UCLA women’s basketball will open its national championship defense without sophomore guard Lena Bilic. The team announced Sunday that Bilic tore her anterior cruciate ligament in practice and will miss the entire season.
The injury hits a Bruins roster already rebuilding from scratch. UCLA lost its top six players from last year’s title team, including center Lauren Betts, forward Angela Dugalic, and guards Kiki Rice, Gabriela Jaquez and Gianna Kneepkens, all of whom moved on to the WNBA.
Bilic was expected to step into a starting role this season after a solid freshman year coming off the bench. She averaged 12.1 minutes per game, scored in double figures three times, and posted a 13-point performance against Oregon in UCLA’s Big Ten opener. She finished the year with 13 steals, nine blocks and 21 assists, and was known for her hustle and energy on the floor.
Coach Cori Close addressed the loss in a statement: “We are devastated for Lena. She is such an important part of what we do here, and I know she’ll continue to be impactful for us through her recovery. We’ll be with Lena every step of the way, and she’s in great hands with the best medical staff in the country, so I know she will come out on the other side stronger and better.”
With Bilic sidelined, UCLA will lean harder on its incoming transfer class to fill the gaps left by last season’s departures. The newcomers include guards Elina Aarnisalo from North Carolina, Donovyn Hunter from TCU, KK Bransford from Notre Dame, and Bonnie Deas from Arkansas, along with freshman guard Somto Okafor.
UCLA opens exhibition play against Cal on Oct. 14 before its regular-season opener against Lehigh on Nov. 2. The Bruins will raise their championship banner and hold a ring ceremony ahead of their Nov. 15 matchup with Princeton.
