It began at a Vons supermarket on the corner of Fairfax and Pico just on the outskirts of their neighborhood. Though he doesn’t recall those days, his mother, Gwendolyn Washington, recounts them vividly. She remembers the trip to the market with her son when he was just a tyke of two. While other kids asked […]
Author Archives: Bryan Chu
One loss against USC can’t defeat their spirit
Coming off a loss to crosstown rival USC in the championship game of the Stanford Invitational, questions loomed over how the UCLA women’s water polo team would respond. The Bruins’ top ranking was stripped, their perfect record ended, yet their outlook on this season never once wavered. There is no sense of urgency with six […]
Historic winning streak ends at 40
It’s over. Gone and stripped away from the Bruins is their top-ranked status. Dashed are all thoughts of going undefeated this season. Gone is the swagger that beamed from a team that appeared invincible all of last season. A 40-game winning streak that elapsed over three seasons, the longest in women’s water polo history, came […]
UCLA seeks to continue strong road record at Washington State
No one wants to play Washington State. Aside from having to drive two hours to Pullman, Wash., after landing in Spokane International Airport, the Bruins have to combat frigid temperatures in the low 40s and face a team that plays as if its feet are mired in snow. It’s not going to be easy tonight, […]
Living up to last season’s glory
Teams were distraught, embarrassed and at times looked downright foolish. Some cowered. Some just gave up. Others tried putting up a fight but succumbed down the stretch to a team the women’s water polo community called the best ever assembled. Period. A perfect 33-0 season speaks volumes. But for the Bruins, who are reigning national […]
Afflalo enjoys breakout game
He was the last one in line to shake the hands of the Arizona Wildcat players. As he passed each, one by one, he couldn’t stop smiling. Then there was the encounter. Then a handshake. Then a brief embrace. Then Hall of Fame coach Lute Olson pulled UCLA guard Arron Afflalo close to his face […]
Bruins unstoppable in the pool
Not much has changed so far between this season and last year’s championship run for the UCLA women’s water polo team. In their opening weekend, the Bruins picked up right where they left off at the NCAA championships last spring. That is, without losing a single match. This past weekend, the top-ranked Bruins thrashed three […]