Senior Standouts: Markel Walker

Senior guard/forward Markel Walker arrived at UCLA as one of the highest-ranked women’s basketball recruits to come to Westwood in recent memory, and left as one of the program’s leaders in wins over the last decade.

In her freshman season, Walker jumped in and made an immediate impact, leading the Bruins to an NCAA tournament appearance – the program’s first in over three years – while earning All-Pac-10 honors. In her sophomore year, she pushed her team to even further heights. Walker spurred UCLA to tie both its program’s season wins record and its highest NCAA tournament seeding. The next year, however, the then-junior Walker struggled through injuries early in the season and her team stumbled to a sub-.500 record. However, Walker still managed to make the All-Pac-12 team. But the versatile guard/forward saved her best for last – her senior campaign.

This past season, Walker led the Bruins to a 26-8 record and a No. 3 seed, once again tying the school record for wins in a season and highest NCAA tournament seed, and the Bruins finished ranked No. 11 in the nation. Walker led the Pac-12 in assists, made the All-Pac-12 team for the third time in four years and was named an AP honorable mention All-American.