UCLA’s Cori Close Could Get Big Raise After National Championship Season

After leading UCLA women’s basketball to its first NCAA title in program history in April, head coach Cori Close could get a big raise in the near future.

UCLA Bruins head coach Cori Close celebrates their 79-51 win over the South Carolina Gamecocks to claim the NCAA women’s basketball national championship at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix on April 5, 2026.

On Tuesday, the University of California’s Board of Regents celebrated Close and the Bruins for winning the national championship. Close reportedly received a standing ovation at the celebration. On Wednesday, the Regents will be discussing a potential raise for Close in a closed session at the Luskin Conference Center.

“I’m proud of what coach Close has done in leading our young women,” UCLA athletic Martin Jarmond said to the California Post on Tuesday. “Obviously, winning a national championship is significant, but the character and the way that she and her staff develop young women to be the best version of themselves is something that we’re all proud of, so we’re very fortunate to have her as the leader of our program and very excited for the future of our program.”

Close has been UCLA’s head coach since 2011. In the last two seasons, she has led the Bruins to two Final Four appearances and to a national championship in 2026.

In addition to succeeding at the collegiate level, Close prepares her players for the professional level. UCLA women’s basketball made history with six players drafted in the 2026 WNBA Draft. It marked the most players drafted from a single school in the same draft class in WNBA history.

Before earning performance bonuses for winning the national championship, Close made $1.2 million as the Bruins’ head coach this season.

Now that she has officially brought a title home to Westwood, Close has put herself in a good position to earn a big raise for next season.