The UCLA Bruins women's basketball team captured their first NCAA championship with a decisive 79-51 victory over South Carolina. Head coach Cori Close, who often references the program's storied past, led her senior-laden team to the historic win in Phoenix.
The victory marks UCLA's first title in the NCAA era, joining the program's 1978 AIAW championship team in the record books. Coach Close has maintained strong ties with members of that earlier team, ensuring their legacy is recognized alongside this new achievement.
UCLA dominated from the start, building a 13-4 lead that never dissipated. The team's core of seniors, many of whom were transfers, scored all 79 points in a fitting finale. Star center Lauren Betts, a formidable presence at 6-foot-7, was pivotal with a team-high 11 rebounds and defensive dominance.
Coach Close built this championship roster through strategic use of the transfer portal, complementing homegrown talents like Kiki Rice and Gabriela Jaquez. The win represents a culmination of a precise plan executed under immense pressure, as this specific group of players will now move on.
For South Carolina, the loss marks a second consecutive defeat in the national title game. Coach Dawn Staley acknowledged UCLA's superior execution, while the Bruins celebrated a victory that bridges generations of UCLA basketball history.