From Irish Blue to Bruin Blue
KK Bransford established herself as one of Ohio's standout basketball prospects at Mount Notre Dame High School, where she finished as the program's all-time leading scorer with 2,172 points. A two-time Ms. Ohio Basketball recipient and McDonald's All-American, she continued her career at Notre Dame, earning conference honors and championship titles before injuries disrupted her progress. After four seasons with the Fighting Irish, she transferred to UCLA for the 2026-2027 campaign.
- Full Name: KK Bransford
- Sport: Women's Basketball
- Position: Guard
- Height: 5 feet 11 inches
- Birthplace/Hometown: Cincinnati, Ohio
- Current College: University of California, Los Angeles
- Current Team: UCLA Bruins
- Jersey Number: 14
- Class: Fifth-year player
- Years Active: 2019-present
Bransford helped the Cougars compile a 111-3 record, capture two Ohio state championships and secure four consecutive Girls Greater Catholic League titles. She averaged 21.4 points, 6.4 rebounds and 5.1 assists as a junior before finishing her high school tenure with 21.3 points, 8.3 rebounds and 5.1 assists per outing. Her achievements garnered her the 2021 Ohio Gatorade Player of the Year award, back-to-back Ms. Ohio Basketball honors and a spot in the 2022 McDonald's All-American Game. She also represented the United States at the 2019 FIBA Americas U16 tournament crown, helping the squad win gold.
She began her college career with Notre Dame in 2022–2023, accumulating 8.2 points, 2.9 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 33 appearances. Her debut campaign in South Bend earned her All-ACC Freshman Team recognition as the Fighting Irish claimed the ACC regular-season title. As a sophomore, she posted 6.8 points and 3.9 rebounds on average while contributing to Notre Dame's 2024 ACC title.
Her development was later affected by recurring lower-body injuries. After dealing with lingering issues, she chose to redshirt the 2024–2025 term to prioritize rehabilitation and rebuild her strength. Her return the following year brought another setback when she injured her right knee facing Morehead State on December 11, 2025. Although the injury required neither ACL surgery nor an operation, KK missed 12 consecutive games before returning against Stanford on February 1, 2026.
Despite the interruption, She finished the 2025–2026 season posting 7.4 points, 4.0 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1.1 steals across 24 contests. She delivered her first college double-double versus Chicago State with 21 points and 13 rebounds. She also added 10 points and six rebounds opposing Ohio State in the NCAA Tournament. Away from the court, she pursued a degree in Film, Television and Theatre and received All-ACC Academic Team recognition.
Bransford transferred to UCLA for the 2026–2027 campaign, retaining another year of collegiate eligibility. She made an immediate impact in her Bruins debut, contributing 10 points and two rebounds in a 73–53 victory over Lehigh on November 2, 2026.
She maintained that production in her second outing versus UC Irvine on November 5, collecting another 10 points, 4 rebounds, two assists and a team-high 4 steals in 24 minutes. Her performance helped the Westwood squad secure a 78–42 win at Pauley Pavilion.
Now beginning a new chapter in Los Angeles, KK brings experience from ACC competition, NCAA Tournament appearances and the demanding process of returning from injury. Her transition to UCLA offers an opportunity to apply those lessons while establishing her place in the program's backcourt.