The UCLA women’s tennis team, currently ranked sixth in the nation, is set to begin Big Ten Conference play this week with matches against Wisconsin and Minnesota. The Bruins, who have a 6-2 record and are on a four-match winning streak, will face No. 44 Wisconsin (7-2) at Nielsen Tennis Stadium in Madison on Friday at 3 p.m. PT. They will then travel to Minneapolis for a match against Minnesota (9-4) at Baseline Tennis Center on Sunday at 10 a.m. PT.
Fans can follow live coverage of both matches through streaming and live scoring provided by the host schools. Additional updates are available via the UCLA women’s tennis X account.
UCLA holds an undefeated record against both upcoming opponents, leading the series with Wisconsin 6-0 and Minnesota 5-0. The most recent victories came in April 2025 when UCLA defeated Wisconsin 4-1 and Minnesota 4-0.
In their last outing, the Bruins secured a decisive 6-1 win over USC on February 27 at home. Olivia Center and Mayu Crossley each posted two wins during that match, while Bianca Fernandez and Anne-Christine Lutkemeyer earned victories over top-40 singles players. Lutkemeyer clinched the team win by defeating No. 32 Jana Hossam.
According to rankings released March 3, UCLA is ranked No. 6 as a team; individually, Anne-Christine Lutkemeyer is ranked No. 40 in singles, Mayu Crossley is No. 54, and Bianca Fernandez is No. 108. In doubles, Olivia Center and Kate Fakih hold the No. 31 spot.
Anne-Christine Lutkemeyer was named Big Ten Player of the Week for the second consecutive week after her performance against USC—her fourth career weekly honor since the start of last season. “Lutkemeyer’s deciding victory, a 6-3, 7-6(4) triumph over Jana Hossam on Court 1, made the score 4-0.” She remains undefeated this season in dual matches against nationally-ranked singles opponents.
Mayu Crossley received her fourth Big Ten Freshman of the Week award this week as well—her second straight honor—after contributing both singles and doubles wins versus USC: “Crossley was first off in singles play, beating Immi Haddad 6-2, 6-4 on Court 2.”
Junior Ahmani Guichard recently achieved her milestone of reaching more than one hundred career wins across singles and doubles competition following UCLA’s narrow victory over Pepperdine on February 20.
Returning players Fakih and Lutkemeyer bring significant experience back to this year’s roster with more than fifty combined singles and doubles wins each from last season; they helped lead UCLA to an NCAA Championship round-of-16 appearance after upsetting Vanderbilt last year.
This season also sees three freshmen joining: Kayla Chung from California brings junior championship experience; Mayu Crossley from Japan participated in all four junior Grand Slams; Rona Rugara from South Africa has won nine ITF junior titles between 2023–25.
Former Bruin Ena Shibahara continues her professional success on tour with highlights including reaching a career-high WTA doubles ranking of No. 4 in March 2022 as well as Grand Slam appearances and titles.
Head coach Stella Sampras Webster marks her thirtieth season leading UCLA women’s tennis this year—the second-longest-tenured active head coach at UCLA—with an overall record of 548–203 (.730). Under her leadership since taking over after serving under Bill Zaima until 1996, Sampras Webster has guided teams to two NCAA championships (2008 & 2014), three conference titles—including their first Big Ten crown—and numerous individual accolades among players she has coached.
