UCLA defeated South Carolina with a final score of 79-51. This historic win was UCLA’s first NCAA women’s basketball national championship. It seemed like UCLA had the whole package, with their standout six senior players and a collective team bond built on sacrifice and selflessness. Coach Cori Close began her legacy at UCLA as an assistant coach for the men’s basketball team alongside John Wooden. The impact of Wooden’s philosophy of integrity and patience lives on in Close’s coaching, where teamwork and selflessness create champion players on the court and special young women ready to change the world for the better.Â
Going into the championship game, the South Carolina Gamecocks were heavily favored to take home the win over UCLA. The rigorous South Carolina team was a 3.5-point favorite over the UCLA Bruins going into the final game. From the starting tip-off, UCLA made certain that they were there to put up a fight and take home the championship title. By halftime, UCLA was leading 36-23 with top scorers Gianna Kneepkens and Gabriela Jaquez scoring seven points each. The patience and seamless rhythm of UCLA remained unchanged by South Carolina’s attempts to throw off their momentum. As the fourth-quarter game clock ran down, UCLA’s unity and determination proved triumphant as the Bruins defeated the Gamecocks with a final score of 79-51. Their NCAA win completes UCLA’s 31-game win streak in their 2026 season.Â
Gabriela Jaquez was UCLA’s top overall scorer with 21 points and an unforgettable demonstration of speed and versatility at the rim. The Bruins’ star player, 6-foot-7 Lauren Betts, was awarded the 2026 NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player. Betts is an admired top-five contender in the 2026 WNBA Draft, sharing the spotlight with UCLA point guard Kiki Rice and her teammates Ginana Kneepkens and Jaquez, who are projected first-round picks. In their recent Jimmy Kimmel interview, Coach Close said they could make WNBA history by setting the record for the most players ever drafted from one school and one class.Â
The greatness of UCLA is obvious on the court, but it is the moments off the court that truly encapsulate Coach Close’s principles of strong interpersonal relationships on the team and lifting up others to reach success. The Bruins gained worldwide attention when they danced alongside the UCLA Spirit Squad Dance Team at the UCLA men’s basketball game versus Nebraska on March 3, 2026. Pauley Pavilion’s sold-out crowd watched Betts and Jaquez dance with teammate Charlisse Leger-Walker to Tate McRae in their unforgettable halftime performance. Cheering courtside was the entire UCLA women’s basketball team and Coach Cori, who videoed the performance on her iPhone like a proud parent.Â
The UCLA women’s basketball and Spirit Squad halftime performance routine became a frequent celebration dance after a Bruin win. Even next to the NCAA trophy and covered in confetti, the girls danced one last time together, capturing the attention of Tate McRae, who reposted their dance on her Instagram Story and congratulated the team. Former U.S. President Barack Obama also shared support for the UCLA women’s basketball team on X (formerly Twitter), congratulating them on their championship win. Whether it’s strong teammate relationships or the passion to collaborate with other UCLA student groups, the community has been the foundation of their success.
The authentic friendships and trust that the Bruins share are portrayed beautifully in the Fox Sports documentary You See L.A., which follows the team’s tribulations and perseverance to become the best team in the league. Coach Close’s persistence in encouraging her team to stay true to their humility and maintain hope is to thank for UCLA’s legendary NCAA win.Â
This 2026 NCAA championship win for the UCLA women’s basketball team marks a historic moment for the Bruins and ignites a momentous fire that will pioneer the visibility and growth of all women’s sports.Â