Fans can see talent as soon as an athlete steps on the court.
Sometimes, supporters can even imagine the hard work a player endures.
But what people never see is the mental conditioning athletes undergo en route to success.
And playing for a top collegiate team can bring tremendous stress, whether from external pressure or internal expectations.
UCLA women’s basketball coach Cori Close emphasizes the importance of working with her players on their mindsets.
“You wouldn’t believe that we’re not as confident as our talent says we should be,” Close said. “Reminding yourself of what you’ve already earned – it’s really important. I’ve encouraged them to do it every morning when they wake up and every night before they go to bed.”
The Bruins’ roster features loads of talent, with eight of their 13 players designated as five-star recruits out of high school – including four of the top six players in the class of 2022.
But as Close pinpoints, talent only matters so much. Players’ mental health is just as important.
Last year, then-sophomore center Lauren Betts took a four-game mental health break midseason as a contest against her previous school, Stanford, approached.
Betts later told Yahoo Sports that the hiatus was due to her falling deeper into self-doubt throughout the season.
This season, though, has been a different story, Betts said.
“The confidence I have in myself as a person and as a player has changed so much for the better,” Betts told Yahoo Sports. “I believe in myself every time I step on the floor. I trust myself and what I’m doing, and I’m a lot less timid.”
Many Bruins have had similar experiences to Betts.
Close said she worked with former UCLA women’s basketball Director of Mental Training Joshua Medcalf to brainstorm methods for players to take care of themselves mentally.
Close’s focus on self-care comes at the same time as the team’s success this season.
The Bruins have been exceptionally consistent this season and have emerged victorious from a plethora of tight games, helping them to a No. 1 overall ranking and a No. 1 seed in March Madness for the first time in program history.
“It can get tough,” said junior guard Londynn Jones. “When you’re lacking confidence, these are the tools that you need to use to gain it back.”
This was evident in the squad’s recovery from its two defeats by USC. Last year, UCLA’s first defeat by USC began its worst stretch of the season, one in which the Bruins went 5-5 over 10 affairs.
This season, UCLA emerged from its two defeats by USC to come back from a 13-point deficit and finally defeat the Trojans during its third attempt in the Big Ten tournament finale.
“She (Betts) was really disappointed with herself and our team in terms of how we performed in our last game at home,” Close said after playing Nebraska, which directly followed UCLA’s second loss to USC. “It was not easy. She really worked mentally, physically – getting her mind right to respond.”
The Bruins will be tested in March, when they will take on teams they have yet to face this season.
The squad must also overcome having failed to make it out of the Sweet 16 the past two seasons.
“You want your team hungry and edgy going into the NCAA Tournament but also really confident,” Close said. “Our team earned some confidence tonight (against USC), and that’s going to go a long way.”
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