UCLA has a veteran-heavy roster this season. Eight of twelve players are seniors and at least half of them have a solid shot at being in the WNBA next season—unless the CBA negotiations come to a screeching halt and there is no 2026 season, of course.
Lauren Betts and Gianna Kneepkens are the biggest names on UCLA’s roster. Betts is a projected lottery pick, and Kneepkens is also expected to hear her name called relatively early in the first round as one of the best all-around role players and connectors in the draft. After UCLA’s 97-61 win over Penn State, head coach Cori Close mentioned that she was getting calls about another one of her senior guards as well.
“Charlisse[Leger-Walker] is—that’s why I’m getting so many calls from the WNBA—her ability to feel the game and set other people up to be better, more efficient,” Close saidduring her postgame media availability. “I think we had…27 assists on I think 36 field goals. That’s pretty darn good, and Charlisse Leger-Walker deserves a lot of that credit. Her feel of the game, her understanding of what’s needed, who’s hot, who needs a touch, how the defense is playing. She has a gift.”
Charlisse Leger-Walker is putting together an excellent season
Leger-Walker started her college career at Washington State, but transferred to UCLA for her final season. She has had an immediate impact, starting all 14 games and leading the team in assists and steals per game.
Leger-Walker hasn’t been a big-time scorer this season—she doesn’t have to be on a star-studded UCLA roster—but she impacts games even when she isn’t scoring a lot. She currently averages 3.7 rebounds, 6.5 assists, and 2 steals on top of her 9 points per game. Against Penn State, she only made one of her three shots, but also dished out eight assists with zero turnovers, grabbed four rebounds, and got one steal. She already recorded at least ten assists twice this season, including a season-high 11 against a ranked Tennessee team.
Leger-Walker can score, though. She put up 20 points on over 50% shooting against Duke and 16 points against USF. Plus, she was a big-time scorer on her previous team, averaging double-digit points for four consecutive seasons. At UCLA, her role is simply different, and she is showing that she can do whatever her team needs.
UCLA could send several players to the W after this season
Between Lauren Betts, Gianna Kneepkens, and Charlisse Leger-Walker, UCLA already features three potential WNBA players. There’s more. Kiki Rice and Gabriela Jaquez could also find themselves on a WNBA roster next season.
ESPN’s latest mock draft after the lottery has Jaquez going eleventh overall to the Washington Mystics and Rice thirteenth to the Atlanta Dream.
For Jaquez, her 3-point shot is probably her biggest asset. WNBA teams always need good 3-point shooters, and Jaquez is knocking down over 50% of her threes this season. She also averages 6.2 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 1 steal per game. Rice’s three may not be as good as Jaquez’s, but she can score in other ways, putting up 15.3 points per game. On top of that, Rice is a good playmaker and tends to take care of the ball.