Tuesday, June 17

Serving through softball: Former Bruin brings game to underserved communities

Less than 24 hours after teaching a weeklong softball clinic in India on behalf of the U.S. Embassy, Natasha Watley was at UCLA watching her former softball team face her current one in an exhibition game. Read more...

Photo: Olympic gold medalist and former UCLA softball player Natasha Watley is bringing the sport she loves to those who might not otherwise play it. Watley, who currently plays for Team Toyota in Japan, came to play the Bruins in an exhibition a few weeks back. Coach Kelly Inouye-Perez noted that she would love Watley to come to UCLA as an assistant coach one day.






Laura Gordon crosses courts from player to volunteer assistant coach

As the rest of the UCLA women’s tennis team was stretched in a circle after practice, two players exchanged quiet but intense rallies in the background. Read more...

Photo: Volunteer assistant coach Laura Gordon played for UCLA women’s tennis coach from 2002 to 2006. Gordon began her UCLA athletic career as a walk-on but went on to earn All-American and All-Pac-10 honors. She walks the line between player and coach, having played college tennis so recently.