How are you feeling and how are you adjusting to the schedule?

Yeah, I was telling Sandy as we were walking over here, it's my first back-to-back, so definitely new.

But, I mean, it's been a long year, of course, but at the same time, just trying to make the most of it and take everything in.

And, you know, physically it's tough, but at the same time, like, you know, this is my job, so I just got to, you know, get rest, get treatment.

It's different now because I don't have class, I don't have school, so all I got to focus on is basketball.

But, yeah, just trying to make the most of it.

I'm just curious if it felt any different out there for you not having them and if they were kind of in your ear on the bench there.

Yeah, I think obviously with people in and out, roles change each game a little bit.

We know you're clutch when you get to the free throw line, but what's the emotions when you get towards the mound to throw the pitch?

Honestly, a little bit nervous.

Not something that I have done a lot.

I feel like I haven't thrown a baseball in, like, a few years.

Um, so, uh, it was pretty, it was pretty nerve- I was pretty nervous in the beginning.

But honestly, once you get up there, it goes pretty quick.

So just gotta get it to the plate.

Espania! Esa!

Um, I think sometimes people-Maybe there's a little bit of a friction, at least the perception is, between individual success and, you know, if you're gonna have a team that runs six deep with, with draft eligible players like that, what do you think it says about your group and how special that UCLA team was that not only were you able to have the team level success, but six of you go in the first 18 picks of the draft?

Yeah, I mean, that was huge, honestly.

I think it really demonstrates that, like, especially in this era of NIL, of, of the transfer portal, of, um, you know, where there's a lot of different things pulling at players, uh, that you can win at a high level, you can compete, and you can do it with a, a group of really selfless players while also being able to still achieve your individual goals.

You don't have to go somewhere and be the only person and be the, you know, only person on your team, get, you know, 20 shots of a game in order to, to be a top draft pick, in order to make a W team.

Like, that's not the scenario.

You know what I mean? Like, you wanna, um, prepare yourself for the next level, and when you get to that next level, you're gonna be surrounded by other high-level players.

So I just feel like all of us, we have the, the experience of playing with other pros, you know? And, and that's what is, I feel like, a big benefit because we know going into camp what it's like to play with other, um, really good players, and there sh- this won't be that adjustment because, you know, we've been doing that all year.

Is that something that you see yourself growing into a- as well at the pro level, being a leader, even if it's maybe not the rah-rah, uh, leadership style?

What, what were the key moments in the lead up to the game that reinforced that confidence?

Yeah, I just think you could tell, you know, with the, the way that we came out in warmups, the way we were prepared for the game, um, just our ability to really lock in and, and focus right from the beginning.

I- we were basically leading the entire game.

So just I think when, when you're on a team, you can feel the, feel the energy within the team of, um, you know, a dominant mentality.

We wouldn't be denied.

We were gonna come out there and win that game regardless.

It was just a feeling that we all had from the, from the tip-off.

What does that feel like, uh, that kind of support both here and on the UCLA campus?

You actually close it out without having to be fearful, you know, towards the end of the game.

Yeah, I mean, I do think, like, at this point of the year, like, we're prepared that every team that we're gonna play is gonna be a great team.

So, like, we know matchups are gonna be close.

Like, the games are gonna be close down the line.

So we just gotta be comfortable in those moments, and I think, like, having played a few of those games will help us, you know, um, just because we have that, like, post-game experience.

But you know, we're, you know, we'll watch scout, watch film, kinda get ready.

Um, I think we played UConn last year actually, so, like, having that experience playing them, um, and we played really well, we beat them last year, will be good for our confidence for sure.

What went into the decision for you to choose basketball over soccer?

Yeah, yeah.

... to all of us.

So I think, like, for, for me to be the first NIL athlete that Jordan chose to sign, like, it just, like, I don't know, it, it was kinda a s- a surreal moment when it all happened.

And for it to be, like, at such a young age, you know what I mean? Like, I signed my senior year of high school, like, going into college and everything.

So, um, it really just, like, kinda, it motivated me to continue to work hard 'cause it's like, all right, like, I've a lot, a lot to live up to, but also, like, a lot more coming if I continue to put in the work.

Mm.

Um, I wanna bring...

Like, I got two years left, so two national championships, two more Final Fours, um, another conference championship.

What's, uh, have we gotten past the point of you, uh, and your colleagues and everybody else who's playing in women's college basketball growing the sport? Do you think we've passed that point, Kiki? What do you think?

No, I, I, I mean, I would say there's been a ton of growth and, um, and definitely women's basketball's receiving a lot more attention than it has in the past. But I wouldn't say we're past, um, growing. I mean, the, our generation, this next gen- generation coming up is gonna continue to do all that it can to continue to grow this sport because, you know, the generation before us did that for us. And, and that's why we're able to have the platform and, um, the support that we have right now. But, um, I'm, I'm like really grateful to be playing right now because I think right now women's basketball is one of the hottest things out there, um, across, um, you know, all different types of, um, sports, both, um, men's and women's. So I'm just... it's, it's a really fun time to be playing.

Yeah, I mean, with all due respect to South Carolina, UConn, everyone else, I don't know, I just kind of get the sense that, uh, there's, there's another, uh, matchup between you and, and USC. What's your relationship with Turbo- TurboTax, before I let you go, Kiki?

Yeah. Um, you know, I've, I've obviously partnered with TurboTax. That's why I'm here today. Um, and, and I think, you know, it's really interesting, because as a, you know, 21-year-old college student, most people my age haven't, um, you're not worried about paying taxes and thinking about that stuff. But with NIL and, um, obviously, um, everything that comes with, I'm really, um, kind of in a different position. And, um, so thinking about paying my taxes is not something that I maybe thought, um, I'd have to do beho- beforehand. But now that I'm in this position, um, I've really had to, um, be smart and strategic about that. And TurboTax's, uh, their done-for-you tax prep solution really makes filing taxes a lot easier and more stress-free, and that's something that's really important for me, just because I'm traveling, we're obviously really busy. And, um, you know, I have to, you know, stay on top of all that. But the TurboTax experts, they really, um, help, um, you know, help people like me out. And I'm just really grateful for them.