UCLA Bruins star guard Kiki Rice is confident in her game plan in beating UConn star Paige Bueckers on the road to this year’s NCAA Final Four and ultimately, the championship.
In a recent press interview ahead of the Final Four, Kiki Rice expressed her confidence in the challenge of facing UConn and its star player Paige Bueckers. For Rice, she trusts in the game plan she and the Bruins have in place.
“Paige is a fantastic player,” Rice said. “You’re not gonna shut down players of her caliber, but I think a lot of it is about just following the gameplan. We’ll do what we can but I have a lot of trust in our game plan and the defenders that we are going to be able to put on her.”
Paige Bueckers is having an all-time tournament so far.
I asked Kiki Rice how they plan to try & slow her down in the Final Four:
“Paige is a fantastic player. You’re not gonna shut down players of her caliber, but I think a lot of it is about just following the gameplan.” pic.twitter.com/oJmWFKOKJ9
— Matt Dowell (@MattDowellTV) April 3, 2025
This year’s Final Four appearance is a monumental achievement for the UCLA Bruins women’s basketball team, as it marks their first-ever berth in the NCAA Final Four. It represents the culmination of years of growth and dedication under Coach Cori Close, who has been instrumental in building the program into a national contender.
Kiki Rice Leads UCLA to First-Ever Final Four
Kiki Rice has been a driving force behind UCLA’s historic run to the Final Four in the 2025 NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament. After a heartbreaking loss to LSU in the Sweet Sixteen last year, Rice made it her mission to lead the Bruins further this season.
She even wrote her goal of reaching the Final Four at the top of every page in her journal for a year. This determination paid off when UCLA defeated LSU 72-65 in the Elite Eight and secured their first-ever Final Four appearance.
Rice’s evolution as a player has been pivotal to UCLA’s success. Known for her scoring ability, she adjusted her game this season to become a more well-rounded player. She reduced her shot attempts while increasing her assists to a career-high 5.1 per game.
In the Elite Eight matchup against LSU, Rice scored eight points but contributed a postseason-high eight assists, bringing her tournament total to 29 assists in four games. Her ability to adapt and prioritize team success over individual stats has been a cornerstone of UCLA’s rise.
Rice’s impact extends beyond basketball, as she was recently awarded the NCAA Elite 90 honor for having the highest cumulative GPA among players at the championship site.
So far this season, Kiki Rice is averaging 13.1 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 4.9 assists per game. Her shooting efficiency has been impressive, with a 50.0% field goal percentage, 36.7% from three-point range, and an excellent 86.2% free throw percentage.
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Dan has been active in sports since 2016 and has worked behind the scenes as a scriptwriter for basketball, volleyball, and other sports. At a time, Dan has also been working as a sports commentator for CBA Pilipinas. During the pandemic, he has also been actively writing betting articles for CashBet and BetNow.
