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The WNBA Draft has been loaded with UCLA Bruins. UCLA had three-straight players selected in the 2026 WNBA Draft with Kiki Rice being selected by the Toronto Tempo, immediately following Lauren Betts and Gabriela Jaquez.
Not only was Rice the third-straight UCLA player selected, she was the first player drafted by the newly-founded Tempo. You can’t blame Toronto for targeting Rice, who stepped into a leading role early in her Bruin career.
Rice is an extremely hard worker who has continued to get better at the collegiate level. Rice averaged a career-high 14.9 points per game as a senior, helping lead UCLA to their first-ever NCAA championship.
A national title likely wouldn’t have been possible at UCLA without Rice. Rice and Jaquez were the two longest-tenured Bruins this past season. Rice came to the Bruins as a highly-touted recruit and resisted transfer portal temptations for her entire collegiate career. UCLA coach Cori Close is glad she didn’t, with Rice becoming an extension of the coaching staff out on the court for the Bruins.
After being injured in her junior seasom, Rice was back this season and shot a career-high 49% from the field and 39% from three. Beyond her offense, Rice is a sticky defender with active hands, averaging 1.5 steals per game.
Following the expansion draft, there will be a lot of moving pieces for the Tempo. Rice could compete to get minutes in the backcourt. Toronto has guards Marina Mabrey, Brittney Sykes, Lexi Held and Kitija Laksa but Rice will look to become a dependable piece for the new franchise.
This article originally appeared on UCLA Wire: Toronto Tempo takes UCLA guard Kiki Rice sixth overall
Continue reading...
Not only was Rice the third-straight UCLA player selected, she was the first player drafted by the newly-founded Tempo. You can’t blame Toronto for targeting Rice, who stepped into a leading role early in her Bruin career.
Rice is an extremely hard worker who has continued to get better at the collegiate level. Rice averaged a career-high 14.9 points per game as a senior, helping lead UCLA to their first-ever NCAA championship.
A national title likely wouldn’t have been possible at UCLA without Rice. Rice and Jaquez were the two longest-tenured Bruins this past season. Rice came to the Bruins as a highly-touted recruit and resisted transfer portal temptations for her entire collegiate career. UCLA coach Cori Close is glad she didn’t, with Rice becoming an extension of the coaching staff out on the court for the Bruins.
After being injured in her junior seasom, Rice was back this season and shot a career-high 49% from the field and 39% from three. Beyond her offense, Rice is a sticky defender with active hands, averaging 1.5 steals per game.
Following the expansion draft, there will be a lot of moving pieces for the Tempo. Rice could compete to get minutes in the backcourt. Toronto has guards Marina Mabrey, Brittney Sykes, Lexi Held and Kitija Laksa but Rice will look to become a dependable piece for the new franchise.
This article originally appeared on UCLA Wire: Toronto Tempo takes UCLA guard Kiki Rice sixth overall
Continue reading...
