Once A Bruin, Always A Bruin: The Story of Noelle Quinn
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LOS ANGELES – The Bruins trailed Stanford 70-65 with only 45 seconds left in regulation when UCLA guard Noelle Quinn hit a jumper from the top of the key and drew the foul. Quinn brought the Bruins to within two points as she completed the three-point play. Then after a defensive stop and with 0:11 on the clock, Quinn scored from the same spot, tying the game. After another stop, the game went to overtime.
On March 6, 2006, Quinn scored the final seven points of regulation and another four in the overtime period to lead the UCLA women’s basketball team to the Pac-10 Tournament Championship, beating 11th-ranked Stanford 85-76 in overtime at San Jose’s HP Pavilion.
Eight years later, Quinn can still recall the look on the Stanford players’ faces as she reminisces on her best moment as a Bruin.
“They were stunned at the end of the game,” Quinn said. “It was such a priceless moment.”
After graduating in 2007, Quinn was selected by the Minnesota Lynx as the 4th overall pick in the first round of the 2007 WNBA Draft. Since then, she has played with the Los Angeles Sparks (2009-2011), the Washington Mystics (2012), and is currently with the Seattle Storm (2013-present).
“To play with legends like Lisa Leslie, Tina Thompson, Delisha Milton-Jones, Ticha Penicheiro and Candace Parker, those moments come once in a lifetime, and I’m blessed to have had that opportunity,” Quinn said.
In addition, she has played professionally overseas in Russia, Lithuania, Bulgaria, Israel, France, Turkey, and South Korea.
The UCLA women’s basketball team is currently ranked No. 23 in both preseason polls by the USA Today and the Associated Press, despite finishing last season with a losing record (13-18), mostly due to injuries. With the team healthy and featuring the No. 1 recruiting class in the nation, they are expected to return to the upper echelon of the Pac-12 Conference and gain a bid to the NCAA Tournament.
With the WNBA season concluded and Quinn in a holding pattern until she left for Prague, Czech Republic, for her next professional gig, she saw an opportunity to help her alma mater while maintaining the fitness level required to be an elite professional athlete.
“Pam Walker does a great job of keeping the alumni connected,” Quinn said. “She coached when I played, and from the first time I met Coach Cori (Close), she treated me as though I was one of her former players.”
Quinn recognizes the team’s talent and advises the UCLA women not to look at the pressure as something negative, but as motivation to continue to grow.
She even delayed her departure to Europe by a day so she could attend the Bruins’ 92-54 exhibition win over Westmont on Sunday, Nov. 2.
“Each time I was at practice working out with the team, I saw growth,” Quinn noted. “They have yet to tap into their full potential, which is very scary. I am excited to see the maturation of the young Bruins this season.”
Coach Close was more than happy to have someone of Quinn’s knowledge and abilities offer advice to a relatively young team that features seven freshmen and nine below the junior level on a squad with high expectations and lofty goals.
“Noelle (Quinn) met with our team after the exhibition game before she left for Prague,” Close said. “The team recalled countless things they had learned from her in just a few practices and wanted to thank her for that. At one point, I had to cut it off, because they had so many things to say.
“Our team was impacted not only by what she said but the type of person she is and how she was a role model for them. That’s how she lives her life. I didn’t get a chance to coach her in college, but I have grown as a coach because I got to be around her these past few weeks. She is sincere, hard-working and pure-hearted and always looks for a way to give to others.”
One of those ways occurred on Aug. 15, 2014 as she and her Seattle Storm teammates were in Los Angeles to take on the L.A. Sparks. It was "UCLA Night" at Staples Center and Quinn took time after a difficult loss to conduct a meet and greet with UCLA fans and members of the Bruins' women's basketball team and coaching staff. She also stayed late for a Q&A session and even took time to pose for photos.
Noted as one of the best all-around players in Bruin history, Quinn is familiar with what it takes to be a champion and how to handle scrutiny in the public eye.
“With a great work ethic, a determination to get better every day, and an enthusiastic attitude, they will exceed those high standards,” Quinn said.
Quinn is excited about the direction of the program and believes the future is in good hands.
“I take so much pride in being a Bruin, and it’s something I really want the current players to feel,” Quinn added. “So when they are finished, they will come back and continue the cycle.”
Once a Bruin, always a Bruin.
The UCLA women's basketball team opens the 2014-15 season at James Madison on Nov. 14 and hosts No. 9 Texas in its home opener on Nov. 23 at 1:00 p.m. on the Pac-12 Networks. Women’s basketball season tickets are on sale at the UCLA Central Ticket Office (310-UCLA-WIN). For more ticket information, or to buy tickets now, click here.