NCAA Basketball: Tennessee’s Janiah Barker has awkward postgame moment with UCLA coach

Tennessee Lady Volunteers women’s basketball forward Janiah Barker had an icy moment in the handshake line with UCLA Bruins head coach Cori Close after Sunday’s game.

Barker led the No. 14 Lady Vols with 25 points in 27 minutes. The No. 3 Bruins managed to get the win by 22 points, 99-77.

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As the broadcast tuned to players and coaches shaking hands for a moment of good sportsmanship, Barker removed his hand from Close and continued walking down the line. Close raised his hands and ignored the moment.

Barker transferred from UCLA to Tennessee after just one year in Southern California. He appeared in 36 games, three of them starts. He averaged 7.4 points and 6 rebounds per game.

She reacted to the moment on social media and said she had no ill will toward Close.

Tennessee forward Janiah Barker (0) reacts at the end of an NCAA college basketball game against UCLA in Los Angeles, Sunday, Nov. 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Damián Dovarganes)

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“Respect! We shook hands. I wish nothing but the best for Coach (Cori) and my UCLA family,” he wrote on X.

Close also shared the same sentiments, as it seemed like the handshake line incident was an anomaly.

“Outside of this game, I don’t want to wish Janiah Barker anything but the best. I think she’s a spectacular player, she gave us a lot on and off the court. And I just want to make sure to tell her that I wish her the best the rest of the way,” he said via Sports Illustrated.

UCLA head coach Cori Close talks to her players during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Duke at the Players Era tournament in Las Vegas, Thursday, Nov. 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

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UCLA moved to 8-1 on the year. Tennessee fell to 5-2.