UCLA Wins NCAA Women's Title, Beats South Carolina
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- UCLA won its first NCAA women's basketball title, beating No. 1 seed South Carolina 79‑51 on Sunday.
- UCLA finished the 2025‑26 season 37‑1, closing with a 31‑game winning streak after a blowout loss in the prior year's Final Four.
- Lauren Betts posted 14 points, 11 rebounds and two blocks, limiting South Carolina to 7‑for‑18 contested shots.
- Gabriela Jaquez recorded a team‑high 21 points, 10 rebounds and five assists, becoming the fifth player with a 20‑10‑5 line in a title game.
- UCLA outscored South Carolina 25‑9 in the third quarter, taking a 61‑32 lead and never trailed.
- UCLA held South Carolina to 29 % shooting while shooting 8‑for‑19 from three‑point range, and all five Bruins starters finished in double figures.
- Angela Dugalic highlighted the seniors’ resilience after injuries, noting she missed the 2022‑23 season with an ACL tear.
Why it matters: UCLA’s championship gives the program its first NCAA women’s title, cementing its rise and delivering a high‑profile springboard for seniors heading to the WNBA, while South Carolina’s three‑time champion streak ends, reshaping the power balance in elite college basketball for fans.
