Cori Close on UCLA’s Title and the Road Ahead

Chantel Jennings chats with UCLA head coach Cori Close about the whirlwind following UCLA Womens Basketballs national title win, the lessons learned from past experiences, and what it takes to build a championship culture. Coach Close also shares the influence of John Wooden and discusses the evolving landscape of college sportsparticularly the transfer portal and NIL era. She outlines her strategic approach to recruiting and emphasizes the importance of institutional support for sustained success. No Offseason is a part of The Athletic Podcast Network: 00:00 Intro 03:17 UCLA dominate WNBA draft with record six selections 06:07 The unique cohesion of UCLA 09:44 Learning from past experiences 13:06 The influence of John Wooden 24:03 UCLAs strategic planning for future success 29:13 Navigating the transfer portal 33:40 The role of NIL in modern recruiting Related links and articles: by Sabreena Merchant by Sabreena Merchant and Chantel Jennings Follow and listen to the audio podcast: Get in touch! Leave a comment wherever youre listening, or email us at NoOffseason@TheAthletic.com Show Links: -YouTube: @No-Offseason -Instagram: @tanooffseason [ -TikTok: @no_offseason [ Credits: -Zena on BlueSky: @zenakeita -Sabreena on BlueSky: @sabreenajm -Chantel on BlueSky: @chanteljennings -Produced by Taneka Burrell -Executive Produced by Andrea B. Scott Visit the Yahoo Women's Sports Hub: Full Episodes Playlist: Shorts Playlist: Thumbnail: Christian Petersen / Staff / Getty Images Sport via Getty Images