UCLA’s defending national champion women’s basketball team will open its title defense without one of its rising guards. The Bruins announced Sunday that sophomore Lena Bilic tore her anterior cruciate ligament in practice and will miss the entire 2026 season.
The injury comes at a difficult time for a UCLA roster already rebuilding after losing its top six players from last season’s championship run. Bilic, who played exclusively off the bench as a freshman, had been expected to take on a larger role this year.
“We are devastated for Lena,” UCLA coach Cori Close said in a statement. “She is such an important part of what we do here, and I know she’ll continue to be impactful for us through her recovery. We’ll be with Lena every step of the way, and she’s in great hands with the best medical staff in the country, so I know she will come out on the other side stronger and better.”
As a freshman, Bilic averaged 12.1 minutes per game and scored in double figures three times, including a 13-point performance against Oregon in UCLA’s Big Ten Conference opener. She was known for her energy on the floor, finishing the season with 13 steals, nine blocks and 21 assists.
Her loss puts additional pressure on a transfer class the Bruins brought in to help replace departed talent. That group includes guards Elina Aarnisalo (North Carolina), Donovyn Hunter (TCU), KK Bransford (Notre Dame) and Bonnie Deas (Arkansas), along with freshman guard Somto Okafor.
UCLA lost center Lauren Betts, forward Angela Dugalic and guards Kiki Rice, Gabriela Jaquez and Gianna Kneepkens to the WNBA after last season’s title run, leaving the program to lean heavily on new faces this year.
The Bruins are set to play an exhibition game against Cal on Oct. 14 before opening the regular season against Lehigh on Nov. 2. UCLA will hold a ring ceremony and raise its championship banner ahead of a Nov. 15 matchup with Princeton.
