the postseason.
Worst case: Finish toward the Big Ten cellar
UCLA was ranked No. 22 in the nation heading into the 2024 season. Finishing 19-33 and 9-21 in conference play, it was one of two teams to miss the Pac-12 tournament – making it the Bruins’ worst season since 2005. Now, UCLA is bidding farewell to its best starting pitcher, relief pitcher and hitter. A combined 10 players will be lost to graduation, the transfer portal and the MLB Draft. If a year’s experience hasn’t properly aged the Bruins’ young squad, primarily the rising sophomore class, they could be in for a similar ride to 2024 – only with far longer plane flights.
Storyline to watch: John Savage’s contract year
In 2013 – fresh off of UCLA baseball’s first-ever NCAA title – coach John Savage signed a long-term deal that kept him in Westwood through the 2025 season. Besides the national championship, Savage led UCLA to Omaha, Nebraska, in three out of four years between 2010 and 2013, and he built a player base highlighted by 2011 MLB Draft No. 1 overall pick Gerrit Cole. Since 2013, the Bruins have failed to make it back to the College World Series – appearing in just one super regional in the last 10 seasons and missing the NCAA regionals the past two. While Savage hasn’t spoken to his future in blue and gold or if he’d rather ride off into the sunset, it’s nonetheless a big season for the coach’s legacy with the Bruins.
Basketball (men’s)
Ira Gorawara, Sports editor
Best case: Sweet 16 appearance
Coach Mick Cronin sealed his 2024-2025 roster just 55 days after the final buzzer of last season. In an effort to compensate for a middling season and early transfer portal entrants, Cronin toiled in the portal – and it paid dividends. The nation’s No. 9 transfer class boasts two-time Pac-12 All-Defensive Team member and rising senior guard Kobe Johnson from USC, rising sophomore guard/forward Eric Dailey, rising junior forward Tyler Bilodeau, rising junior forward William Kyle III and rising redshirt senior guard Dominick Harris – all of whom were among the top three leading scorers in their previous schools. With expertise and experience teeming in the returning lineup, Cronin will relish in the return of his leading guard triumvirate – rising junior Dylan Andrews, rising sophomore Sebastian Mack and rising senior Lazar Stefanovic. UCLA is ranked within the top 25 in ESPN’s preseason poll, and that berth could be crystallized come November.
Worst case: Early exit in the NCAA Tournament
In the wake of four NBA draftees after the 2022-2023 season, UCLA was plunged into renovation. Through Cronin’s first sub-.500 season, the Bruins’ beacon was Adem Bona. The 6-foot-10 reigning Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year was a nightmare for opponents last season and demonstrated his two-way mettle as an offensive motor. But his departure to the NBA could leave the Bruins in search of a reliable anchor on both ends of the floor. If Cronin’s strategic acquisitions don’t click, his meticulous work in the portal could end up in vain.
Storyline to watch: Stability in a restructured lineup
Although most of the Bruins’ starting lineup will be back next season, the influx of offensive firepower might force Cronin to reconsider his starting lineup. And in its inaugural year in the Big Ten – a conference known for physicality and rugged play – UCLA may have to prioritize defensive consistency. The Bruins’ incoming freshman class – featuring two four-star guards – as well as their incoming transfers and veteran returners each show promise individually, but how Cronin configures his roster could prove the team’s fate.
Basketball (women’s)
Sabrina Messiha, assistant Sports editor
Best case: Final Four appearance
The Bruins proved their winning mentality and capability last season. Then-sophomore center Lauren Betts was as impactful as the team could have hoped for, averaging 14.9 points and 9.3 rebounds per game. Her presence as a 6-foot-7 center was the factor the Bruins were missing in previous seasons. It seemed that while the foundation for a successful March Madness run was possible, struggles and careless errors led to UCLA’s loss to LSU in the Sweet Sixteen. However, the Bruins will return their starting rising junior trio and welcome key transfers. If UCLA can maintain its momentum, it will have every tool needed to make its first Final Four appearance.
Worst case: Loss in the Sweet 16
Midseason losses, Betts’ four-game absence and a third-place finish in the Pac-12 meant instability for the Bruins. After starting the season with a 14-0 run and peaking at No. 2 in the nation, the Bruins fell to the Trojans in the Pac-12 semifinals. Difficulties both on and off the court plagued UCLA’s roster last season. With Emily Bessoir’s ACL injury and Betts’ midseason absence, adjustments were arduous for the team to make. Should those issues remain, the Bruins may find themselves stuck in the same position.
Storyline to watch: Impact of transfers
Last season, Oregon State and Washington State both prevailed over UCLA, despite strong fourth-quarter attempts to bring the win to Westwood. But instead of counting their losses, the Bruins will make Westwood home to former Oregon State forward Timea Gardiner and former Washington State guard Charlisse Leger-Walker. Gardiner averaged a 44.5% field goal percentage last season, while Leger-Walker averaged 13.2 points per game. With the losses of starting guard Charisma Osborne, Bessoir and Lina Sontag, the incoming transfers have the opportunity to fill the shoes of past Bruins.
Beach volleyball
Sevginaz Gurleyici, Daily Bruin contributor
Best case: National champions
In the nine years that beach volleyball has been an NCAA-recognized sport, the championship title has gone to either UCLA or USC. The Bruins have claimed the victory twice, with the remaining six going to the Trojans. In the 2024 tournament, the championship game once again came down to the two rivals. Despite falling to USC 3-0, UCLA will have its redemption in 2025. If the Bruins continue to grow under coach Jenny Johnson Jordan, there is no doubt they can come home victorious next year.
Worst case: Loss in semifinals
If history is known to repeat itself, the risk remains that the Bruins’ rival may once again take home the championship title. UCLA was unable to rise to the occasion and knock USC beach volleyball off of its pedestal in 2024, continuing the Bruins’ four-year streak of losses in the NCAA tournament. In the past two years, UCLA has managed to make it to the championship game against USC. However, with key losses of graduate students in their one and two pairs – alumni Lexy Denaburg and Devon Newberry, respectively – there is still a chance that the Bruins will not make it to the final stage this time around.
Storyline to watch: Jenny Johnson Jordan’s second year as head coach
The Bruins spent the past season adapting to a new head coach after former assistant coach Johnson Jordan stepped into her new role as the second head coach in program history. The team will continue to face change as it is set to enter the MPSF in 2025, with beach volleyball entering the conference as a new sport. To carry them through this change will be Johnson Jordan. No longer in her rookie year as head coach, it will be crucial to see how Johnson Jordan continues to support and grow the program.
Cross country
Aaron Doyle, assistant Sports editor
Best case: Top 10 in the Big Ten championship
UCLA cross country’s women and men placed seventh and eighth, respectively, at the 2023 Pac-12 championships. In one of the most competitive conferences, the Big Ten will be different for the Bruins. No Bruin was named to the All-Pac-12 team in 2023, yet UCLA still managed a top-10 finish at the conference championships. In 2024, UCLA could remain in the conference’s top 10 – and hopefully with some All-Big-Ten honorees.
Worst case: Falling short of improvement
With new program director Joanna Hayes at the helm, UCLA cross country has the potential to finish big. Throughout 2023, the Bruins failed to notch a top-10 finish in any of their meets. The program hasn’t garnered any All-American recognitions for men since 2016 and women since 2019. UCLA’s last top-10 finish at the national championship was in 2003. 21 years later, expectations are high for Hayes after success leading USC from 2017 to 2024. During her eight-year tenure, Hayes was responsible for sending athletes including NCAA champion Anna Cockrell to the Olympic Games. If Hayes’ addition to the staff doesn’t lead to improvement, the Bruins will have to rethink their strategies going forward.
Storyline to watch: Mia Kane’s potential
Mia Kane has led the Bruins on multiple occasions. At the Pac-12 championships in 2023, the rising senior led all Bruins in the 6000-meter dash, placing 31st. Her time would have won the Big Ten championship in the event, proving her potential after UCLA’s conference realignment. While each race proves to be different, Kane will be the one to watch next season if she replicates that performance in the Big Ten.
Football
Matthew Niiya, Daily Bruin contributor
Best case: Bowl game victory
Capping the 2023 season with victory at the Los Angeles Bowl, UCLA will enter its 2024 campaign with a chance to win back-to-back bowl games – a feat it hasn’t accomplished since the 2013 and 2014 seasons. Rising redshirt senior quarterback Ethan Garbers will headline the Bruins’ offense – a unit no longer plagued by inconsistency – next year. Although the Bruins are entering a new conference with unfamiliar foes, their schedule put luck on their side – powerhouses Ohio State and Michigan are not on their slate. While UCLA may not compete for a conference championship in its inaugural season in the Big Ten, an eight-win year and bowl game victory are well within reach for the Big Ten debutant.
Worst case: Three wins
While much of the talent on the offensive side of the ball will return, the same cannot be said for the defense. The Bruins’ leaders in sacks, tackles and interceptions have all departed for the NFL. Compounding the loss, former defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn – who transformed his unit into the 14th-best scoring defense in the FBS last season – defected to crosstown rival USC. With two starting members of the secondary also following Lynn to the Trojans, UCLA is left with many holes to fill. An inability to stop the run and pass could prove fatal in a season with few pushovers and numerous long flights.
Storyline to watch: DeShaun Foster’s first year as head coach
The first-time head coach has been the opposite of his predecessor in many respects. Former coach Chip Kelly rose to prominence at Oregon as a play-caller, leading the Ducks to the 2011 BCS national championship game. On the other hand, DeShaun Foster has yet to call a play at the collegiate level. A former UCLA running back, Foster has thoroughly embraced name, image and likeness and appealed to the Bruin fanbase – something Kelly was reluctant to do in his time at the helm. How Foster handles recruiting, conference realignment and a new era of college football will be equally as important as results on the gridiron.
Golf (men’s)
Owen Pesenhofer, Daily Bruin contributor
Best case: Mid-tier Big Ten
UCLA will enter its third season under coach Armen Kirakossian, and with it comes a move to the Big Ten. Rising seniors Omar Morales and Pablo Ereño will return for another year, in which Morales hopes to continue playing at a level that earned him Third Team All-American Honors. Rising sophomore Luke Powell also has a chance to build off a freshman campaign in which he made the Pac-12 All-Freshman Team and the All-Pac-12 Second Team. Led by these three, the Bruins can adjust well to their new conference.
Worst case: Low-tier Big Ten
Conference transitioning comes after an unfavorable performance in the Pac-12 championships and little success in NCAA regionals for the Bruins. Illinois cruised to the top spot in the NCAA championships before being upset in the quarterfinals, while Ohio State lost in the semifinals against eventual champions Auburn. With the addition of former Pac-12 standouts such as Oregon and Washington to the Big Ten, coupled with the increased travel demands that come with the conference realignment, the Bruins may find themselves near the bottom of their conference.
Storyline to watch: Omar Morales
While the Bruins enter a season filled with uncertainty, there is little doubt who will lead them on the course. Ranked as the world’s No. 14 amateur, Morales can build upon a summer of golf in which he competed at the United States Open in Pinehurst, North Carolina; the Arnold Palmer Cup in Ireland; and the Western Amateur. With uncertainty surrounding the team’s performance in the Big Ten, eyes may be on Morales to exceed expectations for the Bruins to have a chance at any postseason success.
Golf (women’s)
Chloe Agas, Daily Bruin reporter
Best case: National champions
Despite a heartbreaking loss, UCLA women’s golf opened a window of opportunity by reaching the final round against Stanford, carving a chance to capture its first NCAA title in 13 years. UCLA women’s golf’s growth over the past year has shown its potential to foster another opportunity to make it to the NCAA final – and this time possibly capture the title. With head coach Alicia Um Holmes, UCLA continues to grow and strengthen the roster with experienced talent, including rising seniors Zoe Antoinette Campos and Caroline Canales. This season’s roster also welcomes the new talents of rising freshmen Angela Liu and Francesca Fiorellini, adding to a promising chapter as UCLA enters the Big Ten.
Worst case: Low-place finish at NCAA regionals
With coaching staff changes and progress made throughout the season, the potential was evident as UCLA finished fourth at the NCAA regionals tournament this year in Las Vegas and qualified the Bruins for the NCAA finals. The arrival of new talent and adjusting to a new conference may present a challenge as the Bruins navigate the fall and spring seasons leading up to regionals. However, with last season’s progress under the new coaching team, an ill fate may not be as foreshadowed as previous seasons.
Storyline to watch: Zoe Antoinette Campos
Campos will continue competing this summer for Team USA at the Curtis Cup after contributing to the team that captured the Arnold Palmer Cup earlier this summer in Ireland. The senior was recently named to the WGCA First Team All-American, topping off the 2023-2024 season with 21 rounds played under par. Campos was also the seventh Bruin in program history to medal at an NCAA regional, receiving co-medalist honors at the NCAA Las Vegas regional. With her experience in various national and international tournaments, Campos serves as a pillar and leader as new talent enters the prospective 2024-2025 roster.
Gymnastics
Samantha Garcia, Daily Bruin staff
Best case: NCAA championships appearance
The Bruins are set for a redemption season after being eliminated in the first round of NCAA regionals. In 2025, UCLA will return several key gymnasts who could use their experience to send the Bruins back to nationals. Rising fifth-year senior Chae Campbell – an eight-time All-American – will return alongside a trio of Olympians in rising junior Jordan Chiles and rising seniors Brooklyn Moors and Emma Malabuyo. Additionally, UCLA will welcome six new freshmen, including three-time development program national champion Macy McGowan and Belgian national team member Mika Webster-Longin. Despite losing the 2024 Pac-12 Gymnast of the Year, the Bruins’ roster is equipped with the tools that could send them back to the NCAA Championships.
Worst case: Mid- to top-tier finish in Big Ten
UCLA struggled with consistency across all events last year. With experienced returners alongside six decorated incoming freshmen, the Bruins need to find a way to be successful on every event even in the presence of pressure. Injuries could also spark trouble for the Bruins. UCLA needs to remain healthy to avoid the impact it felt when key contributors, such as Margzetta Frazier and Chae Campbell, were out with injury last season. The Bruins’ main competition in the Big Ten will be Michigan State – which won the conference title for the first time in program history in 2024. Four Big Ten programs finished the season ranked above UCLA – Michigan State, Minnesota, Ohio State and Penn State.
Storyline to watch: A trio of Olympians
UCLA gymnastics will host three Olympians on its roster going into next season. Emma Malabuyo, a 2024 Olympian for the Philippines, and Brooklyn Moors, a 2020 Tokyo Olympian, headline the senior class after consistently appearing in the Bruins’ lineups last season. 2024 Paris Olympic champion Jordan Chiles will return to UCLA after deferring the 2024 season to train for the Olympics. The two-time Olympian’s return to UCLA could be pivotal in its quest to return to the national championships next season.
Rowing
Una O’Farrell, assistant Sports editor
Best case: Top 10 in the Big Ten
The Bruins are poised to turn a new page as they enter the Big Ten. After UCLA’s second-to-last finish in the Pac-12 tournament concluded its 2023 season, new environments bring fresh opportunities. The team will no longer face Stanford – the Pac-12 champion and NCAA runner-up – strengthening its chances to rise in conference rankings. While top-five NCAA finisher Washington will follow UCLA in its move to the Big Ten, coach Previn Chandraratna’s squad may find its footing against new opponents. The change in competition presents the Bruins with an opportunity to assert dominance early in their season.
Worst case: Last place in conference
In 2024, the Bruins narrowly escaped last place. In the final Pac-12 championship tournament, the team finished sixth of seven teams – just one place better than its last-place finish in 2023. Moving to the Big Ten presents new challenges, as the conference features highly competitive teams such as Ohio State, Michigan and Indiana that consistently rank in the top 15 nationally. In the 2024 Big Ten Invitational, UCLA’s varsity four as well as its first and second varsity eights all finished in last place against future opponents. If the Bruins fail to build cohesion across their team and integrate new talent effectively, another last-place finish could be on the horizon.
Storyline to watch: Transition to Big Ten
The Big Ten is home to some of the nation’s top rowing programs, including Michigan – the Big Ten champions in three of the last four years – and Ohio State, which finished 12th at the 2024 NCAA tournament. The transition offers opportunities for growth and learning from some of the most successful programs in the nation, but it also presents challenges in maintaining team cohesion and meeting high expectations. As the Bruins enter the Big Ten as underdogs, only time will tell if they can rise to the occasion.
Soccer (men’s)
Felicia Keller, Daily Bruin senior staff
Best case: Big Ten champions
UCLA went out swinging in the Pac-12’s final year, finishing 9-4-5 and winning the Pac-12 championship. Going forward, the program has the pieces to push full steam ahead in the Big Ten, where Indiana and Penn State led the way last season. The Bruins should match up well in their new conference, as the Hoosiers’ automatic bid from winning the conference tournament earned them the Big Ten’s only NCAA tournament appearance – compared to the Pac-12’s three of six teams that made their way into the tournament.
Worst case: Lose big in Big Ten, miss out on NCAA tournament
The Bruins are adding a lot of new opponents to their schedule in 2024 – a far cry from the familiar nature of the five opponents in the Pac-12. UCLA will face 10 teams in regular season Big Ten play, in addition to a conference tournament at the end of the season. Too much change could prove too much to overcome for the Bruins, and they could land in the lower echelons of the Big Ten rankings – and out of the NCAA tournament with it.
Storyline to watch: Who scores the goals?
Last year’s top three goal scorers have all left, leaving rising graduate student forward Andre Ochoa’s four goals at the top of the list on next year’s roster. The Bruins will need their incoming talent to rise to the occasion and start burying goals, as well as for 2023’s underclassmen to take on new and expanded roles. Rising junior forward and transfer Nikolai Rojel should feature frequently after transferring midyear and joining the team for spring training. Rising junior midfielder Cam Wilkerson should also elevate his game further after a three-goal performance last year. More can be expected from further transfers that coach Ryan Jorden may announce, as well as the incoming freshman class, but figuring out who will capitalize on the quality chances the midfield can create will be key for his team this fall.
Soccer (women’s)
Cecilia Schmitz, Daily Bruin senior staff
Best case: National champions
Many of the same players who helped UCLA claim the 2022 national championship will be returning to Westwood with a chance to find glory once again. Beyond its ring-bearing returners, the team also boasts the No. 2 recruiting class in the country and a fruitful transfer portal collection. Rising graduate student defender Ayo Oke brought her speed and skill to the Bruins’ backline after transferring from California last season. Furthermore, Pac-12 Goalkeeper of the Year and rising graduate student Ryan Campbell announced she would make the move down the coast from Stanford to UCLA. If UCLA can find the right chemistry once again, its third title may very well be on the near horizon.
Worst case: Mid-tier Big Ten performance
In 2021, UC Irvine eliminated UCLA in the first round of the NCAA tournament. The following year, UCLA triumphantly claimed the national championship. Then in 2023, the Bruins once again fell to the Anteaters in the first round of the NCAA tournament. In accordance with the pattern, it would be logical to assume that UCLA may repeat the cycle again and add a third trophy to its collection. But UCLA’s transition to the Big Ten means the loss of many of its familiar opponents and a brand new lineup featuring collegiate soccer powerhouses Penn State and Wisconsin. The Bruins have also never traveled this far for conference play in the Pac-12. With this familiarity upended, the Bruins may rise to the challenge – or, they may flounder, resigned to a middle-of-the-road conference performance.
Storyline to watch: Filling in the attacking gap
Dynamic forwards Reilyn Turner and Ally Cook, last season’s top two goal-scorers, declared for the NWSL draft. The Bruins’ attacking cohort will thus likely be anchored by rising graduate student forward Lexi Wright and rising graduate student midfielder/forward Sunshine Fontes, who was injured last season. From her tenured players, coach Margueritte Aozasa could start rising junior forwards America Frias and Bridgette Marin-Valencia, as well as rising sophomore forwards Val Vargas and Taylor Cheatham. Furthermore, the squad welcomed rising freshman forward Bella Winn in the spring, alongside rising redshirt sophomore forward Lily Boyden from the transfer portal. Aozasa has many options for who to start, and she may experiment with different combinations to figure out the best goal-scoring chemistry.
Softball
Samantha Garcia, Daily Bruin staff
Best case: Women’s College World Series semifinals
UCLA’s revamped pitching staff will likely take the squad far into the postseason and land it a spot in the Women’s College World Series. No. 1 recruit Addisen Fisher will add depth to a pitching staff that heavily relied on only two pitchers. No. 3 recruit Sofia Mujica – the top catcher in the 2024 recruiting class – will replace Pac-12 home run and slugging percentage leader Sharlize Palacios behind the plate. In the outfield, No. 8 recruit Rylee Slimp will join rising junior utility and Team USA member Megan Grant. Adding a trio of top 10 prospects to a team with WCWS experience will fill roster gaps after last season and give the Bruins a shot at another deep postseason run.
Worst case: Second place in Big Ten
Compared to its competitors in the Pac-12, UCLA softball will face a much weaker mix of opponents in the Big Ten. The Pac-12 featured five top-25 NCAA teams – three of which made it to the 2024 Women’s College World Series. The Big Ten only includes one other top-25 team in Northwestern, which ranked No. 23 at the end of the last season. Considering that UCLA finished the season in Oklahoma City ranked No. 5, the odds of a conference championship are pointing in the Bruins’ favor. But, anything can happen on the softball field, and UCLA is not immune to falling short. The Bruins may fall to another Big Ten team – but they shouldn’t finish lower than second place.
Storyline to watch: Pitching staff
At the beginning of last season, UCLA softball’s pitching staff was a prominent concern, as it relied on two rookie arms in then-freshman Kaitlyn Terry and then-sophomore Taylor Tinsley. Both Tinsley and Terry earned All-Pac-12 First Team honors, and Terry was named the Pac-12 Freshman of the Year. Now, the pitching staff is adding a third arm into the mix. Incoming freshman pitcher Fisher – the top-ranked 2024 Gatorade National Softball Player of the Year – posted a 66-3 record with 861 strikeouts, 24 no-hitters and 11 perfect games in her high school career. With the addition of Fisher and a more experienced Tinsley and Terry, the pitching staff is a group to watch out for this season.
Swim and dive
Aaron Doyle, assistant Sports editor
Best case: Top 25 all season long
Coach Jordan Wolfrum said one of her goals ahead of the 2023-2024 season was to remain among the nation’s top 25 through the year. While her squad didn’t reach the grail, standout performances when it mattered put the Bruins in the top 25 four times. After their swims in the postseason, the Bruins notched a No. 21 national ranking. In 2025, they have the ability to maintain that – particularly the returning trio of rising seniors Paige MacEachern and Eva Carlson and rising junior Rosie Murphy. At the Pac-12 championships, MacEachern broke the school record in the 400-yard individual medley, claiming second place. Murphy holds the program record in the 200-yard backstroke and 200-yard IM. Carlson is a breaststroker and qualified for the NCAA championships in the 100- and 200-yard breaststroke. With the triad of MacEachern, Murphy and Carlson, UCLA can meet the goal it missed last season.
Worst case: Crumbling in the Big Ten
Big Ten swim and dive is taken seriously. Four Big Ten teams ranked above UCLA nationally after last season – and USC above all of them. When the Bruins got a taste of Big Ten competition in 2024, it didn’t hold up. At the UC San Diego tri-meet in January, UCLA fell to Wisconsin 172.50-108.50. The Bruins are used to racking up wins during the regular season when put up against smaller programs – a luxury that will not be afforded in the Big Ten. The Bruins might not make their mark during their first season in the conference if they don’t hit strong performances in every competition.
Storyline to watch: Paige MacEachern versus Rosie Murphy
MacEachern and Murphy were at each other’s necks all season. In their first matchup in the 200-yard IM last season, Murphy out-touched MacEachern by 0.11 seconds. The two gradually decreased their times, both notching a big drop in time at the Art Adamson Invitational. At the Pac-12 championships, Murphy broke MacEachern’s school record in the 200-yard IM. This rivalry was new to the duo this season, but it’s looking to slow down next season.
Tennis (men’s)
Chloe Agas, Daily Bruin reporter
Best case: NCAA championships second-round appearance
After sustaining a first-round loss in the Pac-12 championships against Oregon, UCLA men’s tennis looked to be on the brink of repeating its losses to end the 2023-2024 season – dropping the opening rounds of both the conference and NCAA tournaments. But UCLA managed a comeback win over LSU – the Bruins’ first trip past the first round of the national tournament since 2019. The combination of rising sophomore Spencer Johnson and rising senior Alexander Hoogmartens, the latter of whom returned from an injury sustained the season before that, could prove decisive for greater success next season. Heading into the 2024-2025 season, UCLA will also welcome incoming freshmen Kaylan Bigun and Rudy Quan, who will hone their experience from competing in various junior Grand Slam and national tournaments. Adding new talent to the current work-in-progress roster will test how far coach Billy Martin can mesh the old and new.
Worst case: First-round exit in the Big Ten tournament
The ultimate test will dawn upon the Bruins as they enter the Big Ten, surrounded by teams including Northwestern and Ohio State. Acclimating to the new conference and competition, combined with the prospective roster, could be costly as the season progresses. This new beginning may be the prospect of an ill-fated first-round exit.
Storyline to watch: Kaylan Bigun
UCLA men’s tennis has seen a fair share of alumni who etched their mark at the Los Angeles Tennis Center and eventually on the world stage. Bigun – the 2024 Roland Garros Boys Champion – could be the next. He earned the No. 1 International Tennis Federation junior rank following his French Open win, and he currently holds a 23-5 record at the boys’ level. Following in the footsteps of Johnson and rising redshirt sophomore Emon van Loben Sels, who ended the season as a double pairing at a 12-6 record, Bigun and Quan bring UCLA the nation’s No. 4 recruiting class ahead of UCLA’s first Big Ten season.
Tennis (women’s)
Kai Dizon, assistant Sports editor
Best case: NCAA finals appearance
While Tian Fangran has yet to announce whether she’ll return for her junior season or pursue professional tennis full-time, UCLA women’s tennis is, no doubt, better with the 2023 NCAA singles champion on the court. The 2022-2023 team finished in the third round of the NCAA team tournament, while the 2023-2024 team improved that mark to reach the quarterfinals. At full strength, the group is poised to return to the finals for the first time since coach Stella Sampras Webster’s squad was runner-up to Vanderbilt in 2015, just two points shy from winning back-to-back titles for the two-time NCAA champion coach.
Worst case: NCAA tournament first-round exit
If Tian does leave Westwood, it’ll be up to UCLA’s returning players to fill the void. Rising senior Kimmi Hance competed in her first professional title game over the summer in the USTA SoCal Pro Series W15 Rancho Santa Fe, and she could jump from UCLA’s No. 2 to No. 1. Rising sophomore and reigning ITA Southwest Regional Rookie of the Year Bianca Fernandez played last season as the No. 3 for UCLA, but both Fernandez and Hance lost in the first round of the NCAA singles tournament in the spring. Although the Bruins can rest knowing that fellow rising senior Elise Wagle is a two-time ITA Doubles All-American and two-time Pac-12 Doubles Team of the Year honoree in singles, a critical question looms: If the Bruins struggled to piece playoff wins with Tian, how will they fare without her?
Storyline to watch: NCAA singles and doubles tournaments moved from spring to fall
With the 2024 NCAA singles and doubles tournaments moved from overlapping with the NCAA team tournaments in the spring to taking place in the fall, student-athletes aren’t just playing for themselves – but potentially their rank during the regular season. Alongside UCLA’s typical fall tournament slate, coach Sampras Webster will only have more data to determine who’s who – from blue-chip rising freshmen such as the No. 7 recruit in the nation, Kate Fakih, and No. 9 recruit, Olivia Center, to veterans Hance, Wagle and Fernandez.
Track and field
Aaron Doyle, assistant Sports editor
Best case: Top-three finish in the Big Ten
At the 2024 Pac-12 championships, UCLA track and field took home third place in the women’s competition – its highest finish since 2007. In the men’s competition, UCLA fell two places short of a podium finish, taking fifth. If they show a similar performance in next year’s conference championships, they could make the top three in their first year in the Big Ten. The women will have to edge out Minnesota and Nebraska, the top two schools in the Big Ten.
Worst case: A quiet entrance into the Big Ten
The competitive nature of Big Ten track and field is similar to the Pac-12. Although the Bruins are capable of making a loud entrance into their new conference, UCLA’s men’s and women’s programs sit around the top five in the Pac-12. Without Pac-12 champion and school record-holder Federica Botter, who notched one of two conference championships for the Bruins last season, a newcomer will need to step up to repeat UCLA’s 2023 performance.
Storyline to watch: Joanna Hayes in her first year as director
After Avery Anderson announced his retirement in April, Hayes garnered attention when UCLA announced her promotion. Hayes formerly led USC, where she coached multiple NCAA All-Americans and Olympians. An Olympic champion herself, she won the 100-meter hurdles at the 2004 Athens Olympics. With a resume like Hayes’, UCLA track and field could be in good hands.
Volleyball (men’s)
Connor Dullinger, assistant Sports editor
Best case: Three-peat national champions
With UCLA’s 2024 national championship victory, there have now been back-to-back title winners in collegiate men’s volleyball each year since 2012. The last three-peat, however, was when the Bruins won four in a row from 1981 to 1984. In 2025, UCLA has the chance to match its unrivaled milestone, but it must retain talent to do so. Luckily for the Bruins – a team characterized by abundant depth – rising redshirt junior outside hitter Cooper Robinson, 2024 AVCA First Team All-American rising junior setter Andrew Rowan and 2023 AVCA First Team All-American rising senior outside hitter/opposite Ido David will all return. It may not be an easy feat, but with returning All-Americans, a lineup familiar with the spotlight and an experienced coach in John Speraw, it may just be attainable for the Bruins.
Worst case: MPSF finals loss and NCAA semifinals exit
Despite the glory of back-to-back national championships, the Bruins will enter 2025 without arguably the two best volleyball players in the country: Merrick McHenry and Ethan Champlin. McHenry, a three-time First Team All-American and 2024 MPSF Player of the Year, led the Bruins last season in hitting percentage with a .585 clip to go along with 217 kills. Champlin, also a three-time First Team All-American, led the squad in kills and digs with 270 and 167, respectively. UCLA men’s volleyball is losing two linchpins – both of whom are hard to find but even harder to replace.
Storyline to watch: The middle blockers
UCLA’s middle blocker lineup will look drastically different next season. After McHenry’s departure and Guy Genis’ transfer to USC, rising redshirt juniors Matthew Edwards and Sean McQuiggan; rising redshirt sophomore Christopher Hersh; and rising sophomores Micah Wong Diallo, Thiago Zamprogno and Spencer Graves remain. Despite the abundance of personnel, the cadre has played a total of 60 sets – 53 of which McQuiggan played. Luckily for the Bruins, rising junior middle blocker Cameron Thorne is transferring to Westwood from Grand Canyon. Last season, Thorne notched 216 kills on a .528 clip, and he will be an instant playmaker for UCLA. The only questions are whether Thorne will be able to maintain the same production and who will play alongside him.
Volleyball (women’s)
Rahaf Abumansour, Daily Bruin staff
Best case: An NCAA appearance after a seven-year drought
UCLA women’s volleyball, a program with a record four national titles, faces immense pressure to return to the end-of-season tournament. Its last NCAA appearance dates back to 2021, ending with a defeat in the third round. Coach Alfee Reft ushered in a new era for the Bruins last year, assembling a fresh coaching staff. Key to their aspirations is the return of superstar rising graduate student middle blocker Anna Dodson, alongside seasoned players such as rising senior setter Audrey Pak and rising senior libero/defensive specialist Peyton Dueck – complemented by seven new faces, including three transfers and four freshmen. With expectations high and the stakes raised, UCLA is poised to reclaim its spot among the nation’s elite.
Worst case: Losing momentum to Big Ten opponents early on.
UCLA’s transition to the Big Ten has placed volleyball at the forefront – yet early defeats against formidable opponents threaten to derail its season, a struggle it faced last year with a 1-5 start in conference play. The Big Ten presents daunting challenges – notably Nebraska, which reigns atop the volleyball hierarchy with an impressive 33-2 record, undefeated record at home and an NCAA final appearance, all in 2023. UCLA must sustain its momentum to secure an NCAA berth and overcome both new and longstanding rivals on its path to success.
Storyline to watch: Cheriydn Leverette
Rising junior outside hitter Cheridyn Leverette is gearing up to showcase her true potential. From playing in just seven matches her first year to appearing in all 30 matches this past season, there’s no doubt she’s one to keep an eye on. Ranking third on the team with 288 kills and a .220 hitting percentage, she led UCLA with 25 service aces. She proved her mettle with a season-high 19 kills at a .500 clip and a contribution of three blocks in UCLA’s 3-2 victory over Oregon State. Leverette was chosen from a pool of 200 players to participate in March in the Women’s National Team Open Program – an event that scouts talent for both the United States Women’s National Team and the Women’s Collegiate National Team – in Colorado Springs. Under Reft’s guidance, she is poised to further elevate her game as the Bruins approach the 2024 season.
Water polo (men’s)
Ava Abrishamchian, Daily Bruin staff
Best case: Undefeated record and NCAA champions
The 2023 men’s water polo squad walked out of the NCAA championship match with their heads hung low. While the team’s near-perfect season ended in a championship loss, the 2024 season presents a long-awaited opportunity. UCLA has a chance to complete a feat that has not been done in a decade – an undefeated record and an NCAA championship. With the arrival of incoming freshman utility Ryder Dodd – who is currently competing for Team USA in the Paris Olympics – and the return of rising graduate student Garret Griggs, the Bruins will have a deep roster of experience and skill that could take them all the way. With coach Adam Wright in the driver’s seat, an undefeated season could be attainable, and the hardware at the end of the road may prove closer than it appears.
Worst case: Early exit in the NCAA championships
The Bruins haven’t seen a successful championship game since 2020. While their conference record showcases their ability to succeed, the Bruins often find themselves crumbling when the pressure is on. Despite an experienced roster, the 2024 squad may not have the confidence to take it all the way. Wright has had more than five years to rebuild since the 2020 championship, however. As players come and go, the Bruins have yet to find the handle on finishing.
Storyline to watch: The Dodd duo
With rising senior attacker Chase Dodd and his brother Ryder returning after training for the Paris Olympics, their skill might be the missing puzzle piece for the Bruins. The older Dodd’s time with UCLA saw All-MPSF Second Team Honors and an ACWPC All-American Honorable Mention. During the 2022 season, Chase Dodd placed third on the team in steals and fourth in the field in blocks. His veteran experience, accompanied by the younger Dodd’s spark, may give the Bruins that final push.
Water polo (women’s)
Ava Abrishamchian, Daily Bruin staff
Best case: Repeat national champions
The 2024 women’s water polo team had the momentum to go all the way to the championship and bring hardware home to Westwood. And with a still-fresh squad, they still have the energy in them to do it again. With rising sophomore goalkeeper Lauren Steele reaching a season-high 21 saves, the Bruins’ defense has more than enough years to maintain its status as No. 1. Rising sophomore utility Panni Szegedi scored three goals in the championship game alone. Szegedi’s presence in the pool created numerous offensive opportunities for the Bruins. The squad’s foundation will maintain momentum for years to come, and a repeat championship may just be in sight.
Worst case: Loss in NCAA semifinals
The Bruins’ perfect season was not without challenges. Late-game leads might have secured marks in their win columns, but early-game deficits had the Bruins fighting until the last minute. With opponents such as California and Stanford, UCLA struggled to maintain its composure throughout entire games. Slipping leads and last-minute saves riddled its season, creating vulnerabilities in its game plan going forward. While coach Adam Wright succeeded in cultivating a perfect storybook ending, it may not happen again.
Storyline to watch: Lauren Steele
Although many members of the squad have only just started their collegiate careers, Steele’s ability to perform creates a new meaning to the importance of experience. Saving 268 goals in her debut year, Steele’s ability to limit opponents to less than 10 goals in a majority of matchups made heads turn. With an early start to the squad, Steele’s future is filled with promise. Named MVP of her rookie year championship match, Steele has set the foundation for years to come.
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