Elina Aarnisalo is running it back as a Bruin.
The point guard who spent her freshman season with the UCLA women’s basketball program before going to North Carolina is coming back.
Aarnisalo announced her commitment on X, posting a picture of herself in a Bruins jersey along with a bear emoji and blue and yellow hearts.
After mostly backing up UCLA’s Kiki Rice as a freshman, the 5-foot-10 Aarnisalo started 26 games as a sophomore and projects as the likely starter for the Bruins.
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Last season, Aarnisalo averaged 10.2 points, 3.4 rebounds and 2.9 assists while becoming the only Tar Heel to top 20 points in multiple games, scoring 20 against Virginia, 22 against Duke and 21 against Maryland. She also tallied five or more assists in seven games.
As a freshman, Aarnisalo started 10 games and took a star turn with 13 points during an early-season victory over then-No. 1 South Carolina. The native of Finland notched five or more assists in 12 games.
Former UCLA point guard Elina Aarnisalo is rejoining the program after playing at North Carolina. AP
Aarnisalo becomes the second transfer to commit to UCLA, joining Arkansas guard Bonnie Deas.
As a freshman last season, Deas started every game and averaged 10.2 points, 9 rebounds and 2.6 assists.
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Deas, a native of Australia, will continue the Bruins’ recent pattern of bringing in a large number of international prospects.
But UCLA is far from done with its transfer class; coach Cori Close said last week that she would probably bring in five transfers.
