After a win over No. 10 seed Florida State and a defeat by No. 3 seed Alabama, No. 2 seed UCLA softball was eliminated from the 2021 Women’s College World Series on the third day of play.

From behind their viewfinders, Daily Bruin Photo staffers recall the stories of pictures they took this past year, ranging from protests to socially distanced portraits and sports games in empty stadiums.

The Bruins hosted the NCAA women’s water polo tournament at Spieker Aquatics Center. Overcoming No. 6 seed Hawai’i and upsetting No. 2 seed Stanford, No. 3 seed UCLA had a chance to win its first NCAA championship since 2009. Facing crosstown rival and No. 1 seed USC in UCLA’s pool, the Trojans defeated the Bruins by the highest margin in NCAA championship game history.

The No. 2 seeded Bruins battled their way through a three-day Pac-12 tournament championship on their home courts at Mapes Beach. The blue and gold would sweep their first two opponents, No. 7 seed Washington and No. 3 seed Arizona, to land a spot in the championship against crosstown rivals and No. 1 seed USC after beating the Trojans earlier in the winner’s bracket final. UCLA’s championship dreams fell on the shoulders of freshmen Rileigh Powers and Jaden Whitmarsh. The duo pulled through to give the Bruins the 3-2 edge over the Trojans.

The Bruins danced their way to the program’s 12th national title and the school’s 119th at USC’s Uytengsu Aquatics Center at the 2021 NCAA tournament. UCLA opened with a win over No. 5 seed and WWPA champion California Baptist, upset No. 1 seed and MPSF champion Stanford – the reigning champions – in the semifinals, and finished the tournament with a finals win over No. 3 seed USC.

No. 2 UCLA beach volleyball returned to action on Saturday, Feb. 27 with a home doubleheader against No. 19 Stanford at Mapes Beach. The Bruins earned two victories, 3-2, 5-0, over the Cardinal in the season opener.

UCLA earns a victory over Oregon in its annual Play4Kay game Friday, Feb. 19. The Bruins wear pink shoes as they celebrate the lives of people fighting breast cancer.

Members of the Burmese diaspora take to the streets to protest against the military coup in Myanmar.

The Bruins secured two victories against the Golden Bears, losing only one set in the first of two matches.

With Halloween around the corner, Daily Bruin photographers recreate the TikTok ghost photoshoot trend.
IRVINE — Friendship persists. Two ghoulish friends have their first in-person encounter since March.