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UCLA Wire
UCLA basketball has kept the spirit of the Pac-12 alive and well
- Story byUCLA Wire
- UCLA basketball has kept the spirit of the Pac-12 alive and well
The old Pac-12 may be gone but the UCLA Bruins made sure the conference wasn't forgotten this season. UCLA rode their group of six seniors to a national championship , with all six having spent time in the Pac-12 Conference.
UCLA was in the Pac-12 just three years ago so it's not too crazy to have some former Pac-12 players but Gianna Kneepkens and Charlisse Leger-Walker didn't join the Bruins until after conference realignment following the 2023-24 season.
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Along with Kneepkens and Leger-Walker, Angela Dugalic and Lauren Betts both also played for different Pac-12 teams before heading to Westwood. Following Sunday's championship, UCLA guard Kiki Rice called the Bruins the "Pac-12 All Star Team."
Rice and Gabriela Jaquez both played all four seasons, including two in the Pac-12, with UCLA. Betts played one season at Stanford before spending three seasons with the Bruins. Angela Dugalic was an Oregon Duck for one season before heading south to Los Angeles. Kneepkens spent four seasons with Utah and Leger-Walker was a Washington State Cougar for four seasons.
Somehow it doesn't end there. Forward Timea Gardiner was sidelined with an injury all season but she had spent two seasons with Oregon State before transferring over to UCLA ahead of last season. Gardiner used a medical redshirt, so she'll have a chance to keep the Pac-12 tradition alive for UCLA alongside forward Amanda Muse.
With the graduation of the six Bruin seniors , Muse suddenly becomes UCLA's longest-tenured player. Muse played 19 games in the 2023-24 season before redshirting last season. The 6'4" forward was back in the mix this year, appearing in 33 games.
This article originally appeared on UCLA Wire: Kiki Rice calls this year's UCLA group the 'Pac-12 All Star Team'
