UCLA Dominate in First NCAA Championship Win

UCLA women’s basketball took a resounding win in the NCAA tournament national championship against South Carolina, winning 79-51. The Bruins won an AIAW national championship in 1978, but had never previously made the NCAA finals before this season. Their best finish before this season came in 2025, when they made the final four and lost to UConn.

Apr 5, 2026; Phoenix, AZ, USA; UCLA Bruins center Lauren Betts (51) reacts in the second half against the South Carolina Gamecocks during the National Championship game of the women’s 2026 NCAA Tournament at Mortgage Matchup Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images Gabriela Jaquez led the Bruins in scoring with 16 points as well as 10 rebounds and five assists, and Lauren Betts logged her third consecutive double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds in the win. They took a 13-point lead into halftime, and outscored their opponents 25-9 in the third quarter to put the game out of reach.

The team struggled with turnovers in their final four matchup against Texas, but managed to cut down on giveaways with just 12 against South Carolina. UCLA played against the Gamecocks earlier in the season, taking a 77-62 win at home. The Bruins’ continued success is huge for the program, but they’ll head into next season with a completely new starting five.

All of their starters, as well as bench player Angela Dugalic, are expected to be selected in the WNBA draft. While their seniors’ exits make the end of their season bittersweet, UCLA will always be able to hang their hat on the first NCAA championship in program history.