Arizona women’s basketball steps onto the court with a stronger lineup this season, and the first true test arrives Thursday night at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles. Head coach Becky Burke’s Wildcats, now 2-0, will meet the No. 10 UCLA Bruins, also 2-0, in a non‑conference showdown.
Roster turnover shapes the contest
UCLA enters the game after losing six of the eleven players who helped the Bruins post a 37‑1 record last year. Departing seniors include top scorers and rebounders such as Lauren Betts, Kiki Rice, Charlisse Leger‑Walker, Gianna Kneepkens, Angela Dugalić and Gabriela Jaquez. Those players accounted for the majority of the team’s points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocked shots.
Coach Cori Close has filled the gaps with newcomers: KK Bransford from Notre Dame, Addy Brown from Iowa State and former Oregon State/Texas Christian guard Donovyn Hunter. While experienced, the incoming group is younger and lacks the continuity of last season’s roster.
Arizona’s strengths and opportunities
The Wildcats boast a defense that forces turnovers at a respectable rate, averaging 22.5 turnovers per game (70th in Division I) and generating 11 steals per game. Arizona hopes to exploit UCLA’s recent turnover issues, as the Bruins turned the ball over 18 times in a televised exhibition against Texas.
Arizona also aims to capitalize on free‑throw shooting, a shared weakness. UCLA shot poorly from the line in recent non‑conference games, going 7‑12 against Lehigh and 10‑15 against UC Irvine.
What the game means for the season
Both teams are unbeaten, but the Wildcats view the contest as a chance to measure improvement against a historically dominant program. UCLA, despite losing key contributors, remains a formidable opponent, having outscored opponents by 27.4 points per game last season and posting dominant margins in the NCAA tournament.
For Arizona, a strong performance could signal a breakthrough on the national stage and build momentum heading into a schedule that includes matchups against Duke, South Carolina and Texas later in the season.
Game details
- When: Thursday, Nov. 12, 2026 at 8:30 p.m. MST
- Where: Pauley Pavilion, Los Angeles, California
- TV: Big Ten Network
- Streaming: FOX Sports app
- Radio: KTUC 1400 AM
Fans can follow live stats on the UCLA website. The game offers a glimpse of how Arizona’s women’s program will compete against elite competition as the season progresses.
Original reporting: Arizona Desert Swarm (Tucson Sports) — read the source article.
