Introduction

Alexa Blatt is one of the key players in the background at UCLA Athletics. Blatt brings a wealth of experience and a strong work ethic to the 2025–2026 season, having spent six years as the athletic trainer for Bruins athletes in women’s basketball, track and field and women’s golf.

The promotion of Ms. Bussell to Associate Athletic Trainer highlights UCLA’s confidence in her knowledge and skills in preventing injuries, rehabilitation, athlete recovery, performance optimization, and sports medicine leadership. In 2026, college athletics is constantly changing, and Blatt is part of a new generation of athletic trainers that will incorporate traditional hands-on care, cutting-edge recovery techniques and evidence-based performance strategies.

Category	Details
Full Name	Alexa Blatt
Current Title	Associate Athletic Trainer
Teams Covered 2025–2026	UCLA Men’s Basketball, UCLA Women’s Golf
Employer	UCLA Athletics / UCLA Bruins
Joined UCLA	2019 — Now in 7th year with athletic training office as of 2025–2026
Promoted to Men’s Hoops	2025–2026 — First season with men’s basketball
Previous UCLA Teams	Women’s Basketball 6 seasons, Track & Field, Women’s Golf
Hometown	Westlake Village, California
Education – Graduate	M.S. Kinesiology, concentration Athletic Training — Illinois State University
Education – Undergraduate	B.S. Athletic Training, minor Exercise Science — Nova Southeastern University, 2015
Previous Job 1	Assistant Athletic Trainer, Jacksonville University Women’s Basketball — 2017–2019
Previous Job 2	Graduate Assistant Athletic Trainer, Illinois State Men’s & Women’s Track & Field, Cross Country — 2015–2017
Key Achievement – UCLA	Women’s Basketball Final Four 2024–2025, 34-3 record
NCAA Tournament Runs	With UCLA WBB: 2021 2nd Round, 2023 Sweet 16, 2024 Sweet 16, 2025 Final Four
Key Achievement – ISU	Part of 2016 Missouri Valley Conference champion Women’s Indoor Track & Field team
Specializations	Graston Technique, manual therapy, myofascial cupping technique, functional movement screen
Licenses	Licensed Athletic Trainer — State of Florida Department of Health
Certifications	Certified Athletic Trainer — NATA Board of Certification; American Red Cross CPR, AED, First Aid
Memberships	NATA, Southeast Athletic Trainers’ Association
Duties 2025–2026	All day-to-day athletic training with men’s basketball; oversees multiple sports medicine interns
Why She Matters 2026	Bridges elite women’s + men’s basketball; uses advanced recovery tech to keep UCLA Big Ten rosters healthy
2026 Status	Active at UCLA; key staff for men’s basketball March Madness goals

Who Is Alexa Blatt? From Westlake Village to UCLA Athletics

Alexa Blatt was born and raised in Westlake Village, California and became passionate about athletic training while in school. A solid education and years of hands-on experience with the world’s top collegiate athletes has been the base for her career.

She graduated from Nova Southeastern University in 2015 with a Bachelor of Science in Athletic Training with a minor in Exercise Science. Blatt’s continued education interests included a Master of Science in Kinesiology and Athletic Training at the Illinois State University.

She was academically trained to understand the principles of Biomechanics, Rehabilitation Science, Injury Prevention and Athlete Performance. The skills would later prove to be essential in her coaching with NCAA athletes at the highest collegiate level.

Prior to UCLA, Blatt had already established herself as a strong player at various other highly regarded programs, and has since built an impressive sports medicine career.

Early career and professional development

When Alexa Blatt finished her undergraduate career, she was just starting her collegiate career.

She served as a Graduate Assistant Athletic Trainer at Illinois State University from 2015-2017, where she assisted with the men’s track and field and cross-country team as well as the women’s track and field and cross country team. She served as a member of the staff that assisted the women’s indoor track and field team with the 2016 Missouri Valley Conference Championship during this time.

Blatt became an Assistant Athletic Trainer at Jacksonville University in 2017. For the next two years, she would primarily focus on the university’s women’s basketball team, where she would have the opportunity to have a wide range of experience in handling athlete health in a long competitive season.

These positions enabled her to sharpen her critical skills in the areas of:

• Assessment of injuries and their care.
• Rehabilitation planning
• Emergency care
• Athlete monitoring
• Return-to-play protocols
• Performance recovery strategies

Blatt had already gained a reputation for being a talented and highly respected athletic trainer when UCLA reached out to her in 2019.

UCLA Career: Six Years Supporting Bruins Success

In 2019, Alexa Blatt went on to join UCLA Athletics, and started a very successful career there.

She spent six seasons with various programs with the Bruins:

• Women’s Basketball
• Track and Field
• Women’s Golf

Her impact was especially significant in women’s basketball as she helped ensure the health and well-being of athletes in high-pressured postseason schedules.

The Bruins have been NCAA Tournament qualifiers four times in her tenure with UCLA women’s basketball: 2021, 2023, 2024 and 2025. The program’s most successful season was in 2024–2025, when it reached the NCAA Final Four with a remarkable 34–3 record.

Athletic trainers, such as Blatt, work behind the scenes to ensure teams are successful, even though they may not be in the spotlight like coaches and players. They work to make sure that athletes are physically fit to perform at the highest level throughout the season.

In 2025–2026, Alexa Blatt will assume control of UCLA’s men’s basketball program

2025-2026 is a big season for Alexa Blatt

She was promoted to Associate Athletic Trainer where she began working with the UCLA men’s basketball team, and still continued to work with the women’s golf team and sports medicine interns.

This position will put her in the middle of one of college basketball’s most prominent programs.

Athletes participating in men’s basketball must be physically demanding and have to:

• High-impact collisions
• Repetitive stress injuries
• Long travel schedules
• Quick recovery requirements
• NCAA Tournament pressure

Under Blatt’s guidance, the team’s daily medical requirements are taken care of, so that players are ready to compete during conference games and postseason play.

Her experience working with Final Four level players is beneficial to her when she is working with elite men’s college basketball players.

Certifications and advanced skills in the field of Sports Medicine

UCLA believes Alexa Blatt has a great ability to take on such a high profile position because she possesses a wealth of knowledge in modern sports medicine techniques.

She has multiple special certifications that enable her to use advanced treatment methods.

Graston Technique

The Graston Technique is a patented technique that uses specialized instruments to locate and treat soft tissue restrictions, scar tissue and muscle dysfunction.

The treatment can aid in the mobility and quicker recovery from injury for athletes.

Manual Therapy

Manual therapy, a hands-on technique, is a technique Blatt frequently employs to restore mobility and alleviate pain in the joints, muscles, and connective tissues.

Myofascial Cupping

The purpose of the myofascial cupping technique is to enhance circulation, reduce muscle tension and aid recovery after strenuous exercise.

Functional Movement Screen (FMS)

The Functional Movement Screen is helpful for detecting movement restrictions and muscle imbalances at an early stage to prevent serious injuries.

This proactive treatment gives trainers the opportunity to create correction programs, specific to the individual athlete.

The approach of these techniques is the modern style of athletic training, a prevention rather than rehabilitation approach.

Coordinate the education, credentials and professional certifications process

Manage the process of education, credentials and professional certifications

Alexa Blatt’s resume is a testament to her dedication to excellence.

Academic Background

Degree	Institution
B.S. Athletic Training	Nova Southeastern University
Exercise Science: MinorNova Southeastern University
M.S. Kinesiology (Athletic Training) at Illinois State University

Professional Certifications

Blatt is a holder of a number of well respected professional qualifications:

• Certified Athletic Trainer (BOC)
• The State of Florida Department of Health (DOH) licenses Athletic Trainers (ATs).Athletic Trainers (ATs) are licensed by the State of Florida Department of Health (DOH).
• American Red Cross CPR/AED/First Aid Certified
• Graston Technique Certified
• Member of the National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA)
• Eligible for membership in the Southeast Athletic Trainers’ Association

These certifications prove the knowledge to take care of top collegiate athletes at the NCAA level.

The role of the Modern Athletic Trainer in College Basketball

Today’s athletic trainers do much more than what most fans know.

At large college basketball programs like UCLA, athletic trainers will function as healthcare providers and collaborate closely with:

• Team physicians
• Physical Education Teachers/Science Teachers
• Nutritionists
• Physical therapists
• Coaching staffs

Their responsibilities include:

• Planning of rehabilitation following injury
• Monitoring athlete workload
• Conducting injury-prevention assessments
• Managing recovery schedules
• Implementing return-to-play protocols
• Applying the correct skills when something goes wrong in a game or in practice.Dealing with problems during practice and games.

Blatt also serves as the director of sports medicine interns, which assist in developing the next generation of athletic trainers for collegiate and professional sports.

NCAA seasons are long, with a lot of traveling and athletic trainers have a direct influence in athlete availability and team performance.

Looking Ahead: What’s Next for Alexa Blatt and UCLA Sports Medicine in 2026?

UCLA will play in the Big Ten while continuing to chase a title and the contributions of Alexa Blatt will be vital to the Bruins.

This year, 2026, will be defined by several key storylines that will guide her work:

• Health management during conference play.
• Preparing and recovering from March Madness.
• Embedding new sports science technologies
• Expanding injury-prevention programs
• The Boiling Springs Football Club will continue to have sports medicine interns.
• Ensuring support for women’s golf players throughout the year.

UCLA’s dedication to athlete wellness and performance excellence is seen in her leadership role.

Why the future of athletic training is Alexa Blatt

Athletic training is heading towards Alexa Blatt

Alexa Blatt represents a few trends that characterize 2026 in sports medicine:

• Application of knowledge and skills from other sports to both male and female athletes
• Advanced recovery techniques such as Graston, cupping, and movement screening.
• Intern supervision as a means to leadership development
• Evidence-based performance care
• Integrated athlete health management

The Bottom Line

UCLA Athletics is fortunate to have one of its most valuable sports medicine professionals in the form of Alexa Blatt. She has a proven track record in the field of injury prevention and rehabilitation, as well as in the care and prevention of injuries for Bruins athletes, from her early years of playing for Illinois State and Jacksonville University, through her six-year tenure at the University of Michigan.

Blatt is a 2025–2026 Associate Athletic Trainer at the University of California, Los Angeles, men’s basketball, and is one of the new leaders in collegiate sports medicine. Her education, certifications, advanced treatment techniques and leadership experience make her an important asset in the success of UCLA both on and off the court.

Alexa Blatt will continue to play a crucial role in the UCLA Bruins’ quest for championships, behind the scenes.

Conclusion

UCLA Athletics is fortunate to have one of its most valuable sports medicine professionals in the form of Alexa Blatt. She has a proven track record in the field of injury prevention and rehabilitation, as well as in the care and prevention of injuries for Bruins athletes, from her early years of playing for Illinois State and Jacksonville University, through her six-year tenure at the University of Michigan.

Blatt is a 2025–2026 Associate Athletic Trainer at the University of California, Los Angeles, men’s basketball, and is one of the new leaders in collegiate sports medicine. Her education, certifications, advanced treatment techniques and leadership experience make her an important asset in the success of UCLA both on and off the court.

Alexa Blatt will continue to play a crucial role in the UCLA Bruins’ quest for championships, behind the scenes.