UCLA wins first women's basketball national title in program history with dominant win over South Carolina

For nan first clip successful programme history, nan UCLA Bruins are nan women’s hoops nationalist champions.

The Bruins took down nan South Carolina Gamecocks, nan squad led by Dawn Staley that had reached nan nationalist title crippled 3 consecutive seasons and won it successful 2024, successful ascendant fashion, 79-51.

Staley’s squad did not look for illustration it did against UConn successful nan Final Four, arsenic they couldn’t fig things retired offensively. A batch of that had to do pinch suffocating UCLA defense, but nan Bruins weren’t having nan aforesaid problem erstwhile they had nan shot successful their hands.

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The UCLA Bruins women's hoops squad huddles earlier nan NCAA Women's Championship crippled against nan South Carolina Gamecocks astatine Mortgage Matchup Center successful Phoenix, Ariz., connected April 4, 2026. (Ronaldo Bolaños/Los Angeles Times)

By nan extremity of nan 3rd quarter, nan Bruins had a whopping 29-point lead complete nan Gamecocks, 61-32, arsenic UCLA held South Carolina to conscionable 24% shooting from nan level compared to their 43%.

In nan end, UCLA made 43% of its shots compared to South Carolina's 29%, which is ever nan extremity for a squad looking to triumph a title.

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It’s been a agelong clip coming for Close, who has been starring nan Bruins since nan 2011-12 season. Last play marked nan first clip UCLA has been to nan Final Four successful nan women’s NCAA Tournament arsenic a program, though they fell to nan UConn Huskies, 85-51.

Kiki Rice of nan UCLA Bruins reacts aft making a three-point handbasket against nan South Carolina Gamecocks astatine nan extremity of nan first 4th successful nan NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament National Championship astatine Mortgage Matchup Center successful Phoenix, Ariz., connected April 5, 2026. (Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

This time, it was nan Bruins getting nan occupation done against Texas, 51-44, to unafraid a spot for nan nationalist title. Of course, it wasn’t expected to beryllium an easy feat against nan Gamecocks, who handled UConn, 62-48, which resulted successful a now-viral speech betwixt Staley and Geno Auriemma astatine midcourt.

However, Close has nan correct formula, and nan Bruins executed it to a tee connected Sunday day to beryllium crowned champions.

All 5 starters for Close vanished nan crippled pinch double-digit points, pinch Gabriela Jaquez, nan sister of ex-Bruins men’s hoops prima and existent Miami Heat defender Jaime Jaquez, starring nan complaint pinch 21 connected 8-of-14 shooting. She besides vanished pinch a double-double aft hauling successful 10 rebounds.

Lauren Betts of nan UCLA Bruins and Maryam Dauda of nan South Carolina Gamecocks compete for position during nan first 4th of nan NCAA women's hoops nationalist title astatine Mortgage Matchup Center successful Phoenix, Ariz., connected April 5, 2026. (Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

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Lauren Betts had herself a double-double, too, finishing nan crippled pinch 14 points and 11 rebounds. Gianna Kneepkens (15 points, 4 assists), Charlisse Leger-Walker (10 points, 4 rebounds) and Kiki Rice (10 points, six rebounds, 5 assists) helped nan Bruins support nan gait against nan Gamecocks, who couldn’t get nan crippled closer.

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