UCLA ‘Smacked’ South Carolina 79-51 to win it’s first NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship
UCLA Bruins #51 Lauren Betts (C) scored 14 points, 11 rebounds, and 2 block shots against the South Carolina Gamecocks in the NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship Game. Courtesy photo by nbc4i.com April 5, 2026.
PHOENIX, ARIZ - UCLA captured its first NCAA women’s basketball title by pure domination from the game's opening moments. South Carolina never led and was uncharacteristic in missing layups and easy shots. UCLA started 5 seniors who will all play in the WNBA. The seniors dominated South Carolina, 79-51, to hoist its first-ever national title.
The Gamecocks were uncharacteristic in missing layups and easy shots. They started 3 of 18 in the 1st quarter. For the game, the Bruin defense held the fourth-ranked team in offensive efficiency to 29% shooting from the field and 13% (2 of 15) from 3-point range.
Even after South Carolina was denied its third championship in five seasons, coach Staley was brutally honest. “Obviously, we got smacked today… We got to figure out how we smack back and put ourselves in the position where we’re hoisting the trophy at the end of the day.”
Coach Staley was also complimentary of UCLA and coach Close: I'm always happy for people that worked hard in this game, who are really quality people. I want good things to happen for them. Cori is one of those people who really works at making our game better. Not just UCLA, but our entire game. She's always speaking out, uplifting our game in so many areas that it's hard to continue to do that while maintaining the job that you have to do every day. But she finds the time.
This championship highlights the current state of affairs in college basketball. Dawn built her program the traditional way of recruiting and developing the best high school players. Now, NIL and the transfer portal allows a team to assemble 5 pro-level seniors to compete against freshman and sophomores. UCLA was simply bigger and better-skilled at every position. South Carolina played their sensational sophomore Joyce Edwards and freshman phenom Agot Mekeer, but they have not developed into the players they will be in 2 years. When 15-year head coach Close gets access to the portal, the younger players virtually have no chance against the best senior class in the country.
UCLA All-American 6-7 center Lauren Betts overcame a breathing health scare in the first quarter and needed to use an inhaler on the bench. Betts finished with 14 points, 11 rebounds, and 2 blocks while shooting 6 of 10 from the field. Betts was named the NCAA tournament’s Most Outstanding Player. All-American teammate Gabriela Jaquez led UCLA in scoring with 21 points and 10 rebounds, while shooting 8 of 14 from the field and 2 of 4 from 3.
The championship is the first for Cori Close in her 15th season as UCLA’s head coach. “It’s immeasurably more than I could ask or imagine.” While fighting back the tears, Close told ESPN after the game, “It’s beyond my wildest dreams. It’s meaningful because of the people I’ve gotten to share it with.”
Coach Staley has appeared in 6 straight Final Fours and was competing for her fourth National Title. It will be interesting to see how she uses NIL and the transfer portal in the off season.