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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 team didn’t look like it did against UConn in the Final Four when they couldn’t figure things out offensively. Much of that had to do with suffocating UCLA defense, but the Bruins didn’t have the same problems 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 the Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix, Arizona on April 4, 2026. (Ronaldo Bolaños/Los Angeles Times)
By the end of the third quarter, the Bruins had a huge 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 led the Bruins since the 2011-12 season. Last season marked the first time UCLA has been to the Final Four of 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-pointer against the South Carolina Gamecocks late in the first quarter of the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament National Championship at the Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix, Arizona, on April 5, 2026. (Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
This time, it was the Bruins who got the job done against Texas, 51-44, to secure a spot at the national title. Of course, that wasn’t expected to be an easy feat against the Gamecocks, who outshot UConn, 62-48, resulting in a now-viral exchange between Staley and Geno Auriemma at midcourt.
However, Close has the right formula and the Bruins ran it to a tee on Sunday afternoon to be crowned champions.
All five starters for Close finished the game in double figures, with Gabriela Jaquez, sister of former 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 grabbing 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 National Basketball Championship at the Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix, Arizona on April 5, 2026. (Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
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Lauren Betts also had a double-double, 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 pace against the Gamecocks, who couldn’t get the game closer.
