LOS ANGELES — It’s now or never for the third-ranked UCLA women’s basketball team.

Or, if not never – now or a while.

Because when will Coach Cori Close’s Bruins have a better chance to win a national title? A cleaner look? More momentum – or pressure?

If not never, then probably not soon.

So we’ll see.

We’ll see if UCLA can take that fourth and final step, if the Bruins can continue stacking days and years – as senior standout Gabriela Jaquez puts it – on what’s been a steady upward ascent.

If they can convert on Kiki Rice’s goal to be part of the program’s first national championship team when she picked the Bruins in 2022.

After losing consecutive Sweet 16 games to the eventual national champions in 2023 and 2024, the Bruins got to the doorstep of the NCAA title game last season

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