As part of her efforts to get back to a familiar place, Cori Close has gone overseas.
The UCLA women’s basketball coach on Sunday imported an international prospect in Lina Jerkovic, a 5-foot-9 Slovenian guard who could accelerate the Bruins’ attempt to repeat as national champions.
Jerkovic has shown significant promise on the international stage, averaging 10.4 points, five assists and 4.7 rebounds in seven games for Team Slovenia in the FIBA under-18 women’s EuroBasket. She’ll turn 19 this month, putting her in line with a typical college freshman.
With Close largely turning to the transfer portal as her primary means of reloading her roster, Jerkovic becomes only the second freshman on the team, joining Spanish guard Somto Okafor.
Those freshmen will be joined by transfers Elina Aarnisalo (previously of North Carolina), Bonnie Deas (Arkansas), KK Bransford (Notre Dame), Donovyn Hunter (TCU) and Addy Brown (Iowa State).
The newcomers will supplement a returning group that includes center Sienna Betts, guard Christina Karamouzi and forwards Timea Gardiner, Lena Bilic and Amanda Muse.
Aarnisalo will embark upon her second stint as a Bruin after having been Kiki Rice’s backup during the 2024-25 season before spending one season as a Tar Heel.
Close’s aggressive recruiting efforts have her team poised to start next season nationally ranked and among the favorites in the Big Ten Conference, though rival USC is widely considered the team to beat with superstar JuJu Watkins returning from injury to join star Jazzy Davidson and five-star freshman Saniyah Hall.
