Thursday, November 5
Los Angeles, Calif.
7:00 PM
UC Irvine
at
UCLA
November 04, 2026 | Women's Basketball
UC Irvine (0-0) at
#11 UCLA (1-0)
Date:Â Thursday, Nov. 5
Time:Â 7 p.m. (PST)
Location:Â Pauley Pavilion (13,800) - Los Angeles, Calif.
Watch on B1G+ | Live Stats
IRVINE, Calif. -Â UC Irvine women's basketball heads to defending national champion and 11th-ranked UCLA for its season opener on Thursday, Nov. 5. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. at Pauley Pavilion with the game being broadcast live on B1G+.
Â
STARTING FIVE: STORYLINES
• The Anteaters are coming off one of their best seasons in program history. In 2025-26, UCI produced its fifth-straight 20-win campaign, claimed a share of its second Big West regular season title, and earned an automatic bid to the WBIT for its fourth national postseason appearance in five years. The 'Eaters set school records in both overall (26) and conference (17) victories. They also won a program-best 16 games in a row, shattering the previous high of nine. Â
• UC Irvine welcomes back eight letterwinners, including three starters from last year's squad. Senior point guard Shirel Nahum ranked second on the team in assists (3.0 apg) and third in scoring (7.3 ppg) in 2025-26. Senior forward Summah Hanson also averaged 6.6 points and 6.0 rebounds per game. Rounding out the trio is junior guard Lauryn Madsen, who ended her sophomore campaign among the Anteaters' top-five single-season leaders in 3-pointers made (3rd, 70) and steals (T-5th, 71).
• UCI lost two key members of its 2025-26 squad with the graduation of leading scorers and first-team all-conference selections Hunter Hernandez (19.8 ppg) and Jada Wynn (15.0 ppg). Hernandez, who broke the single-season school record with 655 points, was also named the Big West Player of the Year. It will take a collective team effort to fill their shoes as the 'Eaters have reloaded with four NCAA Division I transfers - Ahrray Young (Nevada), Gracie Gallegos (UC San Diego), Makiah Asidanya (UNCG), and Sarah Miller (Penn). They also have three incoming freshmen.
• UC Irvine will be facing an AP Top 25 team for the 23rd time in program history. The Anteaters are 1-21 in games vs. ranked opponents with their lone win coming against No. 14 San Diego on Feb. 22, 1985.
• The 'Eaters start the campaign on the road for just the second time in 12 years, and are set to face the defending national champion for the first time in program history. They have squared off with UCLA in the first game of the season three times (1974-75, 1980-81, 1986-87).Â
SCOUTING THE BRUINS
Defending national champion and 11th-ranked UCLA (1-0) extended its win streak to 32 games after defeating Lehigh, 73-53, in its season opener on Monday, Nov. 5. The Bruins bring back five players from their championship squad. Sophomore forward Sienna Betts is the top returner as she averaged 6.0 points and 4.0 rebounds last year. After a record six Bruins were selected in the 2026 WNBA draft, UCLA has reloaded with five transfers and two international freshmen.
SERIES RECORD
UC Irvine trails in its all-time series with UCLA, 10-0. The two teams' most recent meeting came in the first round of the 2022 WNIT. The Anteaters trailed by only six heading into the fourth quarter, but the Bruins pulled away in the final 10 minutes for the 61-48 win at Pauley Pavilion.
MID-MAJOR RANKINGS
UC Irvine is ranked 22nd in the College Insider Women's Mid-Major Preseason Poll that was released on Oct. 29. Last year, the Anteaters had a streak of 12 consecutive weeks in the Top 25 (Dec. 23-March 10). On Jan. 20, 2026, the 'Eaters earned their highest mid-major ranking in program history at No. 12.Â
20-20 VISION
UC Irvine had two 20-win campaigns in 42 years before head coach Tamara Inoue took the helm in 2016-17. Twenty wins are now the standard with the Anteaters reaching the benchmark six times in 10 seasons, including in each of the last five. Last year, UCI recorded its 20th victory on Feb. 12 as a 16-game win streak propelled the 'Eaters to a 20-4 record, marking their fastest run to 20 in program history. They went on to close out the season at 26-7, breaking the school record of 25 wins that was also set by an Inoue squad in 2022-23.
LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN
In the last four seasons, the Anteaters have won three Big West titles, claiming the Big West Championship crown in 2023-24, and finishing atop the regular season standings in 2022-23 and 2025-26. The 'Eaters have a seven-year streak of placing among the top-two in the conference. Since 2020-21, UC Irvine has not lost more than five Big West games in a regular season, combining for a league-leading 89-22 (.802) record during that stretch.Â
OPENING DAY
Overall, UC Irvine is 17-35 in season openers. Under 11th-year head coach Tamara Inoue, the Anteaters are 6-4 in the first game of the year. This is only the second time they will start on the road in the Inoue era. In 2023-24, the 'Eaters fell at Pepperdine, 63-58. This will be the fourth time UCI faces UCLA in its opener, but the first since the 1986-87 campaign.
FROM THE LINE
In 2025-26, the 'Eaters made 566 free throws on 702 attempts. Their 80.6 free throw percentage was a single-season school record and ranked third in all of NCAA Division I behind only Rice (81.9%) and Illinois (81.5%). Six Anteaters finished the year shooting over 80% at the charity stripe including returners Ameerah Grant (83.6%), Lauryn Madsen (83.3%), Shirel Nahum (82.8%), and Summah Hanson (81.0%).
DEFENSIVE IDENTITY
UC Irvine has developed into one of the better defensive teams in the country, ranking among the top-15 in all of NCAA Division I in scoring defense for three-straight seasons (2022-25), before finishing the 2025-26 campaign at No. 30. UCI was also 13th in FG% defense a year ago, and fifth in 2024-25. In 2022-23, the Anteaters' school-record 53.2 points allowed per game ranked seventh in the nation. They have not given up more than 60 ppg in a season since 2021-22 (60.8 ppg).
THE GOAT
Tamara Inoue is the most decorated head coach in program history. She is the Anteaters' only two-time Big West Coach of the Year, while her teams captured both of UCI's Big West regular-season titles. In 2023-24, she also guided the 'Eaters to their first Big West Championship and NCAA tournament appearance in 29 years. Inoue is UC Irvine women's basketball's all-time winningest head coach. On Feb. 27, 2025, she earned her 159th career victory to surpass Dean Andrea (1979-1991). Inoue now owns a 187-123 career record entering her 11th season. Her .603 win percentage is the best among UCI's head coaches who were at the helm for more than 30 games. Her teams have twice broken the school record in wins with 25 in 2022-23 and 26 in 2025-26. In addition, Inoue has led the Anteaters to five of their six national postseason berths, their first victory in a national postseason tournament (2023 WNIT), and six of their eight 20-win campaigns.
ON POINT
Last season, senior Shirel Nahum took on the starting point guard role after the graduation of two-time first-team All-Big West selection and 2023-24 Big West Player of the Year Déja Lee. Nahum had an impressive campaign, averaging 7.3 points, 3.4 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 1.1 steals per outing. She had a breakout performance in a 90-75 win over NAU as she finished with a career-high 23 points. She reached double digits in scoring 10 times, while also settling in as a primary playmaker with 3+ assists on 21 occasions. She dished out a career-best seven dimes in a win over Colgate on Nov. 29, 2025.Â
SHARPSHOOTER
Junior Lauryn Madsen ranked second on the squad, and third in single-season school history with 70 made threes last year. She buried five 3-pointers for a career-high 15 points on five occasions. In 55 career games played, Madsen has a triple in 42 of them, and drained multiple threes 20 times. In 2025-26, the 5-foot-11 guard averaged 7.0 points, 2.9 rebounds, 1.3 assists, and 2.2 steals per contest. Defensively, Madsen led the 'Eaters with 71 steals, which tied for fifth in single-season school history. She recorded multiple takeaways 20 times and swiped 4+ on six occasions with a career-high six at LBSU on Jan. 8.
SUMMAH TIME
Senior Summah Hanson averaged 6.6 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 1.0 blocks in 22 games played last season. The 6-foot-3 forward, who missed the first 10 contests recovering from an offseason injury, pulled down 5+ rebounds in 16 of her 22 appearances. The Brisbane, Australia, native had two double-doubles on the year with 12 points and a season-best 13 boards against UC Santa Barbara, and 13 points/11 rebounds vs. CSUN. She also notched a season-high 18 points against UC San Diego.
MORE IN STORE
Sophomore Nohe'alani Stores was named to the 2025-26 Big West All-Freshman Team after averaging 5.7 points and 3.4 rebounds in 32 games played. She led the Anteaters in field goal percentage at 55.7%. Stores reached double figures in scoring on six occasions, including in the opener against San Diego (Nov. 5, 2025), when she scored a season-high 17 points on 7-of-8 shooting. The 6-foot-2 forward, who has battled through injuries, is looking to stay healthy and build on that success in 2026-27.
KEY LOSSES
UC Irvine graduated its top two scorers, Hunter Hernandez (19.8 ppg) and Jada Wynn (15.0 ppg). Wynn also led the Anteaters in rebounding (7.2 rpg) and assists (3.8 apg). Hernandez, who was at UCI for five years, was one of the greatest to ever don the Blue & Gold. Last season, she shattered the single-season school record with 655 points. The 5-foot-9 guard also finished her career as UC Irvine's all-time leader in free throws made (402) and climbed all the way up to No. 2 in scoring (1,477). Hernandez was the first player in program history to earn a third first-team All-Big West selection, and the second to be named the Big West Player of the Year.
IMPACT TRANSFERS
Looking to help fill the gap left by Hernandez and Wynn are four NCAA Division I transfers. Senior guard Ahrray Young played last season at Nevada where she averaged 9.5 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game. Senior guard Gracie Gallegos is a familiar face after spending the last four years at Big West rival UC San Diego. Gallegos sat out the 2022-23 and 2025-26 seasons, but made an impact when she was on the court. She was a key piece in the Tritons' 2024-25 championship run, starting all 35 games and finishing with 9.3 points and 5.3 boards per outing. Gallegos was an All-Big West honorable mention selection, while she also garnered All-Freshman Team honors in 2023-24. Senior guard Makiah Asidanya is coming off her best season at UNC Greensboro where she started every game and ranked second on the team in scoring (11.2 ppg). Junior guard Sarah Miller also joins the 'Eaters after two years at Penn.Â
FRESHMAN TRIO
Complementing the transfers are three incoming freshmen. Point guard Delaney White comes to UC Irvine from Sierra Canyon High School where she led her team to the 2026 CIF-Southern Section Open Division title. White spent her first three years at Oak Park HS where she was a three-time CIF Player of the Year. Alleah Hanson, a 6-foot-2 forward, joins older sister, Summah, as an Anteater this year. The younger Hanson led Brisbane State High School to back-ot-back Australian School Championships. She was also a member of the U20 Queensland team that advanced to the 2025 Australian National Championship. Ellery Burke-Brown, a 5-foot-9 shooting guard, was a McDonald's All-American Game nominee and two-time all-league selection at Roosevelt High School in Seattle.
UP NEXT
UC Irvine stays on the road next week, traveling to Northern Arizona for a 6 p.m. MT/5 p.m. PT showdown on Tuesday, Nov. 10.
#11 UCLA (1-0)
Date:Â Thursday, Nov. 5
Time:Â 7 p.m. (PST)
Location:Â Pauley Pavilion (13,800) - Los Angeles, Calif.
Watch on B1G+ | Live Stats
IRVINE, Calif. -Â UC Irvine women's basketball heads to defending national champion and 11th-ranked UCLA for its season opener on Thursday, Nov. 5. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. at Pauley Pavilion with the game being broadcast live on B1G+.
Â
STARTING FIVE: STORYLINES
• The Anteaters are coming off one of their best seasons in program history. In 2025-26, UCI produced its fifth-straight 20-win campaign, claimed a share of its second Big West regular season title, and earned an automatic bid to the WBIT for its fourth national postseason appearance in five years. The 'Eaters set school records in both overall (26) and conference (17) victories. They also won a program-best 16 games in a row, shattering the previous high of nine. Â
• UC Irvine welcomes back eight letterwinners, including three starters from last year's squad. Senior point guard Shirel Nahum ranked second on the team in assists (3.0 apg) and third in scoring (7.3 ppg) in 2025-26. Senior forward Summah Hanson also averaged 6.6 points and 6.0 rebounds per game. Rounding out the trio is junior guard Lauryn Madsen, who ended her sophomore campaign among the Anteaters' top-five single-season leaders in 3-pointers made (3rd, 70) and steals (T-5th, 71).
• UCI lost two key members of its 2025-26 squad with the graduation of leading scorers and first-team all-conference selections Hunter Hernandez (19.8 ppg) and Jada Wynn (15.0 ppg). Hernandez, who broke the single-season school record with 655 points, was also named the Big West Player of the Year. It will take a collective team effort to fill their shoes as the 'Eaters have reloaded with four NCAA Division I transfers - Ahrray Young (Nevada), Gracie Gallegos (UC San Diego), Makiah Asidanya (UNCG), and Sarah Miller (Penn). They also have three incoming freshmen.
• UC Irvine will be facing an AP Top 25 team for the 23rd time in program history. The Anteaters are 1-21 in games vs. ranked opponents with their lone win coming against No. 14 San Diego on Feb. 22, 1985.
• The 'Eaters start the campaign on the road for just the second time in 12 years, and are set to face the defending national champion for the first time in program history. They have squared off with UCLA in the first game of the season three times (1974-75, 1980-81, 1986-87).Â
SCOUTING THE BRUINS
Defending national champion and 11th-ranked UCLA (1-0) extended its win streak to 32 games after defeating Lehigh, 73-53, in its season opener on Monday, Nov. 5. The Bruins bring back five players from their championship squad. Sophomore forward Sienna Betts is the top returner as she averaged 6.0 points and 4.0 rebounds last year. After a record six Bruins were selected in the 2026 WNBA draft, UCLA has reloaded with five transfers and two international freshmen.
SERIES RECORD
UC Irvine trails in its all-time series with UCLA, 10-0. The two teams' most recent meeting came in the first round of the 2022 WNIT. The Anteaters trailed by only six heading into the fourth quarter, but the Bruins pulled away in the final 10 minutes for the 61-48 win at Pauley Pavilion.
MID-MAJOR RANKINGS
UC Irvine is ranked 22nd in the College Insider Women's Mid-Major Preseason Poll that was released on Oct. 29. Last year, the Anteaters had a streak of 12 consecutive weeks in the Top 25 (Dec. 23-March 10). On Jan. 20, 2026, the 'Eaters earned their highest mid-major ranking in program history at No. 12.Â
20-20 VISION
UC Irvine had two 20-win campaigns in 42 years before head coach Tamara Inoue took the helm in 2016-17. Twenty wins are now the standard with the Anteaters reaching the benchmark six times in 10 seasons, including in each of the last five. Last year, UCI recorded its 20th victory on Feb. 12 as a 16-game win streak propelled the 'Eaters to a 20-4 record, marking their fastest run to 20 in program history. They went on to close out the season at 26-7, breaking the school record of 25 wins that was also set by an Inoue squad in 2022-23.
LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN
In the last four seasons, the Anteaters have won three Big West titles, claiming the Big West Championship crown in 2023-24, and finishing atop the regular season standings in 2022-23 and 2025-26. The 'Eaters have a seven-year streak of placing among the top-two in the conference. Since 2020-21, UC Irvine has not lost more than five Big West games in a regular season, combining for a league-leading 89-22 (.802) record during that stretch.Â
OPENING DAY
Overall, UC Irvine is 17-35 in season openers. Under 11th-year head coach Tamara Inoue, the Anteaters are 6-4 in the first game of the year. This is only the second time they will start on the road in the Inoue era. In 2023-24, the 'Eaters fell at Pepperdine, 63-58. This will be the fourth time UCI faces UCLA in its opener, but the first since the 1986-87 campaign.
FROM THE LINE
In 2025-26, the 'Eaters made 566 free throws on 702 attempts. Their 80.6 free throw percentage was a single-season school record and ranked third in all of NCAA Division I behind only Rice (81.9%) and Illinois (81.5%). Six Anteaters finished the year shooting over 80% at the charity stripe including returners Ameerah Grant (83.6%), Lauryn Madsen (83.3%), Shirel Nahum (82.8%), and Summah Hanson (81.0%).
DEFENSIVE IDENTITY
UC Irvine has developed into one of the better defensive teams in the country, ranking among the top-15 in all of NCAA Division I in scoring defense for three-straight seasons (2022-25), before finishing the 2025-26 campaign at No. 30. UCI was also 13th in FG% defense a year ago, and fifth in 2024-25. In 2022-23, the Anteaters' school-record 53.2 points allowed per game ranked seventh in the nation. They have not given up more than 60 ppg in a season since 2021-22 (60.8 ppg).
THE GOAT
Tamara Inoue is the most decorated head coach in program history. She is the Anteaters' only two-time Big West Coach of the Year, while her teams captured both of UCI's Big West regular-season titles. In 2023-24, she also guided the 'Eaters to their first Big West Championship and NCAA tournament appearance in 29 years. Inoue is UC Irvine women's basketball's all-time winningest head coach. On Feb. 27, 2025, she earned her 159th career victory to surpass Dean Andrea (1979-1991). Inoue now owns a 187-123 career record entering her 11th season. Her .603 win percentage is the best among UCI's head coaches who were at the helm for more than 30 games. Her teams have twice broken the school record in wins with 25 in 2022-23 and 26 in 2025-26. In addition, Inoue has led the Anteaters to five of their six national postseason berths, their first victory in a national postseason tournament (2023 WNIT), and six of their eight 20-win campaigns.
ON POINT
Last season, senior Shirel Nahum took on the starting point guard role after the graduation of two-time first-team All-Big West selection and 2023-24 Big West Player of the Year Déja Lee. Nahum had an impressive campaign, averaging 7.3 points, 3.4 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 1.1 steals per outing. She had a breakout performance in a 90-75 win over NAU as she finished with a career-high 23 points. She reached double digits in scoring 10 times, while also settling in as a primary playmaker with 3+ assists on 21 occasions. She dished out a career-best seven dimes in a win over Colgate on Nov. 29, 2025.Â
SHARPSHOOTER
Junior Lauryn Madsen ranked second on the squad, and third in single-season school history with 70 made threes last year. She buried five 3-pointers for a career-high 15 points on five occasions. In 55 career games played, Madsen has a triple in 42 of them, and drained multiple threes 20 times. In 2025-26, the 5-foot-11 guard averaged 7.0 points, 2.9 rebounds, 1.3 assists, and 2.2 steals per contest. Defensively, Madsen led the 'Eaters with 71 steals, which tied for fifth in single-season school history. She recorded multiple takeaways 20 times and swiped 4+ on six occasions with a career-high six at LBSU on Jan. 8.
SUMMAH TIME
Senior Summah Hanson averaged 6.6 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 1.0 blocks in 22 games played last season. The 6-foot-3 forward, who missed the first 10 contests recovering from an offseason injury, pulled down 5+ rebounds in 16 of her 22 appearances. The Brisbane, Australia, native had two double-doubles on the year with 12 points and a season-best 13 boards against UC Santa Barbara, and 13 points/11 rebounds vs. CSUN. She also notched a season-high 18 points against UC San Diego.
MORE IN STORE
Sophomore Nohe'alani Stores was named to the 2025-26 Big West All-Freshman Team after averaging 5.7 points and 3.4 rebounds in 32 games played. She led the Anteaters in field goal percentage at 55.7%. Stores reached double figures in scoring on six occasions, including in the opener against San Diego (Nov. 5, 2025), when she scored a season-high 17 points on 7-of-8 shooting. The 6-foot-2 forward, who has battled through injuries, is looking to stay healthy and build on that success in 2026-27.
KEY LOSSES
UC Irvine graduated its top two scorers, Hunter Hernandez (19.8 ppg) and Jada Wynn (15.0 ppg). Wynn also led the Anteaters in rebounding (7.2 rpg) and assists (3.8 apg). Hernandez, who was at UCI for five years, was one of the greatest to ever don the Blue & Gold. Last season, she shattered the single-season school record with 655 points. The 5-foot-9 guard also finished her career as UC Irvine's all-time leader in free throws made (402) and climbed all the way up to No. 2 in scoring (1,477). Hernandez was the first player in program history to earn a third first-team All-Big West selection, and the second to be named the Big West Player of the Year.
IMPACT TRANSFERS
Looking to help fill the gap left by Hernandez and Wynn are four NCAA Division I transfers. Senior guard Ahrray Young played last season at Nevada where she averaged 9.5 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game. Senior guard Gracie Gallegos is a familiar face after spending the last four years at Big West rival UC San Diego. Gallegos sat out the 2022-23 and 2025-26 seasons, but made an impact when she was on the court. She was a key piece in the Tritons' 2024-25 championship run, starting all 35 games and finishing with 9.3 points and 5.3 boards per outing. Gallegos was an All-Big West honorable mention selection, while she also garnered All-Freshman Team honors in 2023-24. Senior guard Makiah Asidanya is coming off her best season at UNC Greensboro where she started every game and ranked second on the team in scoring (11.2 ppg). Junior guard Sarah Miller also joins the 'Eaters after two years at Penn.Â
FRESHMAN TRIO
Complementing the transfers are three incoming freshmen. Point guard Delaney White comes to UC Irvine from Sierra Canyon High School where she led her team to the 2026 CIF-Southern Section Open Division title. White spent her first three years at Oak Park HS where she was a three-time CIF Player of the Year. Alleah Hanson, a 6-foot-2 forward, joins older sister, Summah, as an Anteater this year. The younger Hanson led Brisbane State High School to back-ot-back Australian School Championships. She was also a member of the U20 Queensland team that advanced to the 2025 Australian National Championship. Ellery Burke-Brown, a 5-foot-9 shooting guard, was a McDonald's All-American Game nominee and two-time all-league selection at Roosevelt High School in Seattle.
UP NEXT
UC Irvine stays on the road next week, traveling to Northern Arizona for a 6 p.m. MT/5 p.m. PT showdown on Tuesday, Nov. 10.
Players Mentioned
Guard
/ Women's Basketball
Guard
/ Women's Basketball
Guard
/ Women's Basketball
Point Guard
/ Women's Basketball
Forward
/ Women's Basketball
Forward
/ Women's Basketball
Guard
/ Women's Basketball
Guard
/ Women's Basketball
Guard
/ Women's Basketball
Point Guard
/ Women's Basketball
Forward
/ Women's Basketball
Point Guard
/ Women's Basketball
Guard
/ Women's Basketball
Guard
/ Women's BasketballTuesday, August 25
Friday, August 21
Tuesday, August 18
Friday, August 14
