LOS ANGELES — UCLA women’s basketball announced the loss of one of its main returners from the 2025-26 National Championship team on Sunday.
Sophomore guard Lena Bilic will miss the entire 2026-27 season after tearing her ACL, UCLA athletics said.
No details were given as to how the injury occurred.
The 6-foot-3 Bilic averaged 3.0 PPG and 1.6 RPG per game off the bench on a roster that included six seniors who were all drafted into the WNBA, including Kiki Rice and Gabriela Jacquez.
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Bilic, a native of Zaghreb, Croatia, had displayed improvements in her on ball defense and confidence as an outside shooter before her injury.
“We are devastated for Lena,” said UCLA coach Cori Close. “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.”
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