UCLA crushes South Carolina for first NCAA women's basketball title

UCLA players and head coach head coach Cori Close celebrate after defeating South Carolina in the 2026 NCAA Division I women's basketball title game Sunday at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix. Photo by Darryl Webb/UPI April 5 (UPI) -- Insatiable defensive effort and selfless ball movement helped the UCLA Bruins overwhelm South Carolina on Sunday for their first women's NCAA basketball title. The Bruins extended their program-best winning streak to 31 games with the 79-51 thrashing in Phoenix, the third-largest blowout in history for a title game in the Division I women's basketball tournament.

"It's immeasurably more than I could ask for or imagine," Bruins coach Cori Close said on the ESPN broadcast. "It's beyond my wildest dreams. It's meaningful because of the people I've gotten to share it with.

"It's all about the heart. It would be shallow without an amazing village of incredible people who have poured into me my whole life. " Bruins guard Gabriela Jaquez poured in a game-high 21 points, with 10 rebounds and five assists.

Fellow seniors Gianna Kneepkens and Lauren Betts chipped in 15 and 14 points, respectively. UCLA guard Gianna Kneepkens (8) and center Lauren Betts celebrate after a score against the South Carolina Gamecocks the second half the 2026 NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament title game Sunday at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix. Photo by Darryl Webb/UPI Betts, a first-team All-American who was named Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four, also recorded 11 rebounds, two blocks and two assists.