Fresh off cutting down the nets and claiming the 2025 women's national championship, UCLA's story is far from over. The Bruins' dominant starting five is now poised to make a historic leap to the professional ranks in the 2026 WNBA Draft, potentially setting a new standard for collegiate talent pipelines.
Led by projected top pick Lauren Betts, the Bruins' core of Kiki Rice, Gianna Kneepkens, Gabriela Jaquez, and Charlisse Leger-Walker could see all five players selected. If they all land in the first round, they would shatter the current record of four first-round picks from a single school, a mark held by the legendary 2005 UConn class featuring Sue Bird and Swin Cash.
While having five players drafted overall has been done before—most recently by South Carolina in 2023—UCLA's potential feat would be unique. It would be the first time a national championship-winning starting five was drafted together the following year, a testament to their unparalleled chemistry and collective skill. This historic moment underscores the incredible level of talent in women's college basketball and marks a new chapter for a program at its peak.
