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For the first time in program history, the UCLA Bruins are the women’s basketball national champions.
The Bruins took down the South Carolina Gamecocks, the team led by Dawn Staley that had reached the national title game three consecutive seasons and won it in 2024, in dominant fashion, 79-51.
Staley’s squad did not look like it did against UConn in the Final Four, as they couldn’t figure things out offensively. A lot of that had to do with suffocating UCLA defense, but the Bruins weren’t having the same trouble when they had the ball in their hands.
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The UCLA Bruins women’s basketball team huddles before the NCAA Women’s Championship game against the South Carolina Gamecocks at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix, Ariz., on April 4, 2026. (Ronaldo Bolaños/Los Angeles Times)
By the end of the third quarter, the Bruins had a whopping 29-point lead over the Gamecocks, 61-32, as UCLA held South Carolina to just 24% shooting from the floor compared to their 43%.
In the end, UCLA made 43% of its shots compared to South Carolina’s 29%, which is always the goal for a team looking to win a title.
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It’s been a long time coming for Close, who has been leading the Bruins since the 2011-12 season. Last season marked the first time UCLA has been to the Final Four in the women’s NCAA Tournament as a program, though they fell to the UConn Huskies, 85-51.
Kiki Rice of the UCLA Bruins reacts after making a three-point basket against the South Carolina Gamecocks at the end of the first quarter in the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament National Championship at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix, Ariz., on April 5, 2026. (Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
This time, it was the Bruins getting the job done against Texas, 51-44, to secure a spot for the national title. Of course, it wasn’t expected to be an easy feat against the Gamecocks, who handled UConn, 62-48, which resulted in a now-viral exchange between Staley and Geno Auriemma at midcourt.
However, Close has the right formula, and the Bruins executed it to a tee on Sunday afternoon to be crowned champions.
All five starters for Close finished the game with double-digit points, with Gabriela Jaquez, the sister of ex-Bruins men’s basketball star and current Miami Heat guard Jaime Jaquez, leading the charge with 21 on 8-of-14 shooting. She also finished with a double-double after hauling in 10 rebounds.
Lauren Betts of the UCLA Bruins and Maryam Dauda of the South Carolina Gamecocks compete for position during the first quarter of the NCAA women’s basketball national championship at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix, Ariz., on April 5, 2026. (Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
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Lauren Betts had herself a double-double, too, finishing the game with 14 points and 11 rebounds. Gianna Kneepkens (15 points, four assists), Charlisse Leger-Walker (10 points, four rebounds) and Kiki Rice (10 points, six rebounds, five assists) helped the Bruins keep the pace against the Gamecocks, who couldn’t get the game closer.
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