Many former Bruins are competing in professional sporting leagues as UCLA Athletics takes a break for the summer. Each week during the summer, Daily Bruin Sports will take a look at recent standout performances of former UCLA greats as the fall inches nearer.

Women’s basketball: Monique Billings

Monique Billings has proven to adapt seamlessly.

The former UCLA women’s basketball forward signed a seven-day contract with the Phoenix Mercury on Sunday, following a 24-game stint with the Dallas Wings on a hardship contract. But before moving out West, Billings was selected 15th overall by the Atlanta Dream in the 2018 NBA Draft, where she spent her first six seasons in the WNBA.

And within just 24 hours, Billings scored 13 points and grabbed eight rebounds in her debut game in Phoenix, where her team defeated the Chicago Sky 86-68.

The victory helped the Mercury redeem themselves after a 98-89 loss to the Indiana Fever just a day prior.

Amid a star-studded lineup, including WNBA standouts Diana Taurasi and Brittney Griner – who notched 23 and 18 points, respectively – Billings left an indelible first impression on the city of Phoenix, sinking 5-of-7 from the field and adding two steals in just 23 minutes on the court.

In her final season with the Bruins, Billings started in 34 of 35 games, recording at least five rebounds in each. She remains at the top of the program’s all-time lists for games played, total rebounds and blocks.

Fellow former Bruin Charisma Osborne signed with the Mercury on June 13, but was relegated to the sidelines Monday night due to a lower leg injury.

Beach volleyball: Savannah Simo

AVP Beach Volleyball is arguably the sport’s most competitive stage.

The Manhattan Beach Open, which ran from Friday to Sunday, showcased seven former and current Bruins.

Among the lot, rising senior Tessa Van Winkle and alumnus Savvy Simo advanced to the quarterfinal after routing 2023 world champions and USC alumni Kelly Cheng and Sara Hughes.

Simo was a key volleyball player at UCLA playing indoor volleyball from 2016 to 2018 and beach from 2017- 2020. She won back-to-back NCAA Championships with UCLA beach volleyball in 2018 and 2019.

The California native earned Pac-12 Conference All-Academic Honorable Mention 2017 and 2018 for her role with the indoor squad. Internationally, Simo has been a member of Team USA on the Beach Collegiate and U21 National Teams.

Joining Simo and Van Winkle in the tournament were Devon Newberry, Lexy Denaburg, Jaden Whitemarsh, Peri Brennan, rising senior Natalie Myszkowski and rising junior Hannah Fleming, who all didn’t make it past the second round.

Men’s soccer: Ryan Hollingshead

Ryan Hollingshead has often proved to be a spark plug for his team.

The Los Angeles Football Club defeated the Seattle Sounders 3-0 in the quarterfinal of the MLS Leagues Cup, as the former Bruin provided his team its opening goal.

Finding the back of the net in the 14th minute catapulted LAFC to an early lead and helped it win its third consecutive contest.

LAFC beat the Colorado Rapids in the semi final of the MLS League Cup with 4-0 to ensure a trip to the finals where they will take on the Columbus Crew Aug. 25.

In the 2023 season, Hollingshead earned two MLS Team of the Week recognitions and was named an MLS All-Star. Perhaps the defender’s most highlight-worthy performance was a goal in LAFC’s 2-0 victory over the Houston Dynamo in the Western Conference final in December.

Before joining LAFC in February 2022, he spent eight seasons with FC Dallas after being selected 20th overall in the 2013 MLS SuperDraft.

In 2017, Hollingshead broke three vertebrae, and was on the verge of paralysis after being struck by a car in January of that year after he stopped driving to help someone in a different car accident. He returned to the field just three months post injury where he then made 18 appearances in his 2017 season and was named MLS Works Humanitarian of the Year.

It’s people like him who bring humanity into the world of sports making him a role model on and off the field.