UCLA completed its long climb to the top of women’s college basketball by overpowering South Carolina 79-51 to win the program’s first NCAA championship. The Bruins, who entered the season determined to finish what last year’s Final Four run started, delivered a wire‑to‑wire performance built on defense, poise and senior leadership.
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Gabriela Jaquez set the tone with 21 points, 10 rebounds and five assists, while Lauren Betts added 16 points and 11 rebounds. Their senior class, assembled through high‑school recruiting and the transfer portal, scored every point for UCLA in the title game.
Bruins seize control early
UCLA wasted no time establishing its rhythm. The Bruins surpassed their entire first‑half scoring total from the semifinal within the opening quarter, closing the period with a Kiki Rice three‑pointer for a 21-10 lead. South Carolina struggled through its worst shooting quarter of the season at 17 percent.
The Bruins extended the margin to 36-23 by halftime, dominating the paint on both ends and forcing the Gamecocks into difficult looks. Their defensive connectivity, a season‑long calling card, smothered South Carolina’s attempts to generate momentum.
A third‑quarter knockout
Any hopes of a Gamecocks comeback evaporated early in the third quarter. UCLA opened the period on a 12-3 run, with Jaquez scoring five during the surge. The Bruins outscored South Carolina 25-9 in the frame, pushing the lead beyond reach and allowing the celebration to begin early on the bench.
Betts, who earned Most Outstanding Player honors, exited to a long embrace from coach Cori Close with just under four minutes remaining.
South Carolina’s season ends one step short
The Gamecocks, seeking their fourth national championship and third in five seasons, never found their footing. Tessa Johnson led South Carolina with 14 points, while Agot Makeer added 11. Despite the loss, Dawn Staley’s team is expected to return strong next season with a talented core.
“This is not the ending we wanted, but we got here,” Johnson said afterward.
A championship decades in the making
The title marks UCLA’s first national crown since winning the 1978 AIAW championship, predating the NCAA era. For Close, who has spent 15 seasons leading the Bruins and was mentored by legendary coach John Wooden, the moment carried deep personal meaning.
She credited the team’s character and unity, echoing Wooden’s teachings that guided her throughout her career. The Bruins’ 37-1 season, with their only loss coming in November, now stands as one of the most dominant in program history.
