UCLA women's basketball coach Cori Close received a standing ovation from the University of California's Board of Regents on Tuesday, and a significant pay raise appears to be next on the horizon. After leading the Bruins to their first-ever NCAA championship, Close's current $1.2 million salary—which includes performance bonuses—is widely considered one of the biggest bargains in college basketball.

The Regents are scheduled to discuss Close's "contract compensation parameters" in a closed session on Wednesday at the Luskin Conference Center on the UCLA campus. This step is necessary to authorize any substantial salary increase for coaches within the UC system, signaling that a raise is imminent for the 54-year-old coach.

Close's current compensation pales in comparison to her peers who reached the Final Four. Texas coach Vic Schaefer earned approximately $2.3 million, UConn's legendary Geno Auriemma made over $3.5 million, and South Carolina's Dawn Staley topped the list at more than $4 million—the highest salary in women's college basketball. While Auriemma boasts a record 12 national titles and Staley has three championships with five additional Final Four appearances, Close has now firmly joined the elite ranks after 15 seasons at UCLA. Her championship run not only secured the program's first title but also placed her among the sport's top coaches, making a raise not just likely but well-deserved.