UCLA Dominates South Carolina to Capture First NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship in Historic Fashion

Led by Gabriela Jaquez and a suffocating defense, the Bruins cap a 37-1 season with a commanding 79-51 title-game victory.

The UCLA Bruins women's basketball delivered a championship performance for the ages Sunday, dismantling the South Carolina Gamecocks women's basketball 79-51 to secure the program’s first-ever NCAA Women's Basketball Championship title.

From the opening tip, UCLA asserted total control—never trailing and showcasing the balance, depth, and defensive intensity that defined its near-perfect 37-1 campaign. The victory not only marks a historic milestone for the Bruins but also cements their place among the elite seasons in modern women’s college basketball.

Senior standout Gabriela Jaquez led the charge with 21 points on efficient shooting, setting the tone offensively while igniting transition opportunities. UCLA’s balanced attack proved overwhelming, with five players finishing in double figures, including Gianna Kneepkens (15 points), Lauren Betts (14 points, 11 rebounds), Charlisse Leger-Walker (10 points), and Kiki Rice (10 points).

Defensively, UCLA delivered a masterclass.

The Bruins suffocated South Carolina’s offense, holding the Gamecocks to just 25.7% shooting in the first half and forcing critical turnovers during a decisive third-quarter surge. UCLA outscored South Carolina 25-9 in that period, effectively turning a competitive game into a rout.

Anchored by Lauren Betts in the paint, UCLA controlled the glass and protected the rim, while its perimeter defense disrupted rhythm and forced contested looks. The Gamecocks, one of the nation’s most dominant teams all season, found no answers against the Bruins’ relentless pressure.

Head coach Cori Close, in her 15th season, guided UCLA to its first NCAA-era title—adding to the program’s 1978 AIAW championship and delivering a defining moment in her tenure. The victory also contributes to UCLA’s legacy as one of the most decorated athletic programs in the nation.

Beyond the scoreboard, this championship signals a shifting landscape in women’s college basketball. UCLA’s emergence atop the sport underscores growing parity and highlights the continued rise of West Coast powerhouses in a field historically dominated by a handful of programs.

For South Carolina, the loss ends a remarkable season but reinforces the competitive intensity at the top of the sport—a rivalry that could shape future Final Fours.

For UCLA, however, this moment belongs entirely to the Bruins—a team that didn’t just win a championship, but did so with authority, precision, and a statement that echoes across the college basketball world.

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-- By Michael R. Thomas

Michele Robinson contributed to this article

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