Phoenix, AZ——-The UCLA Bruins women’s basketball are champions once again—and this time, they left no doubt.
UCLA delivered a dominant performance on Sunday in Phoenix, overwhelming the South Carolina Gamecocks women’s basketball 79-51 to capture the NCAA women’s basketball national title. From the opening tip to the final buzzer, the Bruins controlled every aspect of the game, never trailing and showcasing both depth and dominance on the sport’s biggest stage.
The Bruins set the tone early, building a double-digit lead by the end of the first quarter and never allowing South Carolina to recover. A decisive third quarter, where UCLA outscored the Gamecocks 25-9, effectively sealed the outcome and turned the championship into a rout.
A balanced offensive attack fueled the victory, with five UCLA players scoring in double figures and multiple contributors facilitating the offense. Lauren Betts anchored the effort with 14 points and 11 rebounds, earning Final Four Most Outstanding Player honors.
Gabriela Jaquez delivered a standout performance with 21 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists, leading the charge in a game that cemented her legacy.
“The biggest thing that I’ve learned in these past three seasons at UCLA is for me just to always believe in what I’m capable of doing and to surround myself with good people,” Betts said.
“Regardless of what I do on the court, that doesn’t take away from my value as a person. I have people who love me regardless of how many points I score.”
For head coach Cori Close, the championship marked a long-awaited milestone in her 15th season leading the program.
“It’s immeasurably more than I could ask or imagine,” Close said. “It’s beyond my wildest dreams.”
UCLA’s dominance was evident throughout. The team extended its winning streak to 31 games and controlled the paint, the glass, and the tempo. Their aggressive defense disrupted South Carolina’s rhythm, holding them to just 29% shooting and limiting their top players to minimal production.
“I really did expect us to win today,” Close said. “I thought about it several times. I’m like, ‘We’re going to win. I felt very peaceful all day. It wasn’t about whether or not we got the W. I wanted us to be able to play our best when our best was needed. We delivered on that.”
“The confidence we came out with, we just knew we were going to win,” Betts added.
On the other side, South Carolina struggled to find any offensive flow against UCLA’s relentless defense.
“We got whooped. Not beat. We got whooped,” said Raven Johnson.
The Bruins’ victory carries historic significance. It marks UCLA’s first NCAA-era women’s basketball championship and caps a journey decades in the making, dating back to their last national title in 1978.
“My dream was to be at UCLA,” Jaquez said. “It brought tears to my eyes when Coach Cori offered me. We were determined, the core group, to do something UCLA hadn’t done before in the NCAA era. That was important for us. We always believed. We always believed. Job is finished.”
As the final seconds ticked away, the celebration began—players, coaches, and alumni embracing a moment that had long been envisioned.
After the game, Close turned toward her supporters, raised her arms, and captured the emotion of the moment perfectly:
“We did it.”
