#23 VICTORIA BAKER
Year: Freshman
Position: Guard
Height: 5-9
Hometown: Austin, Texas
High School: Vista Ridge HS
Major: Undeclared
 
 
Seeing the love and dedication Victoria Baker has for the sport of basketball, as well as all of the accolades she received during high school, one would never guess that she did not take to the sport right away.
 
Baker tried basketball at a young age, but didn't really enjoy it so she ended up playing soccer, which she started in first grade. It wasn't until she reached middle school that Baker picked up a basketball again, and this time around, she fell in love with the sport.
 
"My (middle school) coaches told me I should try out for this startup league and before I knew it, I was super into it," Baker recalled. "By the start of high school I knew that I wasn't going to play soccer anymore and that I was going to take basketball more seriously."
 
In eighth grade, Baker switched to a more competitive club team to help her prepare for the next stage of her hoops career at Vista Ridge High School. But, after moving out of her district, her time as a Ranger wouldn't start the way she hoped as she had to sit out her freshman year due to transfer rules.
 
"It took a toll on me mentally because I was practicing and putting all this work in but I couldn't play," Baker said. "Sitting on the bench for all of our games was tough, but at the same time I think it helped me. You still have to go 100% in practice and that helped me become the player I am today."
 
All of her hard work that season laid the foundation for a highly decorated prep career. Baker ended up earning first-team All-District honors in each of her three seasons. She was also the 2020 District 13-6A MVP, the 2019 Offensive MVP and the 2018 Newcomer of the Year. In addition, Baker was a McDonald's All-American Game nominee, and garnered first-team all-state and all-region accolades as a senior. She finished her time at Vista Ridge with 1,252 career points.
 
Baker's success caught the eye of numerous college coaches, including UC Irvine head coach Tamara Inoue and her staff. Even through their initial phone conversations, Baker felt an immediate connection with the Anteater coaches which led to an impactful unofficial visit in March 2019.
 
"When I came on my unofficial, I had no plans to commit," Baker said. "Then, just being at UCI for the first time and seeing everyone in person, automatically when I stepped foot on campus I knew this was it. I really liked the coaches, and I liked that they had an all-female staff. My teammates are awesome, they made me feel at home right away. So, the night of the unofficial, I texted my high school coaches who told me to go with my gut, and the next day I committed."

UC Irvine's location was also a plus for Baker who loves the ocean and surfing. While she enjoys any beach getaways she can make during her free time, Baker continues to keep her focus on preparing for the start of the season, something she and her teammates have been anxiously awaiting for months.
 
"We have the potential to be really good, and I'm looking forward to being out on the court with all my teammates," Baker added. "I can't wait to just play and do whatever I can to help our team."