diamond

Megan Grant laughs after hearing that at one point during her basketball career, she was shooting .500 from field-goal range, better than her career .348 batting average.

The two-time NFCA All-American utility player has made softball look easy during her time with UCLA. She holds a career .727 slugging percentage, .978 fielding percentage and hit 26 home runs during the 2025 season, a Big Ten single-season record.

Is basketball just that much easier for her?

“I wouldn’t say easy but I would always say fun,” Grant said. “It’s something where I can just easily lose myself in the competitive nature and just the process of things.”

Grant has been a member of the Bruins’ women’s basketball team this season, an opportunity brought to her by her softball coach. When coach Kelly Inouye-Perez asked her if she would be interested in joining the team for the Bruins’ current season, she felt like she couldn’t turn down the opportunity.

Training with the basketball team would allow her to add new skills to her game. While developing, she would be doing it at a high level of college basketball competitiveness — it was a win-win situation.

“Just being able to say I played basketball at such a high level collegiately, it’s always an honor to say,” Grant said.

UCLA forward Megan Grant (43) is surrounded by teammates while celebrating after a win over North Carolina on Nov. 13 in Las Vegas.

(Steve Marcus / Associated Press)

Throughout the season, Grant has played 33 minutes off the bench and made three of nine field goal attempts. The No. 2 UCLA women’s basketball team is 22-1 and undefeated in Big Ten play.

Softball season began Friday, so her time on the court has come to an end. As she transitions to the diamond, Grant is entering her senior season with ambition, gratitude and a new sense of leadership.

“I feel like all programs all throughout our campus, we just have this competitive greatness about all of us that we know we will do whatever it takes to win,” she said. “It’s really refreshing to even see that from [women’s basketball] coach Cori [Close’s] side and just to get to learn her little nuggets.”

No. 7 UCLA softball is 5-0 after the opening weekend, including a record-setting 17-0 rout of UC Riverside.

The Bruins were the runner up in last year’s Big Ten tournament after falling 2-0 to Michigan in the championship game. In the Women’s College World Series, after Grant hit a two-run home run to tie a game against Tennessee, UCLA lost in extra innings.

The Bruins begin the season with a versatile and close-knit roster, Grant said. The team spent the fall getting to know each other, on and off the field.

“I feel like almost every single player is playing both infield and outfield and that kind of depth that we have is something that we haven’t had in a while,” she said.

Grant says even during her stint with the women’s basketball, her goal remained the same — winning softball Big Ten and national championships. Ultimately, she just wants to have the best time with her teammates along the way.

“If that moment were to come, I know in my heart, I have the confidence to just be able to say, ‘Yup, I worked on this and I’m ready,’” Grant said.

Rose Bowl scores a court win

A Los Angeles County Superior Court judge denied a request from UCLA last week seeking to move its dispute with the Rose Bowl Operating Co. and the city of Pasadena to arbitration as it stated was required by their lease contract.

Officials who operate the Rose Bowl filed a lawsuit against UCLA after it learned the Bruins were heavily considering ending their lease early and instead playing home football games at SoFi Stadium. The Rose Bowl is seeking to enforce terms of a lease that runs through 2044, arguing taxpayers are backing costly renovations at UCLA’s request and the Bruins’ departure would cause irreparable harm.

Arbitration proceedings would limit the Rose Bowl’s right to obtain records related to the stadium lease and would be closed to the public. City of Pasadena and Rose Bowl attorneys argued public funds were at stake and the dispute should play out in court proceedings open to the public.

Judge Joseph Lipner ruled the contract’s arbitration clause contains “unusual and exceeding narrow language,” with evidence to suggest both sides did not want to use arbitration to settle disputes over termination of the agreement.

The next case hearing is scheduled for Feb. 27.

The streak continues

Lauren Betts pulls a rebound away from two Michigan players Sunday.

(Lon Horwedel / Associated Press)

No. 2 UCLA faced its toughest test of Big Ten play so far this season, earning a 69-66 win at No. 8 Michigan and extending its win streak to 17 games.

“What I’m proud of is, … our team in the midst of situations we haven’t been in very much this season, we found ways to win,” UCLA coach Cori Close said. “To go into a hostile environment, and really in the second half, do it with our defense.”

The Bruins close out a tough trip at No. 12 Michigan State on Wednesday at 5 p.m. PST. The game will be streamed on Peacock.

A Prince tribute

Jordan Chiles earlier this season.

(Jesus Ramirez / UCLA Athletics)

UCLA gymnast Jordan Chiles dusted off last season’s floor routine set to Prince’s music in honor of the team’s meet at Minnesota on Saturday. Chiles nailed the routine, scoring a perfect 10 for the fourth consecutive week. After the meet, Chiles addressed the crowd, saying that the Prince routine was a tribute to the Minnesota fans who have endured immigration raids.

“I know it has been a lot of tough weeks going on here and I just want to say we stand with you,” Chiles told the crowd. “The Prince routine was meant for you guys and I wanted to bring that energy here and so I hope it uplifted you guys in this very dark time and that the Bruins will always be by your side.”

UCLA won the meet 197.550-197.275, with Chiles winning her fourth consecutive individual all-around title.

Watch her routine here and her address to fans here.

Survey results

We asked, “Aside from football and basketball, what is your favorite UCLA sport? Vote for up to three.”

The results, after 684 votes.

Softball, 52.8%
Baseball, 52.3%
Gymnastics, 32.9%
Men’s volleyball, 27.2%
Women’s soccer, 16.7%
Men’s water polo, 14%
Track and field, 11.8%
Women’s volleyball, 8.9%
Beach volleyball, 8.7%
Men’s soccer, 5.8%
Women’s water polo, 5.3%
Women’s golf, 1.1%
Men’s golf, 1.1%
Rowing, 0.6%
Men’s tennis, 0.4%
Cross-country, 0.1%
Swimming and diving, 0.1%
Women’s tennis, 0.1%

In case you missed it

Lauren Betts has 16 points, 16 rebounds as No. 2 UCLA beats No. 8 Michigan

UCLA men’s basketball holds off Washington, closes homestand with back-to-back wins

UCLA gymnastics team loves putting on a show during floor exercise

Kiki Rice and Gabriela Jaquez help No. 2 UCLA rout Rutgers

Everything goes right for Xavier Booker and UCLA men in win over Rutgers

Angela Dugalic and No. 2 UCLA dominate No. 8 Iowa for 15th consecutive win

UCLA falls to Indiana in a double-overtime heartbreaker: ‘We deserved to lose’

Jordan Chiles achieves another perfect 10 to lead UCLA past Washington

The Bruins are actually lions who picked up another big win

Have something Bruin?

Do you have a comment or something you’d like to see in a future UCLA newsletter? Email newsletters editor Houston Mitchell at houston.mitchell@latimes.com. To get this newsletter in your inbox, click here.

DID you know the world’s ‘diamond capital’ is just a train ride away from the UK?

The unlikely city of Antwerp is becoming the new capital of cool and not just because of its gemstone claim to fame.

Often overlooked by its Belgium counterparts of Brussels and Bruge, Antwerp has more than 500 years for diamond trading history.

Currently handling around 80 per cent of the world’s rough diamonds, the diamond district itself has become a popular tourist spot with cafes and bars.

Yet the city is fast becoming the hot new weekend break destination.

Last year, Time Out named the neighbourhood of Borgerhout the second the coolest in the world.

FOODIE HEAVEN

Huge £15milllion entertainment ‘island’ to open in UK city

SEA YOU

UK city’s multi-million ‘waterfront beach district’ to have saltwater lido and pier

For attractions, there is Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp (KMSKA), with live DJs and cocktail bars in summer, or the MoMu Fashion Museum.

Want to catch a show? The Quartier Latin is nicknamed the Theatre neighbourhood due to the sheer number of theatres and opera houses there are.

Make sure to get some famous frites as well as the famous Bolleke beer.

Or, go a bit higher class to one of the 16 Michelin-starred restaurants scattered throughout the city.

In the summer, head to Sint-Anneke beach on the river.

For one of the most unique stays, there is the Botanic Sanctuary Antwerp, in a former monastery and the city’s first five tar hotel.

Or there is August, just as beautiful and built in a former convent.

There are currently no direct flights from the UK to Antwerp – but instead can take the Eurostar via Brussels, taking just over three hours.

It’s worth the journey simply to go to Antwerp Centraal Station, which dates back to 1873.

The Sun’s Harry Corton recently visited the city.

He said: “Antwerp is a culture slap in the face with all the trappings of Amsterdam (yes, even a red light district!) but none of the tourist-trampled thoroughfares.

“A visit to the Cathedral of Our Lady, is essential. Take in the enormous marble turrets, ancient clock faces and magnificent stained-glass windows.

“Belgian beer culture is recognised by UNESCO as one of the great human wonders of the world and there are tons of places to sample the dizzying local delights.

“The best is Bier Central (De Keyserlei 25), where the 120-page ‘Beer Cyclodpedia’ offers over 100 different concoctions.”

Here are some of the cheapest places to fly to this year.

And here is how to spend the weekend in Europe’s cheapest city.

MARGOT Robbie sparkles again at a Wuthering Heights premiere — with a diamond necklace and matching ring.

She wore a red Chanel velvet ballgown in Paris, then changed into a black corset dress for the after-party.

Last week Margot, 35, wore a £6million necklace for the Hollywood launch.

Tomorrow she and co-star Jacob Elordi, 28, attend the UK premiere in London’s Leicester Square.

Margot last week made her Wuthering Heights co-star Jacob weak at the knees in a “breathtaking” black corset.

Leading man Jacob said the ­uplifting black number was “an absolute banger” and described it as “devastating”.

HEART ATACK

Emily Atack strips down to lacy lingerie and corset to pose on a TRACTOR

star spot

Matt LeBlanc, 58, dresses down for shop run after return to TV for SuperBowl ad

The 28-year-old Australian plays Heathcliff opposite Margot’s Cathy in the upcoming film adaptation of Emily Bronte’s 1847 novel.

He even filled his married co-star’s dressing room with roses for Valentine’s Day while shooting the tragic love story.

His fellow Aussie Margot, who posed in a minidress for the ­latest cover of Vogue Australia, said she was bowled over by the romantic gesture — despite having only had her first son with husband Tom Ackerley, 35, four months earlier.

Interviewing each other for the magazine, Margot said: “You made my day and, as Heathcliff, filled my room with roses. It was so cute.

“I remember thinking on Valentine’s Day, ‘Oh he’s probably a very good boyfriend, ’cause there’s a lot of thoughtfulness in this’.

“You did a lot of very thoughtful things — it wasn’t just the gesture of the roses.”