UCLA forward Zania Socka-Nguemen announced her commitment to Indiana women’s basketball on Saturday evening according to her post on X, making this Teri Moren's biggest signee this off-season.
Go Hoosiers ❤️🤍 #commited pic.twitter.com/aGRGNLDJor
— Zania “Big Z” Socka-Nguemen (@zan1a_) April 13, 2025
The Silver Springs, Maryland native averaged 1.5 points and 1.5 rebounds in 5.1 minutes per game last season for the No. 1 overall seed UCLA Bruins, playing in 16 total games in 2024-25. UCLA women's basketball was defeated in the final four last month by the national champions UConn Huskies, 85-51.
The 6-foot-3 Socka-Nguemen has three seasons of eligibility remaining. She is the third transfer portal addition for Indiana women’s basketball this spring, joining guards Chloe Spreen and Phoenix Stotijn.
Socka-Nguemen was a 2024 McDonald’s All-American and attended Sidwell Friends High School in Washington, D.C. Socka-Nguemen was ranked as a four-star and the 30th overall recruit in the 2024 HoopGurlz Recruiting Rankings, according toESPN.
She was a recruiting target for the Hoosiers as a high school prospect but ultimately chose UCLA over Indiana, Maryland and Virginia Tech.
"Big Z is an elite rebounder, great screener, amazing defender," said UCLA head coach Cori Close. "What makes her such a great fit for us is her commitment and work ethic to get better day by day, her true desire to use her platform to make an impact on others, and she's an elite teammate. Big Z is going to be one of those people who makes your team go from really good individuals to a great team."
She has great length on the defensive end of the court as well and is a capable rim protector, she will be able to replace Karoline Striplin and Lilly Meeister in the front court and start right away for the Hoosiers at power forward.