The Bruins have had a week to prepare for their former Pac-12 foe.

And with two undefeated records on the line, anyone could emerge victorious.

No. 10 UCLA women’s basketball (2-0) is set to take on Arizona (2-0) on Thursday night at Pauley Pavilion. The two sides have not faced off since their final season in the Pac-12, when UCLA took both matchups.

“It’s a chance to remember and honor the past, even as we look forward to the different things of the future,” said coach Cori Close. “We love the Pac-12, the history, just the incredible rivalries that we had in such a good way. I thought the camaraderie was excellent.”

UCLA has remained undefeated at Pauley Pavilion since a 13-point loss to USC on March 1, 2025 – the squad’s only home loss that season. But the Bruins will be playing without one of their key pieces through these opening matchups.

Junior guard Elina Aarnisalo will not be with the team for the matchup as she is competing with Finland’s senior national team for the 2027 FIBA EuroBasket Qualifiers. Aarnisalo has averaged 11.5 points per game – second on the squad – and a co-team high 4.5 assists per game through the start of the season.

With Aarnisalo’s absence, the Bruins will look to fill the gap with increased scoring and facilitation from the rest of the squad.

A large part of this scoring production will likely come from sophomore forward Sienna Betts. Betts has led UCLA in scoring through the opening two matchups, averaging 16 points and 5.5 rebounds per game. The Centennial, Colorado, local has shot at a 65.2% clip from the field and had an 8-for-10 shooting performance in last Thursday’s win against UC Irvine.

On the ball-handling side of the game, senior guard Donovyn Hunter will be taking on a bigger role, although other guards on the squad will be given the opportunity to step up as well.

“It puts a big emphasis on the minutes that Dono and Lina (freshman guard Lina Jerković) play for us, they’re going to be sharing the burdens at the one,” Close said. “It really puts an emphasis on those other guards: (sophomore guard) Bonnie Deas, (freshman guard) Somto Okafor, and some of those other guards that maybe were having some sparing minutes.”

Aiding Betts off the glass are senior forward Addy Brown, fifth-year forward Timea Gardiner and Deas, who average seven, five and five rebounds per game, respectively, while combining for 20.5 points per game.

Brown led Iowa State in rebounds per game for each of her three seasons in Ames, Iowa. Gardiner, who is coming back to the court after a season off due to a knee injury, knocked down two 3-pointers in the Bruins’ win over the Anteaters.

UCLA has limited its opponents to an average of 16 points in the paint through its first two games, but with forward Breanna Williams down low for Arizona, Betts and the other forwards will face tougher competition. Williams is averaging 17.5 points and eight rebounds per game – both team-high marks – on a 65% clip from the field.

“Trusting our scout, listening to the coaching, just knowing that we worked on this after dealing with bigger people inside during the Texas game,” Betts said. “We really learned from that, and I think we’re going to move forward and really display what we’ve been working on here.”

With only one side emerging from Thursday’s bout still undefeated, this former Pac-12 matchup – the first of a home-and-home series that will continue next season – will prove to be important for pre-conference play momentum.

Close’s squad is looking to carry a victory over Arizona into its banner-hanging ceremony before Sunday’s game to celebrate the National Championship.

“It’s (the banner ceremony is) obviously a very big thing to be celebrated for, and we’re super excited to be able to talk about it,” Gardiner said. “But I think we’re really focused on this year and what’s coming next.”