Mission accomplished for UCLA.
The Bruins captured their first NCAA women’s basketball national championship with a dominant 79-51 win over South Carolina on Sunday.
Gabriela Jaquez led the way with 21 points, while Lauren Betts added 16 points and 11 rebounds, earning Most Outstanding Player honors for the Final Four.
“I knew we were going to do it,” Jaquez said. “I imagined this moment so many times… I’m just so proud.”
UCLA (37-1) capped off a remarkable season, with its only loss coming early in the year. The championship marks the program’s first NCAA title and its first national crown since the pre-NCAA era in 1978.
“It’s beyond my wildest dreams,” head coach Cori Close said.
The Bruins set the tone early, jumping out to a 21-10 lead after the first quarter and never looking back. Their defense stifled South Carolina, holding the Gamecocks to one of their worst shooting performances of the season.
UCLA broke the game open in the third quarter with a 25-9 run, putting the title firmly out of reach.
For South Carolina (36-4), it marked a second straight championship game loss. Head coach Dawn Staley acknowledged UCLA’s dominance.
“We just didn’t have it today,” Staley said. “They were the better team.”
Despite the loss, the Gamecocks were led by Tessa Johnson with 14 points and remain a powerhouse with a strong core expected to return.
For UCLA’s senior class, the victory was the culmination of a goal set after falling short in last year’s Final Four — a journey that ended with the program’s first NCAA championship.
For more sports news, stay tuned to Que Onda Magazine.