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Barker's Return: Emotional Reunion with UCLA Coach

Summary

  • Janiah Barker returned to UCLA after transferring to Tennessee.
  • Coach Cori Close wished Barker well despite the postgame moment.
  • Barker scored a season-high 25 points in her return game.
Barker's Return: Emotional Reunion with UCLA Coach

Janiah Barker experienced an emotional return to Pauley Pavilion, facing her former UCLA Bruins team and coach Cori Close after transferring to Tennessee. Although a brief, seemingly cool handshake occurred postgame, Coach Close publicly wished Barker well, acknowledging her contributions.

Barker, a standout player who earned Big Ten Sixth Player of the Year honors with UCLA and reached the Final Four, sought a more prominent role with the Volunteers. In her return to her former home court, the forward delivered a season-high 25 points, showcasing her continued impact on the game.

The game held significant emotional weight for Barker, who received her Final Four ring and memorabilia from UCLA before tip-off. Despite her strong performance, her efforts were not enough to secure a win against the No. 3 ranked Bruins, highlighting the competitive nature of college basketball.

Disclaimer: This story has been auto-aggregated and auto-summarised by a computer program. This story has not been edited or created by the Feedzop team.
Janiah Barker transferred to Tennessee seeking a bigger role and more playing time.
After the game, Janiah Barker and Coach Cori Close shared a brief handshake, with Close wishing Barker well.
Janiah Barker scored a season-high 25 points in her emotional return game at Pauley Pavilion.

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