Lauren Betts breaks a school record in UCLA women’s basketball win
NEWARK, N.J. — Lauren Betts had 24 points, nine rebounds and a school-record nine blocks to help No. 1 UCLA beat 25th-ranked Baylor 72-57 on Monday…
Incarcerated firefighters offer aid battling L.A. blazes, find career
Editor’s note: Essential California will be off tomorrow for MLK day. We’ll be back in your inboxes Tuesday morning. Good morning, and welcome to the…
Eric Dailey Jr. and UCLA men’s basketball dominate against Iowa
Dylan Andrews rose for the midrange jumper without a hint of hesitation, beating the halftime buzzer and extending his team’s massive lead.On his way to…
Mick Cronin wants to see more fight from UCLA men’s basketball
Mick Cronin’s brand of basketball — tough, relentless, hard to score a point on — would figure to play well in a conference that values…
No. 1 UCLA beats Penn State, extends school-record start to 17-0
The UCLA women’s basketball team maintained the same competitiveness it has displayed at home all season, even if the Bruins home gym was an hour…
Jaime Jaquez Jr. receives hero’s welcome in Camarillo jersey retirement ceremony
The hometown boy from Camarillo, Jaime Jaquez Jr., returned to the high school gym where he spent countless hours sweating, diving for loose balls and…
Sobering advice from two experts on how to prevent similiar fires
Good morning, and welcome to the Essential California newsletter. It’s Sunday. I’m your host, Andrew J. Campa. Here’s what you need to know to start…
UCLA women’s basketball team copes with uncertainty during fire threat
Like many Angelenos, the UCLA women’s basketball team is dealing with the catastrophic toll of the massive wildfires this week — a firestorm inching perilously…
Letters to Sports: Cori Close has built her own pyramid of success
Readers of the L.A. Times Sports section offer their opinions and thoughts on UCLA women's basketball coach Cori Close and men's coach Mick Cronin. Source…
UCLA coach Mick Cronin rips his players, which often leads to wins
UCLA coach Mick Cronin sounded exasperated as he cataloged his team’s crimes against his brand of basketball, pointing out his players didn’t play defense and…
In the paint or from long range, UCLA men can’t stop Michigan when needed
First, UCLA had no answer for Michigan’s interior dominance.Then, after a massive comeback pushed the Bruins into the lead, they could not stop the Wolverines…
UCLA needs to go big: Takeaways from the Bruins’ loss to Nebraska
UCLA has an answer for one of its biggest problems taking up more space than anyone else on the bench.He stands 7 feet 3, wears…
2024 was brutal for Los Angeles restaurant closures
Good morning, and welcome to the Essential California newsletter. It’s Sunday. I’m your host, Andrew J. Campa. Here’s what you need to know to start…
Column: Camarillo boys’ basketball team’s hot start is elementary
Jaime Jaquez Jr., with no facial hair and looking every bit like the teenager he was, took time out after a basketball game at Camarillo…
Lauren Betts scores 25, leading No. 1 UCLA to win over Indiana
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Lauren Betts had 25 points and 12 rebounds and No. 1 UCLA shut out Indiana for more than eight minutes in the first…
UCLA gymnastics: Brooklyn Moors, Jordan Chiles impress in opener
OCEANSIDE — UCLA gymnastics historically boasts Olympians. Jordan Chiles, who returned from Paris with a gold medal, headlines a 2025 roster after her international success. But…
UCLA falls to Nebraska when the Bruins can’t muster a late rally
LINCOLN, Neb. — With its best all-around player out and its point guard falling into a deeper funk, UCLA needed some step-up performances to beat Nebraska.What…
UCLA’s Jordan Chiles and Emma Malabuyo eager to compete for title
Jordan Chiles’ music wouldn’t start.Despite attempts to play the track over the Yates Gym speakers at the John Wooden Center, the Billboard Top 100 hits…
UCLA basketball braces for more hostile road crowds in Big Ten
When Tyler Bilodeau, Kobe Johnson and the other UCLA starters approach center court for tipoff against Nebraska on Saturday inside Pinnacle Bank Arena, the roars…
UCLA women’s basketball beats Michigan, but Cori Close wants more
A new year ushered in something different for the UCLA women’s basketball team.A serious challenge.Unable to pull away from Michigan like they had against other…