UCLA Wins First NCAA Title With Transfer Team of Champions

When Lauren Betts left Stanford after one year, her confidence was broken and her basketball future uncertain. Three years later, she just helped UCLA win its first women's basketball national championship in school history.

The Bruins crushed defending champion South Carolina 79-51 on Sunday in Phoenix, capping a remarkable journey for a team built on second chances. Seven seniors led UCLA to glory, and four of them didn't even start their college careers in Westwood.

Betts, the 6-foot-7 center who struggled mentally at Stanford, found new life at UCLA after taking a mental health break during her first season with the Bruins. She became a two-time All-American and the Big Ten Player of the Year, anchoring a defense that carried UCLA through the tournament.

Her game-saving block against Texas in Friday's semifinal became the defining moment of the tournament. With the score tied, Betts raced back on defense and swatted away a potential go-ahead layup, sealing UCLA's first trip to the title game.

Forward Angela Dugalic transferred from Oregon. Guards Charlisse Leger-Walker came from Washington State and Gianna Kneepkens from Utah. Even senior Megan Grant switched sports, joining basketball this season after playing softball at UCLA.

Guard Kiki Rice, who came to UCLA as the nation's No. 2 recruit in 2022, watched her former rival Betts commit to Stanford as the top recruit that same year. They ended their college careers as championship teammates instead.

Why This Inspires

Coach Cori Close spent 15 seasons building this program brick by brick, weathering six heartbreaking tournament exits between 2016 and 2024. She never stopped believing that the pieces would eventually fit together.

Her patience paid off with a team that proves success isn't always a straight line. Betts found peace by learning her worth extends beyond basketball stats. The transfers found home after leaving their original schools. Grant found joy switching from softball to hoops.

In Sunday's championship game, UCLA never trailed. Gabriela Jaquez, who grew up dreaming of playing for the Bruins, scored 21 points and grabbed 10 rebounds before leaving the court in tears of joy with three minutes left.

The seniors scored all 130 of UCLA's points across both Final Four games. They finished 37-1, the best record in college basketball this season, and handed South Carolina its worst tournament loss in years.

Betts will likely be a high draft pick when the WNBA holds its draft on April 13, but she says the wins and losses aren't what matter most. "It's about this entire journey that we've had together," she said.

Sometimes the long way around is exactly the path you need to take.