Los Angeles native Kayla Williams was a key contributor for the California Golden Bears during the 2024-2025 season. She is one of five players who are averaging double figures per game with 11.1 points. This helped the Golden Bears to a 25-9 overall record and 16-1 home record.
With Williams, California was able to qualify for the women’s NCAA tournament for the first time since the 2018-2019 season.
As a grad student guard at Cal, Williams shot at 48 percent from the field and 38 percent in three-point shots. Williams led the Golden Bears with 133 total assists.
She had a season high of 25 points against Gonzaga in November.
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Williams transferred to Cal after spending two years with the USC women’s basketball team. As a senior, she helped the Women of Troy win the 2024 Pac-12 Tournament. After defeating Arizona 65-62 to advance to the conference semifinals, Williams explained the importance of her defensive effort.
“Our team is very talented on the offensive end, so I try to contribute a little more on the other side of the floor,” Williams said. “I’m pretty good at turning the ball over, so I think that’s something I know I can bring.”
Williams was also named on the 2023-2024 Pac-12 Academic Honor Roll.
December 18, 2023 marks the day Williams scored her 1,000th career point against Cal State Fullerton, helping the Women of Troy defeat them 93-44.
During the 2022-2023 season, she led USC in total steals with 48. Her efforts named her on the Pac-12 All-Defensive Honorable Mention.
Her first two years of college basketball were spent at UC Irvine, where she garnered several conference achievements.
As a sophomore she averaged 15.5 points, 4.2 assists, and 2.3 steals. This led Williams to be named on the Big West All-Defensive and All-Tournament teams.
During her freshman year, she led the team with 14.4 points, 4.1 assists, and 2.6 steals per game. Williams was named the 2020-2021 Big West Freshman of the Year.
Her efforts on the court made her the first freshman from UC Irvine to make the All-Big West First Team.
Williams was a standout student athlete at Bishop Montgomery high school. She was a two-time All Del Rey First Team member and a two-time All-CIF City Section Selection.
