Softball’s introduction into the 1996 Olympic Games proved to be a massive moment for the sport.
“We had reached that pinnacle of athletics, and that’s being an Olympic sport, and getting onto the mainstream where we’re in the talks with soccer and women’s basketball,” said UCLA associate head coach Lisa Fernandez.

The number 121 echoes with significance in Westwood.
It’s tied to the tireless work of Bruin players and coaches alike.
But on the periphery of the spotlight lies a dimmer constituent, the ones anchoring UCLA’s winning engine – athletic trainers.

This post was updated Jan. 18 at 6:08 p.m.
A lone USC fan lined up outside the Galen Center.
It was five hours until tip-off, and the spectator spotted USC guard and freshman phenom JuJu Watkins.

Stella Sampras Webster first became a Bruin in 1987.
She’s made her presence known at UCLA ever since.
Sampras Webster took over as the head coach of UCLA women’s tennis in 1997 after spending four years on the team and several years as assistant coach.

UCLA Athletics has produced 410 Olympic athletes in addition to coaches and other various staff. The 2020 Olympics had Bruins pick up 16 medals, adding to an overall count of 136 gold, 71 silver and 63 bronze medals.