UCLA lands 2027 5-star Nation Williams, daughter of Natalie Williams
UCLA landed a big fish on Wednesday, with five-star forward Nation Williams signing with the defending champion Bruins.
On Wednesday, the UCLA Bruins secured a significant signing as they announced the commitment of five-star forward Nation Williams, the daughter of UCLA alum Natalie Williams. Rivals ranked Nation as the No. 10 player in the 2027 class and the No. 2 power forward. Nation, who stands at 6'2”, chose UCLA over offers from Notre Dame, Duke, Iowa and Michigan.
Nation's recruitment to UCLA began when she made an impact as a sophomore, averaging 17.3 points and 10.4 rebounds per game while helping the team win a state championship. Her performance continued to impress as a junior, with her stats reaching 21.9 points, 12.9 rebounds, along with 3.5 assists, 2.8 steals and 2.1 blocks. Nation's prowess was recognized internationally as well, as she led the FIBA U16 women's team to the 2025 AmeriCup and was a key contributor to the FIBA U17 team that won the Women's World Cup.
Nation's mother, Natalie Williams, played for UCLA from 1990-1994 before being drafted third overall by the Utah Starzz in the 1999 Draft. She went on to become a four-time WNBA All-Star and an All-WNBA First Team three times. Natalie's collegiate career saw her as a two-time USWBA All-American while at UCLA.
This signing represents a major addition to UCLA's roster, with Nation potentially joining Sienna Betts as an intriguing frontcourt duo for the Bruins. The legacy of the Williams family in women's basketball continues with Nation set to join the Bruins.
Written by urgent.news from Yahoo Sports's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
