UCLA grabbed one of the biggest prizes still available on the transfer portal by signing former Utah star Gianna Kneepkens. The 6’0″, 22-year-old guard will play her fifth season of NCAA basketball with the Bruins.
Gianna Kneepkens Commits to UCLA
One of the first to report the move via a post on her X account was renowned On3 reporter Talia Goodman. In a subsequent post, Goodman shared her thoughts on what this addition means for UCLA:
“UCLA is looking pretty darn good on paper right now,” she posted.
Kneepkens herself also confirmed her commitment to UCLA via a post on her personal Instagram account.
Ver esta publicación en Instagram
The Duluth, Minnesota native played her first four seasons of NCAA basketball with the Utah Utes. Her career included 104 games, averaging 15.6 points, 4.9 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game.
The 2024-25 season was by far the best of her collegiate career, averaging 19.3 points, 5 rebounds, and three assists in 31 games (played 30 minutes per game). She shot 50.4% on two-point shots, 44.8% from the perimeter, and 89% on free throws.
With the Utes, Keepkens won 13 games and lost five in the Big 12 Conference last season, 22 and 9 overall. They finished tied for fourth in the conference with West Virginia and Kansas State.
They were invited to the NCAA Tournament, where they lost to Indiana in the first round.
After winning the Big 10 Conference title and reaching the Final 4 in 2025, UCLA lost six players between the portal transfer and the 2025 WNBA Draft. However, head coach Cori Close and her staff did not sit idly by.
As Goodman noted in her X post, Gianna Kneepkens joins an increasingly solid roster that currently features star center Lauren Betts, who returns to the team, and spectacular guard Kiki Rice, who also returns.
Sienna Betts, Lauren’s sister, will also be returning next season, making her collegiate debut. According to ESPNW, she is the No. 2-ranked player in the nation for the class of 2025.
Also Read: With Paige Bueckers Gone, Who Will Be the Next Face of Women’s College Basketball?
Charlisse Leger-Walker, Gabriela Jaquez, Timea Gardiner, and Angela Dugalic are other top players already on the Bruins’ roster.
College Sports Network has you covered with the latest news, analysis, insights, and trending stories in college football, men’s college basketball, women’s college basketball, and college baseball!
