UCLA softball slugger Megan Grant will also play women's basketball as a senior in 2025-26

UCLA softball star Megan Grant wants to pursue her first sporting love and will join the Bruins' women's college basketball for the upcoming season.

As a junior, Grant set a Big Ten record with 26 home runs this past season, while driving in 81 runs and batting .376/.540/.933. UCLA finished 55-13 (17-5 in conference) and advanced to the Women's College World Series, where the Bruins lost to eventual runner-up Texas Tech in the second round.

"Basketball was my first love and has always brought out a childlike spirit in me," Grant said in a statement released by UCLA. "So putting on this jersey and being a small piece in this historically great program is a dream come true."

The Bruins finished 34-3 overall last season, 16-2 in the Big Ten, before advancing to the NCAA women's tournament Final Four. UCLA lost to eventual national champion UConn in the semifinals.

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At Aragon High School in San Mateo, California, the 5-foot-10 Grant averaged 7.8 points, 5.9 rebounds and 1.2 assists in three seasons. As a senior, she scored 9.5 points per game and averaged seven boards.

Grant is listed by the women's basketball program as a guard-forward and will wear No. 43, just as she does on the softball field.

"When I heard that Megan's dream was to play on the basketball team and was to be a part of this, that her love of basketball had never waned, how could I say no?" UCLA coach Cori Close said in a statement.

"You're adding the person that's number one in the country at her craft," she continued. "When you think about that – she's arguably the number one softball player in the United States – we're trying to be the number one basketball program in the United States. There's a mindset crossover with that, so to combine her passion and joy for the game and having her standard of excellence and her mindset for her craft, that's going to be a huge addition to our program."

Grant will play both women's basketball and softball during her senior year.

"I cannot be more proud of Megan for pursuing her dream of playing college basketball, especially for such a storied program and passionate leader like Coach Cori," said UCLA softball coach Kelly Inouye-Perez. "Our fanbase is familiar with the all-out effort Megan gives on the diamond each and every day, and I have no doubt that will translate to the hardwood."