Published 7 days ago • loading... • Updated 6 days ago

UCLA Faces Rebuild After Historic NCAA Title Run

On Sunday, April 5, 2026, the UCLA Bruins defeated South Carolina 79-51 in Phoenix, securing the program's first NCAA national championship.
Driven by last year's semifinal exit, UCLA's veteran-heavy roster opted to return for one final season. "We had a feeling this was our time," senior guard Kiki Rice said.
All five UCLA starters reached double-digits in scoring, led by Gabriela Jaquez's 21 points and 10 rebounds, while Lauren Betts added a 14-point, 11-rebound double-double.
With the team's top six players graduating, UCLA faces a significant rebuild as the transfer portal opens immediately.
UCLA head coach Cori Close plans to add five players via the transfer portal, while programs like Stanford and Tennessee also experience significant roster turnover.

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Missoulian

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Center

UCLA faces rebuild after historic NCAA title run

PHOENIX — Cori Close and the UCLA Bruins are going to have to work hard to repeat as champions.

6 days ago·Missoula, United States

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NBC LA

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UCLA will lose 6 top players to graduation. What's next for the Bruins?

Cori Close and the UCLA Bruins are going to have to work hard to repeat as champions. They lose their top six players to graduation after putting on one of the most dominant performances in championship history to win their first NCAA title and second overall, routing South Carolina by 28 points Sunday. But with the transfer portal open now, the UCLA coach can...

7 days ago·Los Angeles, United States

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Rutland Herald

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Center

UCLA faces a massive rebuild after a historic NCAA title run as the transfer portal opens

PHOENIX (AP) — Cori Close and the UCLA Bruins are going to have to work hard to repeat as champions.

7 days ago

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Audacy

Center

UCLA faces a massive rebuild after a historic NCAA title run as the transfer portal opens | WBBM Newsradio 780 AM & 105.9 FM

s ncaa-women-s-division-i-basketball-championship sports sports-transactions college-basketball women-s-college-basketball college-sports basketball | WBBM Newsradio 780 AM & 105.9 FM

7 days ago·Philadelphia, United States

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USA Today

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From heartbreak to history: UCLA completes redemption with NCAA title

UCLA's senior core had one more crack at an elusive NCAA national championship. One last dance.

7 days ago·United States

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NBC News

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UCLA's unconventional strategy to win a national title — all seniors, all the time

To win its first NCAA basketball title, UCLA leaned on its oldest players to an extreme degree. It paid off with a stunning championship using a difficult-to-replicate blueprint

8 days ago·United States

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