This post was updated May 15 at 10:42 p.m.

The explosion of the transfer portal and name, image and likeness deals has transformed the landscape of collegiate sports.

Superstar athletes are frequently plucked from their teams, lured by promised fortune.

But with only one new transfer on UCLA’s roster – graduate student outfielder Jessica Clements, who came from Cal Poly in August – coach Kelly Inouye-Perez is building a culture that cannot be bought.

“It’s different. I’m building a program where I have freshmen that are playing,” Inouye-Perez said. “We’re a program that develops. We’re a program that likes to level people up. We’re a program that passes along leadership.”

After losing five of its nine starters from its 2024 postseason run, No. 9 seed UCLA softball (49-10, 17-5 Big Ten) will play its first game of the 2025 NCAA tournament against UC Santa Barbara (34-24, 17-10 Big West) on Friday at Easton Stadium. The contest marks the 11th consecutive season the Bruins will host the Los Angeles Regional.

Tasked with filling the void of a veteran-heavy 2024 roster, the Bruins sported six freshmen in the starting lineup in 2025 before an arm/shoulder injury sidelined shortstop Aleena Garcia, causing her to redshirt the 2025 season.

Freshman outfielder Rylee Slimp’s walk-off single in the Big Ten tournament quarterfinals proved she is able to come through in high-pressure situations, while freshman pitcher/utility Addisen Fisher’s 2.43 ERA leads all UCLA pitchers who have thrown at least 100 innings.

Although the freshmen’s paths to Westwood featured high-level competition, the intensity of the NCAA tournament is one that is impossible to replicate.

But even with several new faces on the squad, UCLA’s trip to Oklahoma City last season equipped returning players with experience to pass down to their younger teammates.

“Our junior class – we’ve been to the (Women’s College) World Series,” said junior infielder Jordan Woolery. “We have experience there and some good postseason experience from last year, too, so taking that into this year and just teaching the freshmen.”

As two of the veterans on the team, Woolery and junior utility Megan Grant – both top-25 finalists for the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year award – were the only two Bruins to record hits in their elimination game against then-No. 1 seed Oklahoma last season.

And this season, Woolery and Grant became two of 12 Bruins in program history to hit 20-plus home runs in a single season. Senior utility Savannah Pola has also made statements, improving her batting average from .241 in 2024 to a team-leading and career-high .439 in 2025.

However, the Bruins’ bats have seemed to go cold in the postseason, falling 2-0 in the Big Ten tournament finals against No. 8 seed Michigan. The week prior, Northwestern upset UCLA, run-ruling the Bruins 8-0 in the series opener and ultimately claiming the final regular-season series with a win on Senior Night in Westwood.

Defensively, UCLA’s .979 fielding percentage ties for fifth best in the NCAA, led by Pola’s perfect 1.000 fielding percentage at second base. Additionally, sophomore pitcher/outfielder Kaitlyn Terry and junior pitcher Taylor Tinsley combined to throw for all 49 innings of the NCAA tournament last season, emerging as one of the top pitching duos in the nation.

The NCAA tournament presents the Bruins with another chance to bring back some hardware this season, and it all starts on their home field.

“We’re excited to play together. We’re just grateful for every day we have, every game,” said redshirt sophomore catcher/utility Alexis Ramirez. “But we’re excited to be at home, and we want to see the stands packed, and hopefully we can get Easton rocking.”