UCLA Wins First NCAA Title After Years of Near-Misses

After falling short in the Sweet 16 or Elite Eight six times in nine years, the UCLA Bruins finally broke through to win their first NCAA women's basketball championship Sunday afternoon in Phoenix.

The Bruins crushed three-time champion South Carolina 79-51 in a game that was never close. UCLA's seven seniors, who scored all 130 points during the Final Four run, led the team to a 37-1 record and the program's long-awaited championship.

The breakthrough came from an unlikely roster. Four of UCLA's seven seniors didn't start their college careers in Westwood, including Lauren Betts, the 6-foot-7 center who transferred from Stanford and became the missing piece the program needed.

Betts arrived at UCLA in 2023 with shattered confidence after a difficult freshman year at Stanford. She took a mental health break during her first season with the Bruins, which helped her rediscover both her joy for basketball and her dominant play on the court.

"Regardless of what I do on the court, that doesn't take away from my value as a person," Betts said. "I have people who love me regardless of how many points I score."

That mental reset unlocked her potential. Betts became a two-time Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and this season's Big Ten Player of the Year, expected to be a high WNBA draft pick next week.

Her iconic moment came Friday in the semifinals against Texas. With the game tied late, Betts raced back on defense and blocked Madison Booker's drive in what broadcaster Ryan Ruocco called "a block for the ages," sending UCLA to its first title game.

Forward Gabriela Jaquez, who grew up dreaming of playing for UCLA, hit a three-pointer with 2:55 left in Sunday's championship game before heading to the bench in tears of joy. Guard Kiki Rice, the No. 2 recruit in 2022, teamed up with Betts, who had been the top recruit that year headed to Stanford, to win both conference and national championships.

Why This Inspires

This championship represents more than just basketball success. Megan Grant joined the team this season after playing UCLA softball, bringing infectious joy to the locker room with her coaches' blessing.

The story shows that the path to success isn't always straight. Angela Dugalic started at Oregon, Charlisse Leger-Walker at Washington State, and Gianna Kneepkens at Utah before all finding their way to UCLA.

Coach Cori Close spent 15 seasons building toward this moment. "We're not just trying to build a wall," she said of placing each player like a brick in perfect position.

Last year's painful 85-51 semifinal loss to UConn, where only Betts scored in double figures, became fuel rather than defeat. The team returned motivated to finish what they started.

UCLA never trailed in Sunday's title game, with Jaquez posting 21 points and 10 rebounds while Betts added 14 and 11. They became the best No. 1 seed in a Final Four where all four top seeds advanced, proving that persistence and the right pieces can overcome years of disappointment.

Seven seniors who took different paths found their perfect home together and made history.