UCLA Celebrates Historic Win Against South Carolina for Their First NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship
The UCLA Bruins made history today by securing their first-ever NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship, defeating the South Carolina Gamecocks 79-51 at the Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix, Arizona.
This victory marks a significant milestone for the Bruins, who had not won the title since the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) adopted women’s basketball as an official sport in 1982. With a commanding 36-23 lead at halftime, UCLA established a strong foundation for their win, becoming the first new champions in the NCAA era since South Carolina’s initial victory in 2017.
Despite entering the game as the favored team, the Gamecocks struggled both offensively and defensively as they sought their fourth national title. UCLA had the longest odds to win the tournament going into the Final Four. Last season, they reached the Final Four for the first time but were eliminated by the eventual champion, the UConn Huskies.
The Bruins roster is anchored by five senior starters—Lauren Betts, Kiki Rice, Gabriela Jaquez, Charlisse Leger-Walker, and Gianna Kneepkens—along with six players expected to enter the WNBA draft next week. Jaquez topped the scoring with 21 points, while Kneepkens contributed 15 points, and Betts recorded a double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds. This win gives the UCLA women’s basketball team its first championship since the 1978 AIAW national championship, led by Ann Meyers Drysdale.
With this triumph, UCLA now has NCAA championships across 11 different women’s sports, tallying a total of 46 championships in the NCAA era for its women’s teams.
Before the game, senior center Lauren Betts reflected on the significance of the final match, stating, “I think in the back of our heads, we all know that this is our last go at this. It’s all or nothing for all of us.”
Cori Close, in her 15th season as head coach, guided the Bruins to their March Madness victory, showcasing the team’s resilience and talent.
