US EditionUCLA Bruins Dominate South Carolina 79-51 to Claim First Women's Basketball NCAA Title
Gabriela Jaquez scored 21 points as UCLA held South Carolina to 51 points and finished 37-1 with its first NCAA women’s title.
- On Sunday, April 5, 2026, the UCLA Bruins defeated the South Carolina Gamecocks 79-51 at the Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix, securing the program's first-ever women's NCAA national championship title.
- Following last year's Final Four loss to UConn, coach Cori Close utilized the previous defeat as motivation for the senior-laden squad that dominated the 2026 tournament with a 37-1 record.
- Gabriela Jaquez led all scorers with 21 points, while 6-foot-7 center Lauren Betts added 14 points and 11 rebounds, anchoring a defense that held South Carolina to 26% shooting in the first half.
- This victory marks UCLA's first national championship since the 1978 AIAW tournament, solidifying coach Cori Close's 15-season tenure while handing South Carolina coach Dawn Staley her second consecutive national title game loss.
- With the season concluded, seniors Betts and Jaquez prepare for the WNBA draft on April 13, while coach Staley confirmed she will return next year to lead the Gamecocks' rebuild.
200 Articles
200 Articles
Ottumwa Courier
Lauren Betts used lessons learned to lead UCLA to its 1st NCAA national championship
UCLA women's basketball has won its first NCAA national championship with a 79-51 blowout of South Carolina. Lauren Betts was the catalyst at both ends of the floor, as she's been throughout her career. The 6-foot-7 senior finished with 14…
Lauren Betts used lessons learned to lead UCLA to its 1st NCAA national championship | WBBM Newsradio 780 AM & 105.9 FM
s ncaa-women-s-division-i-basketball-championship sports college-basketball women-s-college-basketball college-sports basketball | WBBM Newsradio 780 AM & 105.9 FM
UCLA wins first women’s basketball national title in program history with dominant win over South Carolina
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! For the first time in program history, the UCLA Bruins are the women’s basketball national champions. The Bruins took down the South Carolina Gamecocks, the team led by Dawn Staley that had reached the national title game three consecutive seasons and won it in 2024, in dominant fashion, 79-51. Staley’s squad did not look like it did against UConn in the Final Four, as they couldn’t figure things out o…
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 63% of the sources are Center
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
