Full of thanks, UCLA celebrates title at Pauley
Why it matters: UCLA's first NCAA women's basketball championship banner will be raised, joining the 1978 AIAW title.
- Lauren Betts and her teammates celebrated UCLA's first NCAA women's basketball championship, performing a TikTok dance with the trophy and creating a snow angel in confetti.
- Coach Cori Close received a standing ovation, recalling how she was told L.A. might not care about women's basketball in 2011, a sentiment now disproven by the team's success and fan engagement.
- Gabriela Jaquez emphasized the team's strong bond, calling them "best friends" and thanking young fans for their support, while leading a spirited eight-clap.
- The championship game against South Carolina averaged 9.9 million viewers, making it the third most-viewed women's championship game since 1996.
- Denise Curry, a star from UCLA's 1978 AIAW championship team, expressed excitement for the new banner joining the existing one, with Ann Meyers Drysdale sending a video message to the team.
- John Wooden's legacy was acknowledged, with his son Jim and great-granddaughter Cori Anderson sending congratulations to Close, whose title run now places her in the same rarified air as the legendary men's coach.
UCLA women's basketball celebrated their historic first NCAA championship at Pauley Pavilion, marking a significant milestone for the program and defying past doubts about L.A.'s interest in women's basketball. The event highlighted the team's close bond and the overwhelming support from fans, with coach Cori Close acknowledging the community's role in their success.
