Cori Close wasn’t kidding when she said her team was going to reload.
The UCLA women’s basketball coach added a fifth transfer on Tuesday when the Bruins secured a commitment from former Notre Dame guard KK Bransford.
A versatile player who will be a redshirt senior next season, the 5-foot-11 Bransford played every position except center for the Fighting Irish. Last season, she averaged 7.4 points, 4.0 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1.1 steals while missing 12 games because of a midseason knee injury.
Bransford started nine of 24 games in her final season with the Irish and made 27.3% of her 3-pointers on low volume, taking only 22 shots from long range.
The previous season, Bransford redshirted because of a lower-body injury. She will bring championship pedigree to the defending national champions after having been part of Notre Dame teams that won two Atlantic Coast Conference regular-season championships and one ACC Tournament title.
A former McDonald’s All-American, Bransford will also bring a veteran presence to a team that just lost six seniors and graduate students. She will be joined by fellow transfers Elina Aarnisalo (formerly of North Carolina), Donovyn Hunter (TCU), Bonnie Deas (Arkansas) and Addy Brown (Iowa State).
Close said after her team defeated South Carolina in the national championship game that she would likely add five transfers, but the Bruins might not be done bringing in newcomers. Their roster currently stands at just 11 players, providing room for others.
