SAN FRANCISCO – Cal’s Lindsay Gottlieb has to be one of the best coaches in the country at connecting with her players and letting their personalities shine. From the “This is Cal Basketball” website to the team’s choreographed dances to players wearing “Black Lives Matter” warm-ups before a game at Long Beach State in December of 2014, Gottlieb has always had a pulse on her team and encouraged her players to be themselves all the time.

Since Gottlieb has such a strong bond with her players and staff, it should be no surprise that when Gottlieb got married on Sept. 22 to her fiancé, Patrick Martin, the whole team would be there celebrating right alongside her.

“I can tell you I was never the young person dreaming about a wedding growing up. I was more concerned about backscreens,” Gottlieb quipped at 2018 Pac-12 Women’s Basketball Media Day on Wednesday. “This team has always been a part of my family, so when Patrick and I chose to do a wedding, it was a no brainer that we were going to include the team.”

There were chicken and waffle hors d’oeuvres that looked incredible. There was Gottlieb’s 1-year-old son, Jordan, playing in the dirt during the marriage vows. And, of course, the Cal team did a choreographed dance to the “Let’s Get Married” remix by Jagged Edge and Reverend Run. All in all — a great time for the entire Golden Bear family.

“I liked how you were showing off that ring, too,” guard Asha Thomas told Gottlieb. “It was definitely a special day. I’m happy that everyone decided to show up for her. … It was definitely an emotional day, but we had our fun too.”

A special @CalWBBall reunion for the lovely wedding of @CalCoachG & @pmarti111 - awesome crew @JoanneBoyle99 @adifferent1five @ReboundsForRama @21charmin @Tierra_Rogers @anncaslin @epierre4 - even with a Mister Softee truck on site. pic.twitter.com/8YCXOFrUi6

— Janie McCauley (@JanieMcCAP) September 23, 2018

Senior forward Kristine Anigwe said she got emotional just thinking about the wedding.

“It felt like a movie,” Anigwe said. “When I saw Lindsay and she was wearing her beautiful shoes… That’s like my mom; I look up to her as my mentor. … That’s just one part of our family, our team. It’s cool.”

The Golden Bears figure to make another NCAA Tournament run in 2019, but no matter what the outcome of the upcoming season is for Cal, Gottlieb said this team will have a special place in her heart because of her wedding.

“It was beyond my wildest dreams having the team there,” Gottlieb said. “They were part of it, they were with all the other important people in our lives.”