The No. 3 UCLA women’s basketball team is back in Westwood this Sunday, welcoming No.
14 Tennessee to Pauley Pavilion in what’s shaping up to be a measuring-stick matchup for both programs. Tip-off is set for 1:30 p.m.
PT on FS1, and this one carries a little extra weight - not just because it’s a top-15 showdown, but because it comes on the heels of a mixed-bag performance from the Bruins in Las Vegas.
Let’s start with the big picture. UCLA is 7-1 and already battle-tested, having played three ranked opponents before December.
They’ve taken down then-No. 6 Oklahoma and then-No.
11 North Carolina by double digits, showing flashes of the dominance that earned them their top-three ranking. But a 76-65 loss to No.
4 Texas at the Players Era Women’s Championship last week raised a few red flags - and also showed this team’s resilience.
That Texas game was a tale of two halves. The Bruins fell behind by as many as 23 points in the third quarter but clawed back to within four late in the fourth.
The comeback fell short, but the fight was there. It’s a loss that stings, sure, but it also revealed some grit that could pay off down the line.
The next day, UCLA bounced back in emphatic fashion, dismantling Duke 89-59 in the third-place game. The Bruins shot a scorching 52.5% from the field and an even more impressive 59.1% from deep, knocking down 13 of their 22 three-point attempts. That kind of shooting display is hard to sustain, but it’s a reminder of just how dangerous this team can be when the perimeter game is clicking.
But all eyes are now on the status of Lauren Betts. The 6-foot-7 center - a key piece of UCLA’s interior presence - appeared to injure her shoulder during the Texas game when a Longhorns player fell on her.
She finished that game but sat out the next day against Duke, likely as a precaution. Her availability for Sunday is a major storyline.
If Betts is good to go, UCLA gets a huge boost on both ends of the floor. She anchors the defense, alters shots at the rim, and provides efficient scoring inside. Without her, the Bruins may have to lean even more heavily on their perimeter weapons - an area where they’ve been explosive, but not always consistent.
That’s especially important against Tennessee, a team that can flat-out score. The Lady Vols are averaging 81.2 points per game - just a tick behind UCLA’s 81.4 - and they’re coming in hot, having won five straight after a narrow loss to then-No.
9 NC State. Yes, the recent competition hasn’t been elite (their last five opponents rank between No. 70 and No. 290 in the Bart Torvik ratings), but Tennessee’s margin of victory - nearly 30 points per game - speaks to their firepower.
Leading the way for the Lady Vols is Talaysia Cooper, a 6-foot guard who’s been living up to her preseason All-SEC billing. She’s averaging 16.2 points, 7.7 boards, and 3.8 steals per game - that last stat ranks fifth in the SEC and speaks to her two-way impact. Cooper is joined by a deep supporting cast: forward Janiah Barker is putting up 15.2 points and 6.5 rebounds, guard Nya Robinson adds another 15.2 points per game, and 6-foot-4 forward Zee Spearman contributes 10.3 points and 7.3 boards.
Tennessee’s depth is no accident. Head coach Kim Caldwell has implemented a high-octane, pressure-heavy system that thrives on pace and volume.
Think hockey-style substitutions - three to five players at a time - designed to keep legs fresh and the tempo relentless. It’s a sharp contrast to UCLA’s current rotation, which has been trimmed down due to injuries.
Head coach Cori Close has recently leaned on just six or seven players per game, with Timea Gardiner and Sienna Betts already sidelined and Lauren Betts’ status still uncertain.
That’s where the chess match lies. If Betts can suit up, UCLA has the size and skill to control the paint and slow the game down when needed. If she’s unavailable, the Bruins will likely need another hot shooting night from the perimeter - and they’ll have to manage their minutes carefully against Tennessee’s constant waves of fresh legs.
The good news? UCLA’s guards have been up to the challenge so far.
Gabriela Jaquez, Gianna Kneepkens, Charlisse Leger-Walker, and Kiki Rice have all stepped up as reliable scoring options, especially from beyond the arc. They’ve shown they can hit big shots and carry the offense when needed - and they’ll need to be sharp again Sunday.
One trend to keep an eye on: UCLA has developed a bit of a habit of starting slow and finishing strong. That kind of resilience could come in handy against a Tennessee team that likes to run opponents off the floor early. If the Bruins can weather the initial storm and stay within striking distance, their late-game poise - especially with Betts in the lineup - could tilt the balance.
This is the kind of non-conference test that helps shape a team’s identity. For UCLA, it’s a chance to prove that the Texas loss was a bump in the road, not a sign of something deeper. For Tennessee, it’s an opportunity to show they can hang with a top-three team on the road.
One thing’s for sure: Pauley Pavilion should be buzzing. And with two elite offenses, a contrast in styles, and postseason implications already starting to take shape, this one’s got all the ingredients of a December classic.