Cal Poly Pomona Athletics

Makayla Rose enters her first season as an assistant coach with the Cal Poly Pomona women’s basketball program in 2026-27 after completing a decorated collegiate playing career at UC San Diego.

Rose enjoyed a standout senior season in 2025-26, earning Big West Defensive Player of the Year honors for the second consecutive season, All-Big West First Team recognition, and a spot on the Big West All-Defensive Team. She was also named the Big West Championship Most Outstanding Player after helping the Tritons capture the conference tournament title. Rose set UCSD’s Division I single-season record with 102 steals and its single-game record with nine steals against Hawai‘i. She ranked 13th nationally in total steals, 16th in steals per game, and 17th in minutes per game while averaging 12.6 points, 4.7 rebounds, 3.1 steals, and 2.0 assists per contest.

Rose started all 33 games during her senior season and recorded 20 double-figure scoring performances, five 20-point games, and a season-high 28 points against Hawai‘i. She led UCSD in scoring 11 times and steals in 17 contests, while playing all 40 minutes in 14 games. Her accomplishments also earned her Triton Female Athlete of the Year and Newcomer of the Year honors at the 2026 Triton Awards.

Before joining UC San Diego, Rose spent two seasons at UC Riverside and one season at Stanislaus State. As a junior at UCR in 2024-25, she earned Big West Defensive Player of the Year and All-Big West Defensive Team honors after starting all 32 games and averaging 9.2 points, 2.6 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 2.0 steals per game. She led the Highlanders in steals and assists. As a freshman at Stanislaus State in 2022-23, Rose was named Second Team All-CCAA and earned All-Academic honors.

Rose graduated from Folsom High School in 2022, where she was a First Team All-Sierra Foothill selection, the 2022 Folsom High Most Valuable Player, and a 2022 All-Tournament Team honoree and Most Valuable Player. She helped lead Folsom to the 2022 Sac-Joaquin Section finals and was rated by Sports Illustrated as one of the top 35 point guards in California.

A native of Roseville, California, Rose earned her degree in sociology from UC San Diego’s Marshall College. She is the daughter of Carley Rose, who competed in Division I gymnastics at the University of Washington, and has two older siblings, Janelle and Malik.