UCLA Bruins guard Lena Bilic (9) drives to the basket during an NCAA basketball game against the Tennessee Lady Volunteers on Sunday, November 30, 2025 at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles, Calif.Jack HaslettMon, December 1, 2025 at 1:15 AM UTC·3 min readLOS ANGELES - When no. 3 UCLA hosted no. 14 Tennessee at Pauley Pavilion Sunday afternoon, it wasn't just a match between two of the best women's basketball teams in the country, it was a homecoming for a fan favorite player.
Tennessee senior Janiah Barker was a reliable role player for the Bruins during their dominant season and Final Four run and despite playing with the Bruins for just her junior season, she certainly made an impact on her teammates, coaches and UCLA's fans. Barker transferred to Tennessee following the NCAA Tournament in pursuit of a roster where she would have a larger role: Barker played in 36 games for UCLA last season, but started just three of them.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementShe's had an outstanding start to the season with the Lady Volunteers, averaging 15.2 points per game while shooting 48.4% from the field. She impressed again in her return to Pauley Pavilion, where she received an ovation from her former home crowd when she was announced in Tennessee's lineup. Barker scored a team-leading 25 points, second in the entire game behind UCLA's Gabriela Jaquez.
UCLA forward Janiah Barker (0) blocking the jump shot during an NCAA women's basketball game against Southern University, Friday March 21, 2025 in Los Angeles, CalifNico Alba - The Sporting Tribune
UCLA forward Janiah Barker (0) blocking the jump shot during an NCAA women's basketball game against Southern University, Friday March 21, 2025 in Los Angeles, Calif
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementUCLA head coach Cori Close was, of course, familiar with Jaquez's game going into the Sunday and tried to plan around it, even containing her well after a hot first quarter, but Barker overcame any advantage familiarity gave the Bruins.
"We obviously know that she's a very strong attack-right kind of player and when she's able to her right hand, she's so explosive," Close said of Barker. "To see her shoot the ball the way she did today; this is the best three point shooting night, maybe, she's had of her career... Nothing she did surprised us because we've had that time with her, but she's a great player."
Barker was visibly upset in her postgame conference, choking back the emotions of returning to Pauley Pavilion and the frustration of suffering a 99-77 loss against her former team.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement"It's definitely been [an] emotional game. It was super fun coming back here. I know there's a lot of fans showing so much love. So, I'm just thankful for the love," Barker said.
Barker wasn't the only one contending with nostalgic feeling during the game. She was, after all, facing off against her old teammates and they were facing off against her. It's clear that there's no love lost between Barker and the Bruins, but at the same time there was still a crucial game to be played and UCLAS kept it professional and competitive on the court.
"JB's [Barker] a great person, wish her nothing but the best," UCLA senior Kiki Rice said. "She's been really great so far for them [Tennessee]. At the end of the day it's just another game... and we wanted to prepare for what they did. It was fun to be out there, fun to compete with them. I think it was just focusing, not on any individual matchup, not just on her [Barker], but on the team as a whole."
Close mentioned that Barker was given her Final Four ring for her role with the team last season on Sunday, and with it Close gave her a card praising Barker's work ethic and after the game, Close shared a sentimental message to her former player.
"Outside of this game, I want to wish Janiah Barker nothing but the best," Close said. "I think she is a spectacular player. She gave us a lot on the court, off the court."
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