How do you build a team from the ground up?
That’s the question coach Cori Close will have to figure out this season, as No. 11 UCLA women’s basketball’s top six scorers graduated after last season.
Of the five returners, only four saw court time in the 2025-26 season. Together, these players combined for just 10.8 points and 7.3 rebounds per game. And with sophomore guard Lena Bilić out for the season, the Bruins’ average will be just 7.8 points and 5.9 rebounds per game returning to the court.
The 2026-27 women’s basketball lineup will see new players and new roles all around.
There are expectations for big names to step up, such as sophomore forward Sienna Betts – the younger sister of Lauren Betts, the No. 4 overall pick in the 2026 WNBA Draft – senior forward Addy Brown and junior guard Elina Aarnisalo. But one crucial player could develop this year to be the future of the team.
Freshman guard Somto Okafor is a name to watch.
(Kai Dizon/Assistant Photo editor)
The Barcelona local originally committed to play at Arizona before decommitting and joining UCLA in October 2025. And this change of plans could end up being a determining factor in the program’s success – not just this year, but for its future.
Not a single player signed with the reigning national champions from the ESPN Class of 2026 rankings. But, as an international recruit, Okafor may quickly make a bigger impact than most of this list.
She has already made a name for herself on the national circuit, where she’s represented the Spanish youth national team since 2024 at various levels.
Most recently, she competed in the FIBA U18 Women’s EuroBasket, where she averaged 15.3 points and 4.9 rebounds per game en route to the gold medal and MVP honors. During three of the four times competing at the national level, Okafor has ended up on the All-Star Five.
The only time she was off the list was in the 2025 FIBA U20 Women’s EuroBasket, when she was just 16 years old. Even still, she averaged 10.6 points and 3.6 rebounds per game through the competition.
Playing for the Spanish national team is not an easy feat, either.
Two years ago, Seattle Storm center Awa Fam – who was selected No. 3 in the 2026 WNBA Draft – played in the 2024 FIBA U18 Women’s EuroBasket and was named to the All-Star Five as well.
Okafor does not play the same position as Fam, but competing at the same level shows that her future is bright. The Spanish national team system is one of the best in the world – its senior team is ranked third in the nation – and her preparation through this will allow her to adjust to and thrive at the collegiate level.
With her extensive international experience, Okafor is no stranger to playing competitive squads, much like those she will face in the NCAA. And with the Bruins building from the ground up, she should be able to get a lot of experience in her freshman campaign.
Okafor has the potential to be the best freshman Bruin in recent years. The last rookie to rep the blue and gold and average double digits was former Bruin guard Kiki Rice, who joined the squad as the No. 2 recruit in the 2022 class.
Rice averaged 11.6 points per game in the 2022-23 season, a mark that sat second on the team. Since that year, no first-year player has averaged more than Sienna Betts’ six points per game last year.
The playing time of younger athletes has been limited, in part due to the talent retained through the past three seasons. With so much turnover this year, Okafor has the opportunity to earn ample court time.
(Kai Dizon/Assistant Photo editor)
And she has already proved she will make the most of her time.
In UCLA’s exhibition victory over California on Oct. 14, she stuffed the stat sheet, recording 15 points, six rebounds, four assists and three steals across her 24 minutes. She shot 7-for-9 from the field, the highest percentage on the squad, including draining her only 3-point attempt.
A performance like this in her first game against collegiate competition is a great sign of what she could end up being. For a Bruin squad that will need everyone to step up in order to succeed, Okafor looks to be up for the challenge and will be a dangerous threat to opponents.
And, hopefully, her impact on the team will extend beyond this year.
Close is in a position where she can give Okafor a healthy sum of minutes, which would be crucial for keeping the international talent in Westwood. In an era where the transfer portal is so commonly used, making sure Okafor is given room to grow and make mistakes – while keeping her on the court – could lead to a new star at UCLA.
This upcoming season will provide the chance for Somto Okafor to show the collegiate scene everything she can do. And a successful season – not just for Okafor, but for the Bruins as well – could prove to be vital for the future of UCLA women’s basketball.
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