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University of California, Los Angeles, Athletics
Postgame Quotes - UCLA 14, UCF 4
POSTGAME QUOTES
UCLA 14, UCF 4
Easton Stadium (Los Angeles, Calif.)
NCAA Los Angeles Super Regional
May 23, 2026
Kelly Inouye-Perez, The Shelly Carlin UCLA Head Softball Coach
opening statement
"First, I'd really like to start by saying I have so much respect for Cindy Ball-Malone as a player, as a coach. Everywhere she goes, she wins. She is a fierce competitor, and for her to be here today with her team, they've done an outstanding job. No doubt that they're gonna continue to compete. But with that, it's almost like I'm speechless. I couldn't be more proud of this team and their ability to be able to play for each other and with each other. But it's about big moments in postseason, and the ability to step up in those big moments when you have young Bruins. And I literally said these two that are here right now (Aleena Garcia and Alexis Ramirez) ... there's so much that happens during your college career and Bruins that get injured. You know, that was a big part of my story, and your ability to keep going through the grind of working yourself back for these big moments is something that I'm very proud of, because that's what collegiate athletics is about. It really teaches you how to go through the hard to be able to prepare for big moments. So tonight, the team played big. The offense has done an outstanding job all year of having this team's back. And there were great moments of being able to see that, but also it comes down to how Taylor [Tinsley] once again did a great job. The defense did a great job, and again, I am so thrilled for the Bruins to be able to punch their ticket and get back to Oklahoma City."
ย
on what makes a successful coaching year
"For me, it's so easy. It's all about the people you surround yourself with. I have the best coaches, and we're able to go recruit the top one percent in the country. And the biggest part of that is everybody knows how to play softball in Division I softball, but your ability to be selfless and play as a team. The coaches have helped really create the culture. I get to be the head coach of this, but it is all the people that I surround myself with. Lisa Fernandez has been at her absolute best. Adding Misha Sataraka has been a strength to us, as an alumni and experienced coach. Will Oldham helps with all the game planning and so many parts of the program. Rob Schweyer helps with the pitching staff, but it is my staff, and ultimately, I'm proud to be able to say I can recruit the top one percent, and they understand that we're here to be able to be better versions of themselves, but on the way, the lessons that they learn allows for them to come together in big moments like this and get back to the World Series. So it's culture. Culture. People think, you know, of course you have culture, you guys win, but I literally think it's the opposite. We win because of the culture. Nobody's bigger than the four letters at the end of the day, not even me. It's about the people, and I'm very proud to be a part of it."
ย
on the calmness of the team
"I think there's a lot of work - there's the softball part of it, but once again, it gets back to the culture, and we really focus on the Wooden Pyramid of Success. So being able to be at your best when your best is needed. And also, a big part of that is enjoying the challenge. For us, the challenge, we anticipate it. Bring it. And failure is something that is part of the process. There are big moments where you don't come through, and it can just tear you down, but we really focus on succeeding in learning how to fail, so they can just get to the next pitch. Coach Lisa simplifies the offense and says, what's the goal of the offense? What are you supposed to do? [players: Touch first base]. So nowhere in there is hit home runs. But it's simplifying the game. We talk about the ability to slow the game down, to take deep breaths, to be able to enjoy the moment. It's not on any one Bruin. So there's a lot of teaching to how to be at your best and how to play big on a stage. And I think a big part of that is we've got to trust the process, right? And I'm proud of them because this is a young team. They don't have a lot of experience, but they have played the game from a very young age, and the opportunity to play on this big stage is what you look for instead of making it bigger than it is. So I'm so proud. They just played their game tonight, and it's very exciting to be able to be a part of."
ย
on the depth of the team
"Everyone continues to ask about the younger players stepping up. But, you know, I said, it's accepting the responsibility. The fact that we won the game, and the score without having Megan getting a pitch tonight, is something that we were anticipating and expecting, but we have younger Bruins that are gonna have her back and are prepared for those moments. So with that, it's a mindset. And again, I'm gonna go back to the coaches. They train everybody the same. They prepare everybody for every moment. The practices have been so on point with whatever the pitch is or whoever it is; the standard is the same for everybody. So with that, it's preparation that leads to the opportunities for them to be able to succeed, and I think, ultimately, I'm gonna say it again, they buy into the process. They're understanding that every at-bat is a quality at-bat for the team. It is a team-over-self mentality. They believe in everyone. They trust everyone 'cause everyone's working just as hard. We're not relying on any one person, but again, it goes back to culture and the coaches' standards, and these guys accepting the challenge."
ย
on the offensive players beyond Megan Grant and Jordan Woolery
"Well, I think there's a strong belief, and there's a strong confidence, and again, it comes back to their preparation. So Riley Slimp, just having an amazing year of being able to be a table setter, and she may not get on every time, but she has a quality first at-bat. She sees a lot of pitches, she has a great two-strike approach, and it gives all these Bruins a lot of information. And then when you get to the Aleena Garcias ...ย I have seen Aleena thrive before she got here in big moments. She's used to being a three spot. She's used to playing under pressure for her high school team, for her travel team. She's very hard on herself, but her standard is very high. So she's prepared for those big moments. With Aleena, we were just talking about this. She was off from an injury last year, and it took her a while to get back into it, and it was a little frustrating in the beginning, but if you would have asked Coach Lisa in the beginning, Aleena was somebody that she would say would be behind Jordan and Megan. So with that, for her to work herself back, and have strong belief and work ethic is something that she was built for, as Lisa would say. And Bri Alejandre is just on a whole different level, and I think a big part of it is Bri and Aleena have played together. So she loves playing with Aleena Garcia, and she's younger, a year younger, but they played together before. So there's that, there's that strong bond. And then you can keep on going, right? Just keep on going down to Kaniya (Bragg) is just a sophomore, and she came up with huge, big hits for us yesterday, and we can just keep on going. Lefty [Alexis Ramirez] - I mean, she's a double machine. I think she really loves the double celly. But she's in her junior year, but she's been injured. So she's really only had a couple years of being able to be a Bruin. And then keep on going. Soo-Jin [Berry] is a transfer, in her first year. Jolyna Lamar is a secret weapon there at the bottom, at the ninth spot. If you put it over the plate, that puts a lot of pressure on pitchers, because you don't want to get back up to the top, and Jolyna can take a ball out of the park, and her exit velo is ridiculous. So, with it, I know I just rattled all of that, it's just all of them. First of all, I'll go back to Lisa and recruiting. We're recruiting the right Bruins, and then their ability to accept the responsibility with hard work allows for them to come through in big moments."
ย
on her favorite part of the offense
"I love seeing how loose Coach Lisa is with them. She is keeping them loose. She's holding the standard. I can tell you she has a high standard, and she can get so frustrated. But is she not just with you and for you and staying positive in all of this? So my favorite part is watching her be with them, and enjoy it, and keep it loose, and get them back on track to make adjustments and get stronger through a game, and they're all in. They are like one big mob that is all in. If they turn left, they turn right, they're together. And I've been here a long time; it's very difficult to do with an offense because hitters are individuals. It's an individual opportunity, but this team plays as a unit, and it starts again, from the top. The coaches down to the players, they buy into team over self."ย ย
ย
on the offensive success this season and the appreciation behind it
"I donโt think the goal this year was to be able break records this year, but the ability to see them build confidence. It started from week one, where we didnโt know who we were at all, and we just came out and just played big. Then we got challenged in Florida, but to see them get knocked down and come back and respond, then to now see the confidence that they all have in each other is something that I can absolutely appreciate. Iโve seen some big time hitters and big time rallies, but this team has a vibe about them that is calm and it is contagious, and they live for these big moments. These guys are hitting .200 and the biggest outcome and result of that is that theyโre going to go down in Bruins history as the most offensive stat team.โ
ย
on what she's learned from winning championships and is able to pass on to her playersย
"Winning national championships, definitely, you've got to be able to obviously play great softball, but there is a feeling. If I could bottle up the feeling of what it feels like to bring a team together and everyone doing whatever it takes to be able to help the team win a national championship, that is a big part of what I'm trying to continue to do. There's softball, but it's how you play together in big moments and how you recover from those big moments. As a player, I can remember like it was yesterday - Lisa and I pitching, so focused on the process and trusting the process. And this team has done an outstanding job of really focusing on that. There's a way to win. There is a way to win, and it's not that you can't guarantee it, but you give yourself the best chances to win when you really get committed to what it's gonna take to do that. And so, as a player, I still have visuals of, you know, how we went about it, but there's a Bruin Magic feeling of just really everyone committing to sticking to a plan on how we're going to be able to find a way to win. And this team is, I mean, you could feel it. They're very connected, they're very clear, they're very committed to whatever. There's trust. And I think trust is probably the strongest word with this team. They're trusting, they're trusting each other. And as a result, we're back at OKC. I wanted one thing for the seniors this year. You know, we did not know who we were going to be. We were a very young team. And with that, all I wanted was for them to have a great, enjoyable senior year. I would have never imagined it would get to this, but I wasn't surprised as we started because you could feel it. There was a great deal of trust. She continues to say love. That's a big part of how teams succeed. And for us, that is the history and tradition of our program. These athletes are more than just softball ball players. We are a family, and we stick together, and we do big things together."
ย
Aleena Garcia, Redshirt Sophomore Infielder
on her recording-breaking performanceย
"Yeah I honestly didnโt even realize that I even hit two home runs. I just do a really good job at separating at bat to a bat and our coaches preach that all the time. When I looked up my whole mindset was just to score the run and do everything I can for my team."
ย
on finding her footing throughout the seasonย
"I think having my team around me helps a lot. Coach always says that the game doesnโt know how old you are, and Iโve had a lot of experience in the game. My brother being here when he wasnโt supposed to,ย surprised me after he just won his CIF game. Seeing him just reminds me of playing wiffleball when we were younger. Just knowing Iโve been in these positions before, and when Iโm surrounded by so much love and the best teammates and my best friends. So, it just doesnโt feel like a big moment to me."
ย
on her leadership role being such a young player
"Coming into here Iโve always been more of a lead-by-example type of player, but Iโve always known if I want my team to be at their best and myself then I need to be more of a vocal leader while also being the shortstop on the field. I just love connecting with my teammates and I mean to describe our team is just love and family. So, I know they just pour all their love into me, so itโs only right to do the same to them."
ย
on the support they get from former alumni
"The Bruin Bubble is real, and it speaks a lot about this program. I tell the alumni that when Iโm up to bat that I can hear them and I normally can't hear many people. I kind of block it out usually, but I can hear them in my ear telling me 'We love you, Aleena,' and it really means a lot. It just says a lot about our program and just how much love that they pour into is awesome."
ย
on the advice that she has been given from the upperclassmen
"Coach always preaches it a lot to the upperclassmen, and I think it goes from them and comes down to us after. They tell us to just go out there and enjoy your last ride, get there as late as possible with a smile on your face. So, we all just go out there and have so much fun and just spread joy to each other, and weโre just out there enjoying the game. I mean every opportunity we get out there is an opportunity to do something great and just be with each other."
ย
on the offensive production and records broken by this team
"I knew we had a lot of home runs, but I didnโt realize it was 200. This team has set a lot of records, but thatโs not our main goal. We just focus on the process and what it takes to set those records and then the records just set themselves."
ย
Alexis Ramirez, Redshirt Junior Catcher
on Taylor Tinsley
"Getting to work with Taylor and to be a part of her world is really special, and itโs really a blessing to me. I think that Taylor and just her mentality when sheโs out there is special. She knows that she has a nine on one, and she truly believes that. Sheโs able to just get herself in rhythm, focus on her deep breaths, and our connection with each other is something I value a lot. I enjoy working with her."
UCLA 14, UCF 4
Easton Stadium (Los Angeles, Calif.)
NCAA Los Angeles Super Regional
May 23, 2026
Kelly Inouye-Perez, The Shelly Carlin UCLA Head Softball Coach
opening statement
"First, I'd really like to start by saying I have so much respect for Cindy Ball-Malone as a player, as a coach. Everywhere she goes, she wins. She is a fierce competitor, and for her to be here today with her team, they've done an outstanding job. No doubt that they're gonna continue to compete. But with that, it's almost like I'm speechless. I couldn't be more proud of this team and their ability to be able to play for each other and with each other. But it's about big moments in postseason, and the ability to step up in those big moments when you have young Bruins. And I literally said these two that are here right now (Aleena Garcia and Alexis Ramirez) ... there's so much that happens during your college career and Bruins that get injured. You know, that was a big part of my story, and your ability to keep going through the grind of working yourself back for these big moments is something that I'm very proud of, because that's what collegiate athletics is about. It really teaches you how to go through the hard to be able to prepare for big moments. So tonight, the team played big. The offense has done an outstanding job all year of having this team's back. And there were great moments of being able to see that, but also it comes down to how Taylor [Tinsley] once again did a great job. The defense did a great job, and again, I am so thrilled for the Bruins to be able to punch their ticket and get back to Oklahoma City."
ย
on what makes a successful coaching year
"For me, it's so easy. It's all about the people you surround yourself with. I have the best coaches, and we're able to go recruit the top one percent in the country. And the biggest part of that is everybody knows how to play softball in Division I softball, but your ability to be selfless and play as a team. The coaches have helped really create the culture. I get to be the head coach of this, but it is all the people that I surround myself with. Lisa Fernandez has been at her absolute best. Adding Misha Sataraka has been a strength to us, as an alumni and experienced coach. Will Oldham helps with all the game planning and so many parts of the program. Rob Schweyer helps with the pitching staff, but it is my staff, and ultimately, I'm proud to be able to say I can recruit the top one percent, and they understand that we're here to be able to be better versions of themselves, but on the way, the lessons that they learn allows for them to come together in big moments like this and get back to the World Series. So it's culture. Culture. People think, you know, of course you have culture, you guys win, but I literally think it's the opposite. We win because of the culture. Nobody's bigger than the four letters at the end of the day, not even me. It's about the people, and I'm very proud to be a part of it."
ย
on the calmness of the team
"I think there's a lot of work - there's the softball part of it, but once again, it gets back to the culture, and we really focus on the Wooden Pyramid of Success. So being able to be at your best when your best is needed. And also, a big part of that is enjoying the challenge. For us, the challenge, we anticipate it. Bring it. And failure is something that is part of the process. There are big moments where you don't come through, and it can just tear you down, but we really focus on succeeding in learning how to fail, so they can just get to the next pitch. Coach Lisa simplifies the offense and says, what's the goal of the offense? What are you supposed to do? [players: Touch first base]. So nowhere in there is hit home runs. But it's simplifying the game. We talk about the ability to slow the game down, to take deep breaths, to be able to enjoy the moment. It's not on any one Bruin. So there's a lot of teaching to how to be at your best and how to play big on a stage. And I think a big part of that is we've got to trust the process, right? And I'm proud of them because this is a young team. They don't have a lot of experience, but they have played the game from a very young age, and the opportunity to play on this big stage is what you look for instead of making it bigger than it is. So I'm so proud. They just played their game tonight, and it's very exciting to be able to be a part of."
ย
on the depth of the team
"Everyone continues to ask about the younger players stepping up. But, you know, I said, it's accepting the responsibility. The fact that we won the game, and the score without having Megan getting a pitch tonight, is something that we were anticipating and expecting, but we have younger Bruins that are gonna have her back and are prepared for those moments. So with that, it's a mindset. And again, I'm gonna go back to the coaches. They train everybody the same. They prepare everybody for every moment. The practices have been so on point with whatever the pitch is or whoever it is; the standard is the same for everybody. So with that, it's preparation that leads to the opportunities for them to be able to succeed, and I think, ultimately, I'm gonna say it again, they buy into the process. They're understanding that every at-bat is a quality at-bat for the team. It is a team-over-self mentality. They believe in everyone. They trust everyone 'cause everyone's working just as hard. We're not relying on any one person, but again, it goes back to culture and the coaches' standards, and these guys accepting the challenge."
ย
on the offensive players beyond Megan Grant and Jordan Woolery
"Well, I think there's a strong belief, and there's a strong confidence, and again, it comes back to their preparation. So Riley Slimp, just having an amazing year of being able to be a table setter, and she may not get on every time, but she has a quality first at-bat. She sees a lot of pitches, she has a great two-strike approach, and it gives all these Bruins a lot of information. And then when you get to the Aleena Garcias ...ย I have seen Aleena thrive before she got here in big moments. She's used to being a three spot. She's used to playing under pressure for her high school team, for her travel team. She's very hard on herself, but her standard is very high. So she's prepared for those big moments. With Aleena, we were just talking about this. She was off from an injury last year, and it took her a while to get back into it, and it was a little frustrating in the beginning, but if you would have asked Coach Lisa in the beginning, Aleena was somebody that she would say would be behind Jordan and Megan. So with that, for her to work herself back, and have strong belief and work ethic is something that she was built for, as Lisa would say. And Bri Alejandre is just on a whole different level, and I think a big part of it is Bri and Aleena have played together. So she loves playing with Aleena Garcia, and she's younger, a year younger, but they played together before. So there's that, there's that strong bond. And then you can keep on going, right? Just keep on going down to Kaniya (Bragg) is just a sophomore, and she came up with huge, big hits for us yesterday, and we can just keep on going. Lefty [Alexis Ramirez] - I mean, she's a double machine. I think she really loves the double celly. But she's in her junior year, but she's been injured. So she's really only had a couple years of being able to be a Bruin. And then keep on going. Soo-Jin [Berry] is a transfer, in her first year. Jolyna Lamar is a secret weapon there at the bottom, at the ninth spot. If you put it over the plate, that puts a lot of pressure on pitchers, because you don't want to get back up to the top, and Jolyna can take a ball out of the park, and her exit velo is ridiculous. So, with it, I know I just rattled all of that, it's just all of them. First of all, I'll go back to Lisa and recruiting. We're recruiting the right Bruins, and then their ability to accept the responsibility with hard work allows for them to come through in big moments."
ย
on her favorite part of the offense
"I love seeing how loose Coach Lisa is with them. She is keeping them loose. She's holding the standard. I can tell you she has a high standard, and she can get so frustrated. But is she not just with you and for you and staying positive in all of this? So my favorite part is watching her be with them, and enjoy it, and keep it loose, and get them back on track to make adjustments and get stronger through a game, and they're all in. They are like one big mob that is all in. If they turn left, they turn right, they're together. And I've been here a long time; it's very difficult to do with an offense because hitters are individuals. It's an individual opportunity, but this team plays as a unit, and it starts again, from the top. The coaches down to the players, they buy into team over self."ย ย
ย
on the offensive success this season and the appreciation behind it
"I donโt think the goal this year was to be able break records this year, but the ability to see them build confidence. It started from week one, where we didnโt know who we were at all, and we just came out and just played big. Then we got challenged in Florida, but to see them get knocked down and come back and respond, then to now see the confidence that they all have in each other is something that I can absolutely appreciate. Iโve seen some big time hitters and big time rallies, but this team has a vibe about them that is calm and it is contagious, and they live for these big moments. These guys are hitting .200 and the biggest outcome and result of that is that theyโre going to go down in Bruins history as the most offensive stat team.โ
ย
on what she's learned from winning championships and is able to pass on to her playersย
"Winning national championships, definitely, you've got to be able to obviously play great softball, but there is a feeling. If I could bottle up the feeling of what it feels like to bring a team together and everyone doing whatever it takes to be able to help the team win a national championship, that is a big part of what I'm trying to continue to do. There's softball, but it's how you play together in big moments and how you recover from those big moments. As a player, I can remember like it was yesterday - Lisa and I pitching, so focused on the process and trusting the process. And this team has done an outstanding job of really focusing on that. There's a way to win. There is a way to win, and it's not that you can't guarantee it, but you give yourself the best chances to win when you really get committed to what it's gonna take to do that. And so, as a player, I still have visuals of, you know, how we went about it, but there's a Bruin Magic feeling of just really everyone committing to sticking to a plan on how we're going to be able to find a way to win. And this team is, I mean, you could feel it. They're very connected, they're very clear, they're very committed to whatever. There's trust. And I think trust is probably the strongest word with this team. They're trusting, they're trusting each other. And as a result, we're back at OKC. I wanted one thing for the seniors this year. You know, we did not know who we were going to be. We were a very young team. And with that, all I wanted was for them to have a great, enjoyable senior year. I would have never imagined it would get to this, but I wasn't surprised as we started because you could feel it. There was a great deal of trust. She continues to say love. That's a big part of how teams succeed. And for us, that is the history and tradition of our program. These athletes are more than just softball ball players. We are a family, and we stick together, and we do big things together."
ย
Aleena Garcia, Redshirt Sophomore Infielder
on her recording-breaking performanceย
"Yeah I honestly didnโt even realize that I even hit two home runs. I just do a really good job at separating at bat to a bat and our coaches preach that all the time. When I looked up my whole mindset was just to score the run and do everything I can for my team."
ย
on finding her footing throughout the seasonย
"I think having my team around me helps a lot. Coach always says that the game doesnโt know how old you are, and Iโve had a lot of experience in the game. My brother being here when he wasnโt supposed to,ย surprised me after he just won his CIF game. Seeing him just reminds me of playing wiffleball when we were younger. Just knowing Iโve been in these positions before, and when Iโm surrounded by so much love and the best teammates and my best friends. So, it just doesnโt feel like a big moment to me."
ย
on her leadership role being such a young player
"Coming into here Iโve always been more of a lead-by-example type of player, but Iโve always known if I want my team to be at their best and myself then I need to be more of a vocal leader while also being the shortstop on the field. I just love connecting with my teammates and I mean to describe our team is just love and family. So, I know they just pour all their love into me, so itโs only right to do the same to them."
ย
on the support they get from former alumni
"The Bruin Bubble is real, and it speaks a lot about this program. I tell the alumni that when Iโm up to bat that I can hear them and I normally can't hear many people. I kind of block it out usually, but I can hear them in my ear telling me 'We love you, Aleena,' and it really means a lot. It just says a lot about our program and just how much love that they pour into is awesome."
ย
on the advice that she has been given from the upperclassmen
"Coach always preaches it a lot to the upperclassmen, and I think it goes from them and comes down to us after. They tell us to just go out there and enjoy your last ride, get there as late as possible with a smile on your face. So, we all just go out there and have so much fun and just spread joy to each other, and weโre just out there enjoying the game. I mean every opportunity we get out there is an opportunity to do something great and just be with each other."
ย
on the offensive production and records broken by this team
"I knew we had a lot of home runs, but I didnโt realize it was 200. This team has set a lot of records, but thatโs not our main goal. We just focus on the process and what it takes to set those records and then the records just set themselves."
ย
Alexis Ramirez, Redshirt Junior Catcher
on Taylor Tinsley
"Getting to work with Taylor and to be a part of her world is really special, and itโs really a blessing to me. I think that Taylor and just her mentality when sheโs out there is special. She knows that she has a nine on one, and she truly believes that. Sheโs able to just get herself in rhythm, focus on her deep breaths, and our connection with each other is something I value a lot. I enjoy working with her."