This class of 2025 guard will suit up for the Bruins come fall. If her performance on the international stage is any indication, UCLA is getting a good one.
Croatia narrowly beat Denmark in the Women’s FIBA U18 World Cup Tournament, besting the Danish in a 2-point victory, 100-98.
Power forward Lea Vukic recorded a double-double with 20 points and 12 rebounds, while forward Matea Matijevic added 18 points. But the real key to the Croatian victory was Lena Bilić, a class of 2025 guard committed to UCLA.
Bilić put up 32 points against the Danish in the group phase game, shooting 55.6% on field goals, 50% from beyond the arc and 90% on free throws.
Big time Bilić didn’t mess around against Denmark 🥶🥶🥶
— UCLA Women's Basketball (@UCLAWBB) July 8, 2025
🇭🇷 100-98 🇩🇰
📊 L. Bilić | 32 PTS (.556/.500/.900), 5 REB, 7 AST, 5 STL#GoBruinspic.twitter.com/Pc5BgPPEfl
Croatia is 4-0 in tournament Group D play. In addition to Denmark, the Croatians beat Great Britain (70-69), Norway (108-32) and Bulgaria (91-70). Their next match will likely be Friday when the quarterfinal round begins.
The incoming freshman committed to the Bruins in September, but inked her deal officially in November on National Signing Day alongside No. 2 overall recruit, 6-foot-4 forward Sienna Betts.
"Lena is the best player out of Europe in her class," UCLA women's head basketball coach Cori Close said when Bilić signed. "She's a big guard, she has a high IQ for the game, she's a defensive playmaker, and she can really shoot it."
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Bilić, Betts and Christina Karamouzi Siegel are the Bruins’ three commits in their 2025 recruiting class. Betts, whose older sister Lauren is a rising senior center for the Bruins, committed in 2023. The forward selected UCLA over 10 other programs, including UConn and South Carolina.
Though UCLA only has three athletes, their 2025 recruiting class ranked second in the Big Ten and No. 12 overall by ESPN in May. The acquisition of No. 2 prospect Betts likely boosted the Bruins, who are outranked in conference only by Illinois’ No. 9 overall recruiting class.
Category: General Sports
