Women’s basketball picked to win Pac-12

The UCLA women's basketball team was picked by conference coaches to win the Pac-12 this season. (Photo from UCLA Athletics)

The UCLA women’s basketball team was picked by conference coaches to win the Pac-12 this season. (Photo from UCLA Athletics)

Coming off the program’s first Sweet 16 appearance since 1999, the UCLA women’s basketball team was picked to win the conference this season by Pac-12 coaches in the preseason poll released Thursday at Pac-12 Women’s Basketball Media Day.

It’s the first time since 2000 that the Bruins were picked to win the conference. UCLA, led by sixth-year head coach Cori Close, claimed eight first-place votes. Stanford and Washington finished second and third, respectively.

UCLA has three returning starters: juniors Monique Billings and Jordan Canada and senior Kari Korver. Canada was named an AP honorable mention All-American last season after the guard averaged 16.1 points and 5.7 assists per game.