What UCLA Must, and Must Not, Repeat in Texas Rematch

The Bruins have made yet another Final Four and are looking to not only make a championship appearance but also win a national title, and they will have to beat a familiar foe in order to do so.

This is because their final four matchup will be against the Texas Longhorns, who were the only team to beat UCLA this season and put a blemish on their otherwise perfect record despite some other scares.

Now that they will be facing off again, what will the Bruins need to repeat, and what will they need to completely change against the Longhorns?

What Bruins Will Need To Repeat on Offense

The Bruins generally lacked on the offensive side of the ball against Texas, only scoring 65 points in their eventual 11-point loss, and nobody looked like they could get anything going.

This, however, was not the case for Gianna Kneepkens, who had 17 points on the night, taking no free throw attempts on 7-11 shooting, going 50% from beyond the arc, and being the main piece that could disrupt the Longhorns.

She could easily be the player that allows the Bruins to win by finding the same weaknesses she found last time to garner such high output, and she could also be the complement to another teammate that might also be on fire.

What Bruins Will Need To Repeat on Defense

Though it is not the most common play, the Bruins were able to come away with six steals against Texas, which could have been a game-changer should the match have been close.

The Bruins will need to find a way to steal the ball at that rate again to make a championship run; otherwise, their season could end in a grim fashion.

What Bruins Cannot Afford To Repeat on Offense

Apr 2, 2026; Phoenix, AZ, USA; UCLA Bruins head coach Cori Close during practice prior to a 2026 NCAA Final Four women's basketball semifinal at Mortgage Matchup Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

The Bruins could not find a way to shoot the three-point ball against the Longhorns, making only one shot as a collective group aside from the aforementioned Kneepkens.

If the deep shot isn't working again in the rematch, then UCLA will need to quickly pivot to avoid another double-digit loss and a sad way to end the season.

What Bruins Cannot Afford To Repeat on Defense

The Bruins are normally able to find a way to block their opponent many times a night, and that has especially been true in the March Madness tournament, with the team averaging around six a game.

That wasn't the case against Texas, as they only managed two, so UCLA must keep up the blocking ability they have had in the tournament to hopefully ensure a victory.