24 Greatest UCLA Athletes of All Time

UCLA has been a powerhouse for athletics in a multitude of sports since its first-ever collegiate competition. Over the years, the university has had some stellar athletes walk through its doors and put on a varsity blue and gold jersey.

While the impressive list of athletes who have competed for UCLA is long, here are our picks for the greatest 24 UCLA athletes of all time (in no particular order).

Arthur Ashe

An icon in the tennis game, Arthur Ashe was on an athletic scholarship to UCLA, which had one of the country’s top college tennis programs at the time. As a senior, he won both the singles and doubles national championships, helping the university claim the 1965 title. He was ranked one of the top amateur players in the world at his graduation and would go on to have a legendary professional career.

Florence Griffith Joyner

Also known as Flo-Jo, the fastest woman ever was a star at UCLA. She was set to compete in the Olympics while still a college athlete, but the 1980 Summer Games were boycotted by the U.S. government. She competed in the 1988 Olympic Trials, where she recorded the three fastest times for a woman in 100 meters (10.49, 10.70, and 10.61). To date, her 200-meter world and Olympic records (21.34), along with her 100-meter record (10.49), make her the only female athlete to hold simultaneous records.

Bill Walton

Following soon after Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Walton continued the Bruins’ dominant run under iconic coach John Wooden, as the Bruins won 10 national championships in 12 years from 1964-75. Waltton earned three consecutive national Player of the Year awards from 1972 to 1974. He brought home two championships for the Bruins and led the team to an 88-game win streak. After going first in the draft, he had a phenomenal career in the NBA before injuries slowed the Naismith Hall of Famer.

Jackie Robinson

It’s rare to see an athlete compete in two sports and be successful in both–now imagine four. Jackie Robinson was a four-sport letter winner in football, basketball, track and field, and baseball at UCLA. Despite being known for his baseball career, that was the sport he struggled most in while at college, batting .097 in 1940. In football, however, he led the nation in punt return average and led his team in passing, rushing, and scoring yards. Being 5-foot-11 didn’t stop him from excelling on the basketball court, earning the West Coast Conference MVP. Did we mention he also won the Pacific Coast Conference and NCAA titles in long jump? He is the only athlete at UCLA to ever letter in four sports, and there will likely never be another Jackie Robinson again.

Jackie Joyner-Kersee

Speaking of multi-sport athletes, Jackie Joyner-Kersee kept busy during her college career. It’s one thing to compete in two sports, and it’s another to dominate in both of them. As a starting forward in basketball from 1980 to 1983, Joyner scored 1,167 points during her career and was honored as one of the 15 greatest players in UCLA women’s basketball in 1998. On top of that, she competed in the Olympics in track and field while at school. After college, she took the track and field world by storm, becoming the most decorated woman in U.S. Olympic track and field history.

Troy Aikman

Coach Terry Donahue was looking for a more effective passing quarterback in 1986, and he got one in transfer Troy Aikman. The new player couldn’t play for another year because of transfer rules but made quite the impact in his first year. Aikman went on to lead the Bruins to a 20-4 record in his two seasons as quarterback. He was the nation’s top quarterback, a consensus All-American and the number one overall pick in the 1989 NFL Draft before having a Hall of Fame career with the Dallas Cowboys.

Lisa Fernandez

Before she was a Bruins coach, Lisa Fernandez sported the blue and gold jersey as a legendary softball pitcher. In her junior and senior seasons, she had the lowest ERA in the nation (0.14 in 1992 and 0.25 in 1993) and tossed 11 career no-hitters. On the flip side, she ranks in the UCLA top 10 for numerous offensive categories, including hits and homers and has secured a name for herself in softball history.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

You didn’t think we forgot, did you? Just making sure you’re paying attention. As the most recruited player in the nation, Kareem (known at the time as Lew Alcindor) ultimately decided to attend UCLA. Freshmen were ineligible to play varsity until 1972, so he was part of the first-ever freshmen team to beat the UCLA varsity squad. In his sophomore season, he averaged 29 points per game and led the Bruins to an undefeated 30-0 season. Alcindor was a three-time national Player of the Year, played on three championship teams and would go on to a Hall of Fame NBA career.

Ann Meyers Drysdale

Ann Meyers Drysdale was setting standards and breaking records wherever she could. In 1974, she was the first woman to be granted a four-year athletic scholarship to a university. And that scholarship was put to good use. On February 18, 1978, she recorded the first quadruple-double in NCAA Division I history with 20 points, 14 rebounds, 10 assists, and10 steals. Only a handful of players since have accomplished the same. She became the first four-time All-American women’s basketball player and etched her name into UCLA history.

Tom Jager

Decorated Olympian and eleven-time U.S. national open champion Tom Jager was a swimmer at UCLA from 1983 to 1985. He won individual NCAA championships in the 100-yard freestyle, 50-yard freestyle, and the 100-yard backstroke. His six NCAA crowns during his tenure at UCLA have regarded him as the best swimmer to rep the blue and gold.

Reggie Miller

You don’t get much more of a dangerous scoring threat in college basketball than Reggie Miller. He ranks near the top in almost every UCLA career statistical category, including points, field goal percentage, three-pointers, free throw percentage, steals, and games played. Among his more notable games was the 1987 game against defending national champs Louisville, where Miller scored 33 points in the second half–still the school record.

Evelyn Ashford

Regarded as the world’s top female sprinter of the 1970s, Ashford won four individual titles at UCLA and helped lead the Bruins to an AIAW national team championship. She has competed in the Olympic Games on several occasions and was the former world record holder for the 100 meters and indoor records for 50 and 60 meters.

Kevin Love

Love’s decision to play at UCLA was not an easy one. Fans of his father’s alma mater, Oregon, were outraged, and rumors of a North Carolina commitment added fuel to the fire. Love reached out to Bill Walton for advice and guidance on playing at UCLA, and whatever he told Love sure did work. Some of his accolades during his tenure include first-team All-American, Pac-10 Player of the Year, All-Pac-10, and Pac-10 Freshman of the Year.

Rachel Garcia

Another softball pitcher who dominated, Rachel Garcia posted a 29-1 record her junior year with a 1.14 ERA and 286 strikeouts in 202 innings. Her performance in the NCAA title game against number one-ranked Oklahoma won her the College World Series Most Outstanding Player Award. She is one of just three student-athletes ever to be named a two-time winner of the Honda Cup. In 25 of her 29 appearances in 2021, she allowed zero or one earned runs and reached double figures in strikeouts seven times.

Jonathan Ogden

Jonathan Ogden was about to be a Florida Gator, but changed his mind when UCLA football coaches said they would allow him to also compete in track and field. As an offensive tackle, he allowed only two sacks in 23 games during his junior and senior years. In the Indoor Track and Field Championships, Ogden won the 1996 NCAA DI shot put with a distance of 19.42 meters. He went on to have a successful career with the Ravens, who drafted him with the 4th overall pick.

Katelyn Ohashi

You may recognize this athlete from her mega-viral floor routine that swept social media by storm in 2019. Her viral set was just one of the eleven perfect 10s she received in her collegiate career. Named Pac-12 Specialist of the Year in both 2018 and 2019, Ohashi brought home numerous titles and awards in the UCLA uniform.

Burr Baldwin

There may be many All-Americans on this list, but only one can be the first. Burr Baldwin was UCLA’s very first player to receive All-American honors, playing end for the 1946 football team. His college career was cut into two parts as he paused his education in 1943 to enter the U.S. Army during World War II. After serving for three years, he returned and made headlines in 1946 for UCLA football, playing in two Rose Bowls before getting drafted by the Green Bay Packers.

Russell Westbrook

He may not have been a starter from the get-go, but Westbrook would eventually make quite the impression at UCLA. After not playing much his freshman year, he trained extensively during the offseason to try and earn his spot the following year. Coming in for an injured Darren Collison, Westbrook finished his sophomore season with an average of 12.7 points and 3.9 rebounds and won Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year. While his career at UCLA was cut short after he entered the draft, it was the launchpad to an insanely impressive NBA career.

Carlos Bocanegra

Before his impressive national and Premier League career, Carlos Bocanegra was playing shut down defense for the Bruins. During his tenure, he led his team to the 1997 NCAA Championship and 1999 College Cup. After his junior year, he turned pro and was drafted fourth overall in the MLS SuperDraft. He went on to win numerous awards in the MLS before heading overseas to play in the English Premier League, French Ligue 1, and Scottish Premier League.

Lonzo Ball

When you take your team to a 31-5 record during your freshman year after they went 15-17 the year before, you’re going to turn some heads. Lonzo Ball was among the nation’s top point guards during his college career. He was the only player in the country at the time to average at least 14 points, seven assists, and six rebounds. Ball was the first player since 1993 to make at least 70 percent from two-point range.

Madison Kocian

She may be the youngest athlete on this list, but Madison Kocian’s impact on UCLA gymnastics will be talked about for years to come. She was the first Olympic gold medalist to compete in NCAA gymnastics, and she is one of two female gymnasts to win NCAA, World, and Olympic championships. Along with her teammates, UCLA brought home gold in the 2018 NCAA Championships.

Brian Teacher

Four-time All-American and team captain Brian Teacher was a significant contributor to UCLA’s NCAA team tennis titles in 1975 and 1976. He individually won Pac-8 singles and doubles titles in 1974. After graduating with a degree in economics, he continued his winning ways in his professional career before becoming an ATP and WTA touring coach.

Gerrit Cole

During UCLA’s 2010 season, Gerrit Cole (along with Trevor Bauer) helped to lead the Bruins’ best baseball team in school history and the second-best team in the country. Cole had an 11-4 record with a 3.37 ERA, collecting 153 strikeouts in 123 innings. He was selected first overall in the 2011 MLB Draft by Pittsburgh and has been a six-time All Star and won the 2023 AL Cy Younng Award.

Sydney Leroux

World Cup winner and Olympic gold medalist Sydney Leroux knows a thing or two about winning. She has repped the U.S. crest many times for the national team, earning over 75 caps in her career. As a Bruin, she was a dominant force on the field. Her ability to consistently find the back of the net helped bring UCLA to the NCAA tournament. She is ranked high in the UCLA record books for total points, goals, and game-winning goals in her career.