Staff Directory
Lauren Saiki
- Title:
- Assistant Coach
- Email:
- Phone:
- (949) 824 - 9573
Former UC Irvine women's basketball star Lauren Saiki enters her second year as an assistant coach at her alma mater in 2026-27.
In her first year on staff, Saiki helpedΒ the Anteaters to their second Big West regular season championship and fifth-straight 20-win campaign. It was a record-breaking season as the 2025-26 squad set program bests in total wins (26), Big West victories (17), win streak (16), points scored (2,340), free throws made (566), free throw percentage (80.6%), and 3-pointers made (284). The 'Eaters earned an automatic qualifier into the Women's Basketball Invitation Tournament (WBIT), marking theirΒ fourth postseason appearance in five years.Β UCI was ranked among the top-25 in the College Insider Women's Mid-Major Poll for 12 consecutive weeks (Dec. 23-March 10), and rose to as high as No. 12.Β Individually, guard Hunter Hernandez was named the Big West Player of the Year and Jada WynnΒ was tabbed the Newcomer of the Year. They were alsoΒ both first-team all-conference selections.
Saiki was a fan favorite at UCI where she was a two-time All-Big West selection, earning first-team honors as a senior (2020), and honorable mention recognition as a junior (2019). The 5-foot-3 point guard started all 94 games, finishing with 963 points, 447 assists, and 107 3-pointers made in her three seasons with the Anteaters. Her 447 assists rank second among UC Irvine's all-time leaders. In 2019-20, Saiki broke the single-season school record with 215 assists, while her 6.9 assist average was tops in the conference and third in all of NCAA Division I. Saiki spent her freshman year at West Virginia.
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Saiki also excelled in the classroom, receiving Big West All-Academic honors all three years. She graduated with her bachelor's degree in sociology in 2019, and completed UCI's Master of Innovation and Entrepreneurship program in 2020.
Saiki has spent the last five years playing professionally overseas. She started her pro career with the Cardiff Met Archers in South Wales (2021-23). In 2022-23, Saiki averaged 15.4 points, 8.5 assists, and 2.3 steals per game, leading her team to their first Women's Basketball British League (WBBL) playoff qualification in five years. Her assist average ranked first in the league.
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Saiki then signed with ACD Ferragudo in Portugal's top league, before returning to the WBBL with the Newcastle Eagles (2023-25). Saiki once again led the league in assists in 2023-24 (7.3 apg) and 2024-25 (7.5 apg). Newcastle had their highest league finish in club history last year, and advanced to the semifinals of both the WBBL Cup and Playoffs. In 2023-24, Saiki and her teammates made a run to the playoff finals as the No. 6 seed.
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In her first year at Cardiff, Saiki completed a second master's degree in digital marketing while playing and coaching. She was the Cardiff Met Archers U18 Women's Basketball Head Coach from 2021-23. She later went on to serve as the Tyne Metropolitan U18 Men's College Head Coach in 2024-25.
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Prior to making her way to South Wales, Saiki was an assistant coach for the Aliso Niguel High School Girls' Varsity Basketball team. In addition, she has coached at UCI's Women's Basketball Camp, the Adidas All-American Camp, and the Nike Basketball Camp.
In her first year on staff, Saiki helpedΒ the Anteaters to their second Big West regular season championship and fifth-straight 20-win campaign. It was a record-breaking season as the 2025-26 squad set program bests in total wins (26), Big West victories (17), win streak (16), points scored (2,340), free throws made (566), free throw percentage (80.6%), and 3-pointers made (284). The 'Eaters earned an automatic qualifier into the Women's Basketball Invitation Tournament (WBIT), marking theirΒ fourth postseason appearance in five years.Β UCI was ranked among the top-25 in the College Insider Women's Mid-Major Poll for 12 consecutive weeks (Dec. 23-March 10), and rose to as high as No. 12.Β Individually, guard Hunter Hernandez was named the Big West Player of the Year and Jada WynnΒ was tabbed the Newcomer of the Year. They were alsoΒ both first-team all-conference selections.
Saiki was a fan favorite at UCI where she was a two-time All-Big West selection, earning first-team honors as a senior (2020), and honorable mention recognition as a junior (2019). The 5-foot-3 point guard started all 94 games, finishing with 963 points, 447 assists, and 107 3-pointers made in her three seasons with the Anteaters. Her 447 assists rank second among UC Irvine's all-time leaders. In 2019-20, Saiki broke the single-season school record with 215 assists, while her 6.9 assist average was tops in the conference and third in all of NCAA Division I. Saiki spent her freshman year at West Virginia.
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Saiki also excelled in the classroom, receiving Big West All-Academic honors all three years. She graduated with her bachelor's degree in sociology in 2019, and completed UCI's Master of Innovation and Entrepreneurship program in 2020.
Saiki has spent the last five years playing professionally overseas. She started her pro career with the Cardiff Met Archers in South Wales (2021-23). In 2022-23, Saiki averaged 15.4 points, 8.5 assists, and 2.3 steals per game, leading her team to their first Women's Basketball British League (WBBL) playoff qualification in five years. Her assist average ranked first in the league.
Β
Saiki then signed with ACD Ferragudo in Portugal's top league, before returning to the WBBL with the Newcastle Eagles (2023-25). Saiki once again led the league in assists in 2023-24 (7.3 apg) and 2024-25 (7.5 apg). Newcastle had their highest league finish in club history last year, and advanced to the semifinals of both the WBBL Cup and Playoffs. In 2023-24, Saiki and her teammates made a run to the playoff finals as the No. 6 seed.
Β
In her first year at Cardiff, Saiki completed a second master's degree in digital marketing while playing and coaching. She was the Cardiff Met Archers U18 Women's Basketball Head Coach from 2021-23. She later went on to serve as the Tyne Metropolitan U18 Men's College Head Coach in 2024-25.
Β
Prior to making her way to South Wales, Saiki was an assistant coach for the Aliso Niguel High School Girls' Varsity Basketball team. In addition, she has coached at UCI's Women's Basketball Camp, the Adidas All-American Camp, and the Nike Basketball Camp.
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