UCLA Bruins

The UCLA Bruins are the athletic teams that represent the University of California, Los Angeles. The Bruin men's and women's teams compete in NCAA Division I as part of the Big Ten Conference and the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF). For football, they are in the Football Bowl Subdivision of Division I (formerly Division I-A).

UCLA is second only to Stanford University in having the most NCAA team championships, with a total of 127 NCAA team championships. The university offers a wide range of sports, with 11 varsity sports programs for men and 14 for women, making it a big name in college athletics.

History

UCLA joined the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference when it started. In 1927, it moved to the Pacific Coast Conference.

After some problems at a few schools, the Pacific Coast Conference ended in 1959. Shortly after, a new group called the Athletic Association of Western Universities began, with UCLA as one of the founding members. This group went through several name changes over the years.

UCLA's teams were once called the "Cubs" and later the "Grizzlies" before becoming the Bruins in 1926. They used real bears as mascots for a while, but later started using costumed characters named Joe Bruin and Josephine Bruin.

The school colors are UCLA Blue and Westwood Gold. The blue represents the ocean and wildflowers, while the gold stands for California’s sunny weather and flowers. The exact shade of blue has changed a few times over the years.

See also: Joe Bruin

Varsity sports

Baseball

The 2010 team, under head coach John Savage, won the Los Angeles Regional and Super-Regional, and was the first team to win 48 games in a season. The Bruins joined seven other teams in the 2010 College World Series and finished in second place, behind the University of South Carolina Gamecocks. The 2011 team won the Pac-10 Conference title.

The 2013 team won UCLA's 109th NCAA Championship and their first in baseball in the 2013 College World Series by beating Mississippi State 3–1 and 8–0.

Many UCLA baseball players have gone on to play in Major League Baseball (MLB). In the 2009 World Series, Chase Utley hit two home runs to help the Philadelphia Phillies win Game 1. There were a total of four former UCLA baseball players in the 2009 playoffs: Philadelphia's Ben Francisco and Chase Utley, Colorado's Garrett Atkins, and St. Louis' Troy Glaus, who was the 2002 World Series MVP for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Chris Chambliss and Gerrit Cole were No. 1 overall picks in the MLB drafts. Trevor Bauer was drafted as the No. 3 pick by the Arizona Diamondbacks on June 6, 2011. Former UCLA shortstop Brandon Crawford hit a grand-slam home run in his major-league debut with the San Francisco Giants on May 27, 2011, and helped the Giants to win the 2012 Major League World Series. Cole debuted with the Pittsburgh Pirates by winning his first four games he pitched and also drove in two runs with a single in his first at-bat in the 2013 MLB season.

Basketball (men)

Several of the most revered championships were won by the Men's Basketball team under coaches John Wooden and Jim Harrick. The rich legacy of UCLA basketball has produced 11 NCAA championships – 1964, 1965, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, and 1995. From 1971 to 1974, UCLA won 88 consecutive men's basketball games, an NCAA record for men. Recent UConn Huskies women's basketball teams have set overall NCAA basketball records with 90-game and (ongoing) 91-game winning streaks. The 35-year period (1940–1974) preceding and including the UCLA streak was characterized by less dynasties, however: 20 different men's teams won titles during that span. In comparison, the women's game to date has produced 35% less (tournament) parity, with 13 schools winning all 35 titles offered since its inception.

Past rosters of UCLA basketball teams have included greats such as Rafer Johnson who was the 1960 Olympic Decathlon Champion, Gail Goodrich, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (then known as Lew Alcindor), Bill Walton, Reggie Miller and Walt Hazzard. The Bruins also had a winning record for 54 consecutive seasons from the 1948–1949 season to the 2001–2002 season.

In recent years, UCLA Men's Basketball was returned to prominence under Coach Ben Howland. Between 2006 and 2008, UCLA has been to three consecutive Final Fours, while UCLA's players have received numerous awards, most notably Arron Afflalo, a 2007 First-Team All American and the Pac-10 Player of the Year, and Kevin Love, a 2008 First-Team All American and the Pac-10 Player of the Year. UCLA has produced the most NBA Most Valuable Player Award winners, six of them by Abdul-Jabbar and one by Walton, who was Abdul-Jabbar's successor.

In March 2013, UCLA relieved head men's basketball coach Ben Howland of his duties after UCLA dropped an 83–63 decision to Minnesota in a second-round game of the NCAA tournament. The current head coach is Mick Cronin, former head coach at Cincinnati.

Basketball (women)

In the 1977–78 season, the women's basketball team, with a 27–2 record, were the AIAW Champions under head coach Billie Moore. The 2014–15 team won the 2015 WNIT championship by defeating the West Virginia Mountaineers 62–60 on April 4, 2015. In the 2024-2025 season, the UCLA women's basketball team made it to the NCAA final four for the first time in program history (having done so in the AIAW in 1978 and 1979), under coach Cori Close. In the 2025-2026 season, UCLA women's basketball again reached the final four under coach Close and won the National Championship by beating Texas 51-44 and South Carolina 79-51.

Women's beach volleyball

The UCLA Bruins women's beach volleyball team plays in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation, which they joined for the 2025 season. Prior to that, UCLA competed in the Pacific-12 Conference. UCLA launched its beach volleyball program in 2013.

Women's National Championships: 2018, 2019, 2026
The beach volleyball team won its first national title on May 6, 2018, by defeating Hawaii and Florida State at Gulf Beach Place, Gulf Shores, Alabama. They repeated one year later on May 5, 2019, defeating rivals USC to win the National Championship. They won their third championship on May 3, 2026, defeating Stanford.

Cross country

The UCLA Bruins men's cross country team appeared in the NCAA Cross Country Championship thirteen times, with their highest finish being 5th place in the 1980–81 and 1981–82 school years. The UCLA Bruins women's cross country team appeared in the NCAA Cross Country Championship eleven times, with their highest finish being 6th place in the 1985–86 school year.

Football

In 1954, the UCLA football team earned a share of the national title with a 9–0 record and a #1 ranking in the Coaches UPI football poll, while Ohio State was ranked No. 1 in the AP Poll. Owing to rules in place at the time, UCLA was unable to face off against Ohio State in the Rose Bowl, which would have resulted in one or the other being declared national champion. The Bruins have played in the Rose Bowl Game 12 times, winning 5 of them. The Bruins have won or shared the conference title 17 times. Among the many former UCLA football stars are Jackie Robinson (better known for his exploits as a baseball player, but nevertheless a 4-sport letterman and All-American), Heisman Trophy winner Gary Beban, Bob Waterfield, Troy Aikman, Carnell Lake, and Tommy Maddox. One of the great moments in recent history for the Bruins came on December 2, 2006, when they beat USC 13–9 in one of the greatest upsets in the rivalry. The Bruins are the Pac-12 Conference South Division Champions for two years in a row and played in both the 2011 and 2012 Pac-12 Football Championship Games.

UCLA became the first school to have a top winner in both basketball and football in the same year with Gary Beban winning the Heisman Trophy and Lew Alcindor (now Kareem Abdul-Jabbar) winning the U.S. Basketball Writers Association player of the year award in 1968.

15 football players and coaches have been inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame, John Sciarra being the latest inductee in the Class of 2014. A notable player and alumnus of the UCLA football team is current NCIS star, actor Mark Harmon. Winner of the "all-around excellence" award, Harmon led his team to victory several times as the quarterback.

The current head coach is Bob Chesney. Chesney replaced fired coach DeShaun Foster on December 6th, 2025.

The UCLA Bruins men's football team have an NCAA Division I FBS Tournament record of 16–20–1 through thirty-six appearances.

Golf

The UCLA Bruins men's golf team has won two NCAA Championships, in 1988 and 2008. In the 2008 national championship, the team was led by senior Kevin Chappell, who won the respective individual title. In that championship, UCLA won by one shot over USC, and by two shots over Stanford. In 2009, UCLA came first in the NCAA Central Regional, pulling off their third regional championship in the last seven years. With that victory, the defending national champions, advanced to their seventh consecutive NCAA Championship, a school record. For 2011 NCAA Division I Men's Golf Championship, the Bruins were first in stroke play before losing in the match play of the national championship tournament; and freshman golfer Patrick Cantlay was named GCAA Division I Jack Nicklaus National Player of the Year Award, the fourth player from UCLA. Cantlay was also the National Freshman of the Year, winning the Phil Mickelson Award in addition to being the Pac-10 Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year. Chappell won National Player of the Year in 2008, Corey Pavin in 1982 and Duffy Waldorf in 1985. At the 2011 U.S. Open, Chappell was the low American (tie with Robert Garrigus) and Cantlay was the low amateur. The team has won five Pac-12 Conference championships: 1982, 1983, 1985, 2003, 2006 and has had numerous individual conference champions the first of which was Peter Laszlo in 1970. They won the Big Ten Conference championship in 2025 and 2026.

The women's team won the national championship in 1971 (DGWS), 1991, 2004 and 2011. In 2014, sophomore Alison Lee won the inaugural ANNIKA Award, which was created to honor the women's collegiate player of the year as chosen by a vote of coaches, college golfers, and members of the media. In 2016, junior Bronte Law won the prestigious award as well. The women's program also has many notable professional alumnae on tour, including British Open Champion Mo Martin, Sydnee Michaels, and Mariajo Uribe.

Former Bruin golf professionals include Scott McCarron, John Merrick, Corey Pavin, and Duffy Waldorf. Bruin alum Brandt Jobe tied for second at the 2011 Memorial Tournament. Maiya Tanaka, a member of the UCLA Women's Golf team from 2007 to 2009, competed with her sister Misa on The Amazing Race 20.

Gymnastics

The women's gymnastics team has won seven NCAA Women's Gymnastics championships under head coach Valorie Kondos Field, including championships in 1997, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2010, and 2018. Two NCAA Men's Gymnastics championships (1984 and 1987) were won by the men's team before the program was discontinued.

Some notable former UCLA gymnasts include current stuntwoman Heidi Moneymaker, Brian Ginsberg who was a two-time US junior national gymnastics champion, and U.S. Olympic Team members Jordan Chiles, Madison Kocian, Kyla Ross, Samantha Peszek, Jamie Dantzscher, Mohini Bhardwaj, Kate Richardson, Tasha Schwikert, Kristen Maloney, Yvonne Tousek, Stella Umeh, Luisa Portocarrero, Tim Daggett, Mitch Gaylord, and Peter Vidmar. 2008 Canadian Olympic Gymnastics team member Elyse Hopfner-Hibbs attended UCLA and was a member of the team for the 2008–2009 season. The team took home its 15th Pac-10 Gymnastics Championship on March 27, 2009. Most recently, on April 23, 2010, the team won their 6th National Championship in Gainesville, Florida; the win brought the total number of national championships for UCLA to 105.

At the 2015 NCAA national championship, Samantha Peszek was the All Around co-champion and the balance beam champion.

At the 2018 NCAA national championship, Christine 'Peng Peng' Lee and Katelyn Ohashi won individual event titles on balance beam and floor exercise, respectively along with the team title.

Rugby Union

Since 1934, the UCLA Rugby Union Team has earned a reputation as a top level program in California, North America and around the world.

James Schaeffer introduced the original team in 1934, which was eventually revived post-WWII through Norm Padgett and his tireless hustling and fraternity walks. In 1958, Padgett's former Captain, Ged Gardner, assumed the Coaching role from until 1965. Gardner built membership, interest and skill to which Coach Dennis Storer added his own unique style. Dennis Storer remained Head Coach from 1966 - 1982, when the program operated as a Varsity Sport, winning a national title in 1972 and then another in 1975. Rugby was dropped as a varsity sport shortly after by the Athletics department. Storer subsequently resumed the role from 1987 to 1989 after the program was downgraded to Club Status. During his tenure, Storer guided the program to 2 Monterey National Championship Titles, numerous Southern California Titles, 2 national championship titles, and produced 14 USA Eagles with himself being named the first ever USA Eagles Coach.

Over its history, 19 UCLA students have gone on to represent the USA Rugby Men's National Team with Coach Dennis Storer being the first ever coach of the team. Coach Dennis Storer was recognized for his contributions to USA Rugby with his inclusion in the UCLA Athletics Hall of Fame and the USA Rugby Hall of Fame.

List of UCLA Alumni who have a cap for the USA Eagles

Currently, the Bruins compete in all of the Major National Domestic competitions including the PAC Rugby Conference (XV's & 7's), USAR Collegiate National Championships, and the Collegiate Rugby 7s Championships (7's). Recently, the Bruins have reached the 1/4 Final of the Varsity Cup (2011–17), the Collegiate Rugby Championships Final (2016 & 18), Semi-final (2013 & 14) Quarter-Final (2017) and were Plate winners in 2015. The Bruins have also won the El Nino 7's 2015, UCLA 7's 2016 and the West Coast 7's title at San Luis Obispo in 2013 & 2014 by defeating California in the Championship on each occasion (the only team in the country to defeat California in 7's rugby over that time period).

Soccer

Men

Since the beginning of the men's soccer tournament in 1959, UCLA has won national championship in 1985, 1990, 1997, and 2002; and finished second in 1970, 1972, 1973, and 2006. The men's soccer team won the 2008 Pacific-10 Conference championship and received the conference's automatic bid in the NCAA national championship Tournament, their 26 consecutive appearances. The conference title makes it the sixth title in 9 years. In 2023, the team became the PAC-12 Conference Champions.

Three UCLA alumni – Frankie Hejduk, Sigi Schmid and Mike Lapper – helped the Columbus Crew to win its first-ever Major League Soccer title by defeating the New York Red Bulls 3–1 in the 2008 MLS Cup. Cobi Jones, USA's most capped national player, played for UCLA. Also, four former Bruin players, Carlos Bocanegra, Benny Feilhaber, Jonathan Bornstein and Marvell Wynne, were on the U.S. men's national team squad that defeated No. 1 ranked Spain in the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup semi-final.

The team was involved in the 2019 college admissions bribery scandal as head coach Jorge Salcedo was arrested, and indicted by a federal grand jury in Boston for conspiracy to commit racketeering. His indictment charged Salcedo with taking $200,000 in bribes to help two students, one in 2016 and one in 2018, get admitted to UCLA using falsified soccer credential admission information. As a result, he was placed on leave by UCLA from his coaching position at the school. On March 21, 2019, it was announced that he had resigned. On April 21, 2020, it was announced that he had agreed to plead guilty to the charges against him.

The UCLA Bruins men's soccer team have an NCAA Division I Tournament record of 74–41 through forty-five appearances.

Women

The women's soccer team has won the Pac-10 championships eight times since beginning play in 1993. It has appeared six times in the College Cup and made 12 appearances in the NCAA national championship Tournament. They finished second three times (2000, 2004, and 2005).

For the 2008 Women's Soccer Championships, the undefeated UCLA women's soccer team was named one of the four No. 1 seeds, the third time in program history. The Bruins advanced to the quarterfinals, where they defeated the Duke Blue Devils 6–1, to earn a spot in the College Cup semifinals.

During the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup, former player Lauren Cheney played for the U.S. women's national team and scored against North Korea. She scored the first goal and assisted on the winning goal in the semi-final against France to lead the US to the finals.

The UCLA Bruins women's soccer team have an NCAA Division I Tournament record of 66–19 through twenty-two appearances.

Softball

The Bruins have been 13-time NCAA champions, including the first one in 1982. Since then, they were second 7 times in the Women's College World Series (WCWS), last one in 2005.

They won the World Series in 1978, 1982, 1984, 1985, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1992, 1999, 2003, 2004, 2010 and 2019. The 2010 and 2019 titles were guided by head coach Kelly Inouye-Perez, a former player and assistant coach.

Former Bruin Natasha Watley went on to help the United States women's national softball team win a gold medal in the 2004 Olympics and a silver medal in 2008 Olympics. Andrea Duran helped Team USA win a gold medal at the 2006 ISF World championship and a silver medal at the 2008 Olympics. Other famous Bruin players include Lisa Fernandez (two time NCAA Champion and three time Olympic gold medalist) and Dot Richardson (NCAA Champion and Olympic medal winner).

Swimming and diving

UCLA's Men's Swim Team won 41 individual national championships, a team championship in 1982, had a runner-up finish in '81, and sent 16 alumni to the Olympics. Although the men's team was cut in 1994, the women's team currently trains at Spieker Aquatics Center under head coach Jordan Wolfrum.

Tennis

The only school to have competed in every NCAA Men's Tennis Tournament, the team has won 16 national championships and 37 Pac-12 conference titles. Coach Billy Martin, who played at UCLA, has a 14 straight top 5 NCAA team finishes and a 9 consecutive 20-win seasons. He was named ITA (Intercollegiate Tennis Association) division 1 National Coach of the Year and is a member of ITA Hall of Fame. The 1950 men's tennis team won UCLA's first-ever NCAA Championship. Anita Kanter won the US girls tennis championship in 1951 as an 18-year-old sophomore at UCLA, as well as the 1951 National Hard Court Doubles and Mixed Doubles championships.

In 2014, Marcos Giron became the school's 11th NCAA Men's Tennis Singles Champion, joining Jack Tidball (1933), Herbert Flam (1950), Larry Nagler (1960), Allen Fox (1961), Arthur Ashe (1965), Charles Pasarell (1966), Jeff Borowiak (1970), Jimmy Connors (1971), Billy Martin (1975), and Benjamin Kohllöffel (2006). Mackenzie McDonald claimed the school's 12th individual singles championship and the school's 12th doubles individual championship when he teamed with Martin Redlicki at the 2016 tournament. On May 28, 2018, Redlicki teamed with Evan Zhu for the school's 13th doubles championship.

The women's team, which won national championships in 1981 (AIAW), 2008 and 2014, is coached by Stella Sampras, the sister of Pete Sampras, who donated a scholarship at UCLA. Number of players have won the individual titles, including Keri Phebus (1995 Singles), Fangran Tian (2023 Singles), Heather Ludloff and Lynn Lewis (1982 Doubles), Allison Cooper and Stella Sampras (1988 Doubles), Mamie Ceniza and Iwalani McCalla (1992 Doubles), Keri Phebus and Susie Starrett (1995 Doubles), Daniela Bercek and Lauren Fisher (2004 Doubles), and Tracy Lin and Riza Zalameda (2008 Doubles).

On May 25, 2019, the Bruins took both the men's and women's NCAA tennis doubles championships with Gabby Andrews and Ayan Broomfield the women's champions, and Maxime Cressy and Keegan Smith the men's champions.

UCLA alumni in the ATP included Jimmy Connors, Arthur Ashe, Eliot Teltscher, Brian Teacher, Peter Fleming, Fritz Buehning, Jeff Borowiak, and Jean-Julien Rojer.

Inducted into the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Hall of Fame

Track and field

• Men's Championships: 1956, 1966, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1978, 1987, 1988
• Women's Championships: 1975 (Outdoor), 1977 (Outdoor), 1982 (Outdoor), 1983 (Outdoor), 2000 (Indoor), 2001 (Indoor), 2004 (Outdoor)

The UCLA-USC Dual Meet Hall of Fame inducted Willie Banks (triple-jump), John Brenner (shot put), Wayne Collett (sprints) and Seilala Sua (shot put and discus) into the hall's first class in 2009.

Other notable team members are: Rafer Johnson, Dwight Stones, C. K. Yang.

When Meb Keflezighi was running for UCLA, he won four NCAA championships in one year, including the cross-country title, the 10,000 meters outdoors and the 5,000 meters indoors and outdoors titles in track. At the 2004 Olympics in Athens, Greece, Meb ran to a second-place finish and winning the silver medal in the marathon with a then personal-best time of 2:11.29. In 2009, he became the first American to win the New York City Marathon in 17 years. At the 2014 Boston Marathon, he became the first American to win the men's race since 1983 with the time of 2:08.37. He paid tribute to the victims of the Boston Marathon bombing by writing their names on his running bib.

Volleyball

Men's team

Men's National Championships: 1953, 1954, 1956, 1965, 1967, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1979, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1987, 1989, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2006, 2023, 2024

The UCLA men's team won 21 NCAA titles, 19 under Al Scates, who coached the Bruins for 48 years. The Bruins also won 5 USVBA titles prior to the sport being sanctioned by the NCAA, two of these under Scates. John Speraw became head coach of the men's program following the retirement of Scates in 2012. Former player Karch Kiraly (1983) was inducted into the College Sports Information Directors of America (COSIDA) Academic All-America Hall of Fame.

Women's team

Women's National Championships: 1972, 1974, 1975, 1984, 1990, 1991, 2011

Andy Banachowski led UCLA to six national championships (3 NCAA-1984, 1990, 1991; 2 AIAW-1974, 1975; and 1 DGWS-1972). The women's team played in 6 DGWS/AIAW championship games, has made 12 NCAA Final Four appearances, and has won 4 NCAA titles. Most recently, the women's team defeated Illinois to claim the 2011 NCAA title, twenty years after their previous title run.

The UCLA Bruins women's volleyball team have an NCAA Division I Tournament record of 90–32 through thirty-five appearances.

Water polo

The women's team has captured 8 of the championships since it became an NCAA sponsored event. The Bruins defeated Cal for the 2024 title. They also won non-NCAA national titles in 1996, 1997, 1998 and 2000. The men's team were champions 9 times and as runner-up 9 times.

Four UCLA water polo alumni and former coach Guy Baker were members of the USA women's and men's teams participated in the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Natalie Golda (now Benson) and Jaime Hipp were members of the women's team, while Adam Wright and Brandon Brooks were on the men's team. Both teams won a silver medal.

Sean Kern, Coralie Simmons, Natalie Golda, Kelly Rulon, and Courtney Mathewson won many prestigious individual award in American collegiate water polo.

Peter J. Cutino Award winners: Sean Kern, Garrett Danner, Nicolas Saveljic, Coralie Simmons, Natalie Golda, Kelly Rulon, and Courtney Mathewson.

The then No. 2-ranked men's water polo team opened the newest athletic facility at UCLA, the Spieker Aquatics Center, with a win over the No. 7-ranked UC Irvine Anteaters, 10–4, on Saturday, September 26, 2009. The center hosted the MPSF Women's Water Polo Championship Tournament April 30 – May 2, 2010 and the MPSF Men's Water Polo Championship Tournament November 25–27, 2011.

In 2009, the men's team defeated #1 ranked USC and #3 ranked California for the MPSF tournament championship to advance to the NCAA Men's Water Polo Championship. On February 28, 2010, the women's team played the longest match in NCAA women's water polo history, winning 7–6 over California at the UC Irvine Invitational.

On December 7, 2014, the men's team defeated 3rd-seed USC 9–8 to win its ninth NCAA national championship at UC San Diego's Canyonview Aquatic Center at La Jolla, California.

On December 6, 2015, the men's team once again defeated USC, 10–7, to win back-to-back NCAA championships and finish with a perfect season at 30–0 on the UCLA campus. Outstanding goalkeeper and MPSF Player of the Year Garrett Danner won the prestigious Cutino Award, the second Bruin to do so.

On October 9, 2016, the men's team defeated UC Davis to set an NCAA record of 52 straight wins.

On October 22, 2016, the men's team defeated the Cal Bears to improve their NCAA record to 54 straight wins.

On December 3, 2017, the men's team defeated rival Southern California, 7–5, to capture their third National Championship in four years. The win also pulled the Bruins even with fellow Pac-12 school Stanford University for the most NCAA team championships in school history, both schools with 114 each. Earlier in the day, the Cardinal had pulled ahead when their women's soccer team defeated the Bruins' women's team 3–2. The lead lasted less than six hours. Stanford, subsequently won their 115th NCAA team championship, in men's soccer.

On March 21, 2021, the men's team defeated Southern California, 7–6, in the national championship game to win the men's program's twelfth title.

The UCLA Bruins men's water polo team have an NCAA Division I Tournament record of 63–27 through thirty-five appearances.

In 2024, Sienna Green played for Australia in the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Coach of the Year

• Women's water polo: Adam Wright, 2024, 2025 (MPSF)

USA Water Polo Hall of Fame

• Natalie Golda Benson, 2015
• Rich Corso, a former UCLA swimming and water polo coach, 2015

Championships

Summary

See also: List of NCAA schools with the most NCAA Division I championships

As of May 3, 2026, UCLA has won 127 NCAA team championships, second to Stanford's 135. The totals do not include any football championships at the FBS level.

UCLA secured three NCAA championships during the month of May 2008: on May 11 when UCLA defeated archrival USC, 6–3, for the Women's Water Polo Championship, on May 20 when the Bruins defeated California for the Women's Tennis Championship, and on May 31 when UCLA defeated archrivals Stanford and USC for the Men's Golf Championship.

Team

UCLA has won 127 NCAA championships at the Division I level.

• Men's (80)
  • Baseball (1): 2013
  • Basketball (11): 1964, 1965, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1995
  • Golf (2): 1998, 2008
  • Gymnastics (2): 1984, 1987
  • Outdoor track and field (8): 1956, 1966, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1978, 1987, 1988
  • Soccer (4): 1985, 1990, 1997, 2002
  • Swimming and diving (1): 1982
  • Tennis (16): 1950, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1956, 1960, 1961, 1965, 1970, 1971, 1975, 1976, 1979, 1982, 1984, 2005
  • Volleyball (21): 1970, 1971, 1972, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1979, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1987, 1989, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2006, 2023, 2024
  • Water polo (14): 1969, 1971, 1972, 1995, 1996, 1999, 2000, 2004, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2020, 2024, 2025
• Women's (47)
  • Basketball (1): 2026
  • Beach volleyball (3): 2018, 2019, 2026
  • Golf (3): 1991, 2004, 2011
  • Gymnastics (7): 1997, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2010, 2018
  • Indoor track and field (2): 2000, 2001
  • Outdoor track and field (3): 1982, 1983, 2004
  • Soccer (2): 2013, 2022
  • Softball (12): 1982, 1984, 1985, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1992, 1995 (vacated), 1999, 2003, 2004, 2010, 2019
  • Tennis (2): 2008, 2014
  • Volleyball (4): 1984, 1990, 1991, 2011
  • Water polo (8): 2001, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2024

Appearances

The UCLA Bruins competed in the NCAA tournament across 25 active sports (11 men's and 14 women's) 773 times at the Division I FBS level.

• Baseball (23): 1969, 1979, 1986, 1987, 1990, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019
• Men's basketball (49): 1950, 1952, 1956, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1983, 1987, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2021, 2022, 2023
• Women's basketball (16): 1983, 1985, 1990, 1992, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2004, 2006, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019
• Beach volleyball (7): 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023
• Men's cross country (13): 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1985, 2006, 2008, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017
• Women's cross country (11): 1985, 1986, 1988, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2014, 2016
• Football (36): 1942, 1946, 1953, 1955, 1961, 1965, 1975, 1976, 1978, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1991, 1993, 1995, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017
• Men's golf (38): 1948, 1949, 1950, 1960, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1991, 1993, 1997, 1998, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2018
• Women's golf (31): 1982, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019
• Women's gymnastics (36): 1982, 1983, 1984, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019
• Rowing (4): 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014
• Men's soccer (45): 1968, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1980, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018
• Women's soccer (23): 1995, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2022
• Softball (36): 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
• Women's swimming and diving (38): 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019
• Men's tennis (42): 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021
• Women's tennis (37): 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021
• Men's indoor track and field (29): 1978, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019
• Women's indoor track and field (27): 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2018, 2019
• Men's outdoor track and field (76): 1934, 1935, 1937, 1938, 1939, 1940, 1941, 1942, 1946, 1947, 1948, 1949, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1955, 1956, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019
• Women's outdoor track and field (35): 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2018, 2019
• Men's volleyball (29): 1970, 1971, 1972, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1987, 1989, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2005, 2006, 2016, 2018, 2022, 2023
• Women's volleyball (36): 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019
• Men's water polo (35): 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1979, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1990, 1991, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2004, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2020, 2024
• Women's water polo (17): 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2023

Results

† The football championship is not an official NCAA championship.

Below are ten pre-NCAA national championships that were won by UCLA as a member of the AIAW from 1974 to 1981 and its predecessor, the DGWS, in 1971:

• Women's badminton (1): 1977 (AIAW)
• Women's basketball (1): 1978 (AIAW)
• Women's golf (1): 1971 (AIAW)
• Softball (1): 1978 (AIAW)
• Women's tennis (1): 1981 (AIAW)
• Women's outdoor track and field (2): 1975, 1977 (AIAW)
• Women's volleyball (3): 1971, 1974, 1975 (AIAW)

Below are twenty-four national club team championships:

• Co-ed archery (1): 2015 (USA Archery)
• Men's archery (1): 2015 (USA Archery)
• Women's archery (4): 1930, 1931, 1932, 2015 (USA Archery)
• Men's badminton (3): 1977, 1981, 1982 (ABA)
• Women's badminton (1): 1977 (ABA)
• Co-ed sailing (1): 1978 (ICSA)
• Men's team handball: 1979 (United States Team Handball Federation, highest adult division in 1979)
• Co-ed tennis (1): 2011 (USTA)
• Men's tennis (7): 1984, 1991, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2001 (ITA)
• Women's tennis (1): 2012 (ITA)
• Women's triathlon (3): 2014, 2015, 2016 (USA Triathlon)

Individual

UCLA had 273 Bruins win NCAA individual championships at the Division I level.

Notable non-varsity sports

Badminton

The UCLA men's badminton team won three national championships in 1977, 1981, and 1982. The women's team also won a championship in 1977.

Boxing

The men's and women's boxing teams have been part of the National Collegiate Boxing Association since 2016. The women's team has won three individual national titles.

Ice Hockey

The UCLA ice hockey program started before the school was even called UCLA. It stopped during World War II but returned in 1961 as a club sport. Today, UCLA plays in the West Coast Hockey Conference and competes against teams like Loyola Marymount and Arizona State. They play their home games at The Cube Ice and Entertainment Center in Santa Clarita, California.

Rugby

UCLA rugby, started in 1934, is one of the great college rugby teams. Though it lost its top-level status in 1982, it remains strong. The team plays in the PAC Rugby Conference and has had many successful seasons. UCLA rugby has produced players who have represented the United States in international competition.

Athletics facilities

In 2014, UCLA named all its sports and recreation areas to honor Jackie Robinson. He was a great athlete at the school and later became the first African American player in Major League Baseball. A special monument was placed in front of the John Wooden Recreation Center and shown to everyone in 2016.

UCLA has some famous places where its teams play. The football team has played at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California since 1982. Before that, they played at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. The basketball, gymnastics, and volleyball teams play at Pauley Pavilion on the campus. The softball team plays at Easton Stadium, also on campus. The water polo, swimming, and diving teams compete at the Spieker Aquatics Center. The baseball team plays at Steele Field at Jackie Robinson Stadium, close to the campus.

See also: Bel-Air Country Club, Drake Stadium, Los Angeles Tennis Center, Sunset Canyon Recreation Center, UCLA Marina Aquatic Center, Wallis Annenberg Stadium

Athletic alumni

See also: List of University of California, Los Angeles people

Many famous athletes have attended UCLA and gone on to do great things in other areas. Some of these athletes include Mark Harmon, Lynn "Buck" Compton, Jackie Robinson, Rafer Johnson, Walt Hazzard, Gail Goodrich, Troy Aikman, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

The school has also had well-known coaches such as Red Sanders, Tommy Prothro, Dick Vermeil, and John Wooden.

Olympic competitors

UCLA has had many athletes compete in the Olympics. In the 2004 Athens games, UCLA sent 56 athletes, more than any other university in the country. At the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, UCLA athletes won 15 medals, including 4 gold, 9 silver, and 2 bronze. Five coaches also came from UCLA.

Symbolism

The UCLA Bruins have mascots named Joe and Josephine Bruin, who attend many school events and sports games. There is also a large bear statue called "The Bruin" on Bruin Walk, which was put there to celebrate the school's history.

The Solid Gold Sound, the UCLA Bruin Marching Band, plays music to cheer on the teams during games and other events. The school has special songs called fight songs, such as "Sons of Westwood" and "The Mighty Bruins," that fans sing to show their spirit. There are also cheerleaders, a dance team, and a yell crew who add to the excitement at games.

Rivalries

Main article: UCLA–USC rivalry

See also: California–UCLA football rivalry, Notre Dame–UCLA men's basketball rivalry, and Arizona–UCLA men's basketball rivalry

The UCLA Bruins have a long-standing rivalry with the nearby University of Southern California, or USC. This rivalry is special because both schools are in the same city, Los Angeles. They used to compete for a trophy called the Lexus Gauntlet in many sports, with UCLA winning it in some years and USC in others. Their yearly football game is famous, and both teams fight for a special trophy called the Victory Bell.

UCLA also has a football rivalry with California. These teams have played every year since 1939. In basketball, UCLA had a rivalry with Notre Dame from 1966 to 1995.

UCLA Athletics Hall of Fame

In 1983, UCLA created an Athletics Hall of Fame with 25 members to celebrate the school's sports history. Each year, new athletes, coaches, and administrators are added. The Hall of Fame was expanded in 2000 and is now located in the J.D. Morgan Athletics Center.

The Hall of Fame includes many famous athletes from different sports. Some early members include Kareem Abdul-Jabbar from basketball, Arthur Ashe from tennis, and Jackie Robinson from football and baseball. Over the years, many more athletes have been honored for their achievements.

Athletics apparel sponsorships

From 1993 to 1999, UCLA had a deal with Reebok for their sports clothes. In 1999, they started working with Adidas for six years, which ended in June 2005. This deal provided clothes and equipment for UCLA's 21 teams and included special chances for students and other benefits.

In 2005, the deal with Adidas was renewed with more money and extra benefits. In May 2016, UCLA signed a big 15-year deal worth $280 million with Under Armour, starting in the 2017–18 season. However, in June 2020, Under Armour decided to end this deal.

In December 2020, UCLA made a new 6-year agreement with the Jordan Brand for football and basketball teams. Starting July 1, 2021, Nike also provides clothes for the other 25 sports teams at UCLA.