Overview
- After No. 4 UCLA beat No. 19 Ohio State 82–75 on Dec. 28 in Columbus, Cori Close told Los Angeles reporter Benjamin Royer he was the only person who asked to speak with her and noted “no AP, no nothing.”
- The Associated Press said freelancer Nicole Kraft covered the game in person, explaining that AP recap deadlines within minutes of the final buzzer left no time for postgame quotes as she also headed to a Columbus Blue Jackets assignment.
- Local media including SB Nation’s Thomas Costello and NBC4’s David DeGuzman were at the arena, yet there was no formal UCLA postgame availability and reporters focused on Ohio State’s press conference.
- On Dec. 30, Close reiterated that she seeks proportionate attention for a growing sport, saying she could not recall another double‑ranked game with no press conference or quotes from the visiting team in her 15 years as a head coach.
- The episode fueled wider discussion about resource constraints in sports newsrooms despite rising women’s college basketball audiences, with no outlets announcing changes to coverage practices.