UCLA Women Win First NCAA Basketball Championship 79-51

Five best friends walked off the court as national champions Sunday night in Phoenix, ending their college careers with UCLA's first NCAA women's basketball championship in history.

The Bruins defeated South Carolina 79-51 in a performance that rewrote the record books. No team, men's or women's, had ever held a championship opponent to under 30% shooting and under 15% from three-point range until Sunday night.

"The power of friendship and the power of love is so special and so powerful, and that's what got us to be national champions," forward Gabriela Jaquez said at Wednesday's celebration at Pauley Pavilion.

All five starters were seniors or graduate students playing their final college game. Every single point UCLA scored in the Final Four came from these experienced players who chose to stay together for one more season.

Center Lauren Betts, named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player, summed up the team's confidence perfectly. "We just knew we were going to win because of all the prep and work that we put in," she said.

The victory capped a remarkable 37-1 season that included a 31-game winning streak. The Bruins' only loss came to Texas back in November, but they got their revenge in the national semifinal, setting up the championship showdown.

Coach Cori Close fought back tears as she addressed reporters after the game. "I said I wanted to find uncommon, courageous women that were willing to make uncommon choices that maybe possibly could yield an uncommon result, and today it did."

Why This Inspires

This championship represents more than basketball excellence. Five young women committed to each other and to a dream, making choices that prioritized team success over individual glory. They returned for their final season when they could have moved on, betting on friendship and shared purpose.

The celebration has stretched across the country. The Empire State Building lit up in UCLA's blue and gold. The team appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live, got honored at Lakers and Clippers games, and inspired countless young athletes watching.

Their defensive masterpiece proved that preparation, teamwork, and genuine friendship can create something unstoppable.