LOS ANGELES — UCLA women’s basketball fifth-year graduate senior Timea Gardiner has reflected on the obstacles she overcame in 2025-26.
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Gardiner was forced to medically redshirt during the historic UCLA National Championship run.
UCLA’s Timea Gardiner during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Wisconsin Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025, in Madison, Wis. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
UCLA forward Timea Gardiner (30) celebrates after her 3-point basket during the first half against LSU in the Elite Eight of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Sunday, March 30, 2025, in Spokane, Wash. (AP Photo/Young Kwak)
UCLA forward Timea Gardiner, left, passes the ball during practice at the Final Four of the NCAA college basketball tournament Thursday, April 3, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
The Ogden, Utah native tore her ACL and sat on the sidelines as her team climbed to historic marks previously untouched by the women’s basketball program.
Gardiner is now back, shooting the ball and working out freely as UCLA gears up for the 2026-27 season opener against Lehigh on Monday, Nov. 2 at 11:30 a.m. from Pauley Pavilion.
“It’s been fun,” Gardiner said. “It’s been a challenge obviously battling adversity. It has its ups and downs but for the people around me, it’s been fun to receive the support I’ve been given.”
Gardiner’s role will likely expand with sophomore guard Lena Bilic out for the season after suffering a torn ACL herself.
Perimeter shooting and defending at multiple levels and positions allowed Gardiner to play a key role for UCLA in 2024-25 after two seasons playing at Oregon State. The 6-foot-3 forward averaged 7.6 points per game and 3.4 rebounds per game off the bench in a supporting roll for eventual first overall pick Lauren Betts during the Bruins’ Final Four appearance.
Gardiner and UCLA had traveled 36,116 air miles — the most by any Final Four team that season. The experience from 2024-25 is carrying into how she’s playing her senior role.
“We are really just focused on the process,” Gardiner said. “What we can do each and every day to get better. Really just taking it step by step.”
UCLA coach Cori Close has watched Gardiner’s skillsets play out both in practice, games and interactions with teammates.
“It’s her leadership, her ability to shoot the ball and her basketball I.Q.,” Close said. “She’s also done the work off the court to be looked at as one pulse of the team.
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Gardiner finds herself in a mentorship role as well with UCLA adding 5-foot-9 freshman Somto Okafor, a native of Barcelona, Spain, and 5-foot-9 freshman point guard Lina Jerkovic from Rogaška Slatina, Slovenia.
“They come into a very incredible culture,” Gardiner said. “I think it can be a little intimidating. But I just say just take it one step at a time. Try to have fun, try to learn as much as you can and be a sponge. Learn as much as you can because it can come at you really fast.”
Close asked Okafor and Jerkovic who commands their respect on the team on their way to watching an LA Sparks game. Both players said it was Gardiner.
“Timea is a pro, she’s going to be a pro and she’s going to lead us where we want to go,” Close said.
UCLA also added from the transfer fifth-year senior forward KK Bransford from Notre Dame, junior shooting guard Elina Aarnisalo from North Carolina, and forward Addy Brown via Iowa State.
Close spoke about the culture and development of the program with the regular season set to tipoff in three weeks.
“We have a lot to be excited about,” Close said. “I love what this team can grow into. I think we learned so much last year about what the road map looks like and to create the habits to be successful in February and March.”
Close elaborated on the repeated phrase “March is happening now” being spoken and used during practices at Mo Ostin Basketball Center.
“It’s in the fact of what kind of habits and work ethic that we are creating,” Close said. “I’m really excited about where we are at.”
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