Mission Complete: UCLA Dominates South Carolina to Claim First-Ever NCAA Title

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PHOENIX — For the first time in program history, the UCLA Bruins are NCAA National Champions. In a performance that was as clinical as it was historic, the Bruins dismantled the South Carolina Gamecocks 79–51 on Sunday afternoon at the Footprint Center, capping off a 37–1 season with the ultimate prize.

While UCLA won an AIAW title in 1978, the “blue blood” of Westwood had never reached the mountaintop in the NCAA era. That changed Sunday in front of a capacity crowd in Phoenix, where the Bruins led from wire-to-wire in the most lopsided championship game since 2017.

The Coronation of the Seniors

The victory was a crowning achievement for a veteran core that has spent years building toward this moment.

Gabriela Jaquez saved her best for last, leading all scorers with 21 points on 8-of-14 shooting. With her brother, Jaime Jaquez Jr. of the Miami Heat, cheering from the stands, Gabriela added 10 rebounds and 5 assists in a legendary two-way performance.
Lauren Betts was an immovable force in the paint, recording 14 points, 11 rebounds, and two key blocks. Her presence deterred the Gamecocks from the rim all afternoon and anchored a defense that held South Carolina to just 25% shooting in the first half.
Gianna Kneepkens provided the perimeter spark, hitting three triples to finish with 15 points.

The Third Quarter “Tsunami”

Leading 30–21 at the half, UCLA effectively ended the game in the third quarter. The Bruins unleashed a 25–9 run, fueled by a “smothering” defensive scheme that forced eight Gamecock turnovers in the period.

By the time Charlisse Leger-Walker (10 points) nailed a transition three-pointer midway through the third, the lead had swelled to 22. South Carolina, a team known for its depth and resilience, had no answer for the Bruins’ connectivity. The fourth quarter served as little more than a coronation, with UCLA’s lead peaking at 35 points before the final buzzer triggered a sea of blue-and-gold confetti.

Gamecocks Fall Short Again

For Dawn Staley and South Carolina (36–4), it was a heartbreaking end to a stellar season. This marks the second consecutive year the Gamecocks have fallen in the National Championship game.

Tessa Johnson led South Carolina with 10 first-half points but struggled to find rhythm late.
The Gamecocks’ usually dominant rebounding was neutralized, as UCLA won the battle on the boards 49–37 and notched 12 more points in the paint.

A Legacy Cemented

In her 15th season at the helm, coach Cori Close finally secured the hardware that had eluded the program for decades.

“All year we’ve been saying the talent is our floor, but our character will determine our ceiling,” an emotional Close said during the trophy presentation. “It’s immeasurably more than I could ask or imagine.”

With five starters scoring in double figures and a defense that held the mighty Gamecocks to just 51 points, UCLA didn’t just win a championship—they made a statement. The Bruins are no longer just a contender; they are the new queens of college basketball.