The way Close sees it, these UCLA players have remarkable leaping ability in that they took a leap of faith to buy into the dream she's been selling. This year's senior class, which includes starting guard Kelli Hayes and forward Monique Billings, is coming off the first back-to-back Sweet 16 appearances in school history. The Bruins have gone 94-43 since 2013-14, with three consecutive 20-win seasons, their best four-year stretch since 1976-79 (which included winning the 1978 AIAW national championship).
"Our promise to [recruits] was that we were going to create an uncommon transformational experience," said Close, 46.