From Bruins blue to WNBA gold, these UCLA legends didn’t just hoop — they helped shape the women’s game.
UCLA women’s basketball has built a legacy that stretches far beyond Westwood, Calif. With 20 NCAA Tournament appearances, an AIAW Tournament title in 1978, and a steady pipeline of pro talent, the Bruins have quietly become one of the sport’s most consistent factories. These five players didn’t just make it to the WNBA, though. They had transformative careers as pros.
Ann Meyers
When you talk UCLA basketball royalty, Ann Meyers starts the conversation. The first woman to receive a full athletic scholarship at UCLA, Meyers became the first college player — male or female — to record a quadruple-double (20 points, 14 rebounds, 10 assists, 10 steals). That came in 1978, the same year she led the Bruins to their only national championship.
Meyers signed a contract with the Indiana Pacers and had a tryout, breaking ground in men’s professional sports. While she didn’t suit up in the NBA, she dominated the Women’s Professional Basketball League and was named co-MVP with the New Jersey Gems. Her trailblazing presence helped open doors for generations to come.
Denise Curry
UCLA’s all-time leading scorer with 3,198 points, Denise Curry was the definition of reliable. She scored in double figures in all 130 games of her career, a streak that still stands untouched. Curry also holds the Bruins’ career rebounds record and helped deliver that 1978 national championship alongside Meyers, though her scoring and rebounding records came before the NCAA era of women’s athletics.
After college, she won an Olympic gold with Team USA in 1984 and went on to coach and influence the next generation. Her dominance was all about consistency, toughness, and showing up big every night.
Jordin Canada
Jordin Canada’s name might not have screamed superstar early on, but her game did the talking. A floor general at UCLA, she holds the program record for career assists (831) and ranks second in scoring (2,153) in the NCAA era. She led the Bruins to three Sweet 16s and went No. 5 overall to the Seattle Storm in 2018.
In the pros, she won two WNBA championships with Seattle (2018, 2020) and had a breakout 2023 season with the Los Angeles Sparks, averaging 13.3 points, 6.0 assists, and a league-high 2.3 assists per game. Her speed and control make her one of the league’s premier point guards.
Natalie Williams
One of the most dominant post players in program history, Natalie Williams averaged 20.4 points and 12.8 rebounds at UCLA, earning two All-America honors along the way. She finished her career ranked in the top 10 in nearly every statistical category.
Williams brought that same energy to the WNBA, becoming a four-time All-Star with the Utah Starzz and Indiana Fever. Physical, relentless, and always a problem on the boards, she left her mark as one of the league’s early stars.
Maylana Martin
A member of UCLA’s 2,000-point club, Maylana Martin brought both scoring and efficiency to the Bruins’ frontcourt. She ranks third all-time in rebounds field goal percentage at UCLA, and her production helped elevate the team during her era.
Martin was selected No. 10 overall by the Minnesota Lynx in 2000 and played two seasons in the WNBA. Though her pro career was brief, her impact in college put her among UCLA’s all-time greats.