UCLA Just Won Its First NCAA Women's Basketball Title in 48 Years, and It Wasn't Even Close

UCLA absolutely demolished South Carolina 79-51 on Sunday to claim the program's first NCAA women's basketball championship, and we're talking about one of the most lopsided title game performances in college basketball history. Gabriela Jaquez dropped 21 points while Lauren Betts added 16 as the Bruins put on a defensive clinic that had the Gamecocks looking completely lost from start to finish.

The Bruins Were Built Different All Season

This UCLA team came into the championship game with only one loss all season, a November setback to Texas in a Thanksgiving tournament. The Bruins finished 37-1, and their journey through March Madness started after losing to UConn in last season's Final Four. Coach Cori Close built this squad through a mix of high school recruits and transfer portal pickups, but the heart of the team was anchored by seniors and graduate students who had been through the wars together. Jaquez, who played all four years with the Bruins, finished with 10 rebounds and five assists. Her brother Jaime, who plays for the Miami Heat, flew in to watch his alma mater capture the title.

South Carolina Never Had a Chance

The Gamecocks came in as a talented team looking to build a dynasty. South Carolina won the title in 2024 and finished this season at 36-4 with returners like Joyce Edwards and Agot Makeer still on the roster. But Sunday was not their day. South Carolina shot just 17% in the opening quarter, their worst shooting quarter of the season, and UCLA was hitting from everywhere. Kiki Rice's 3-pointer right before the first quarter buzzer made it 21-10, and the Bruins never looked back. By halftime, UCLA led 36-23 after clogging up the paint on defense while working the ball inside on offense. The real damage came in the third quarter when UCLA outscored South Carolina 25-9, with Jaquez scoring five points during an opening 12-3 run that put the game completely out of reach.

History on the Line

This championship was UCLA's first since winning the 1978 AIAW championship, which was the women's basketball postseason tournament before the NCAA took over in 1982. The 28-point margin of victory kept South Carolina from suffering the most lopsided loss in championship history. UConn set that record in 2013 when they beat Louisville by 33 points. The Gamecocks also managed to surpass the title game record low of 44 points set by Louisiana Tech in 1987 against Tennessee. Close has been at UCLA for 15 seasons, but her roots with the program run even deeper. She was mentored by legendary Bruins men's coach John Wooden, the guy who won 10 national championships at the school. Their bond started when she was just 22 years old and he was 83.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.