The Coach Behind The Women's Best College Basketball Team

What does it take to build a championship team and who do you become along the way? UCLA women’s basketball head coach Cori Close joins Julie Foudy, Abby Wambach and Billie Jean King to reflect on a historic title run and why her definition of success goes far beyond the trophy.

From lessons learned in John Wooden’s den to the voice memo from Abby she’ll keep forever, Cori shares the power of having people who believe in you before you believe in yourself. She also gets candid about rebuilding trust with Lauren Betts, owning her mistakes and helping a new roster write its own story. It’s a conversation about leadership, accountability and proving that kindness and competitive greatness can coexist—with a little evidence of Abby’s completely unhinged UCLA fandom.

Plus, the Party Starter dives into the WNBA Finals, the NWSL’s Decision Day drama and Catherine Breed’s extraordinary swim along the California coastline.

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Keep the Party Going:
Cori Close was recently honored with UCLA Anderson’s John Wooden Global Leadership Award, which feels especially fitting after hearing how much Wooden shaped the way she leads.
anderson.ucla.edu/news-and-events/signature-events/john-wooden-global-leadership-awards

The book Cori referenced: Chop Wood Carry Water by Joshua Medcalf, all about falling in love with the process instead of obsessing over the outcome.
books.google.com/books/about/Chop_Wood_Carry_Water.html

Want to go down the Catherine Breed rabbit hole with us? Catherine just completed her 900-mile swim of the California coast, and her nonprofit Sea Dreamers is focused on getting more women and girls into the ocean while protecting the coastline.
swimcalifornia.com
seadreamers.org

Kinger’s documentary is coming. Give Me The Ball! premieres November 22 on ESPN and looks at Billie Jean King’s life, career and impact far beyond tennis.
espnpressroom.com/press-release/espn-films-award-winning-documentary-give-me-the-ball-to-premiere-november-22-on-espn

Follow UCLA Women’s Basketball: @UCLAWBB
Instagram: instagram.com/uclawbb
X: x.com/UCLAWBB
Website: uclawbb.com

Follow Coach Cori Close: @coachcoriclose
Instagram: instagram.com/coachcoriclose
X: x.com/coachcoriclose

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