UCLA Women Win First NCAA Basketball Title, LA Celebrates

Three days after making history, the UCLA women's basketball team stood in their home arena holding a trophy decades in the making.

Roughly 5,000 fans packed Pauley Pavilion on Wednesday to celebrate the Bruins' first NCAA championship. Confetti filled the air as players hoisted the trophy, danced their now-famous celebration routine, and thanked supporters who believed in them.

"This team is truly the best team I've ever been on," point guard Kiki Rice told the roaring crowd. "These girls will be my sisters for life."

The victory meant extra to coach Cori Close, who heard for years she couldn't build a winner in LA's crowded sports market. She proved the doubters wrong with a dominant 28-point demolition of South Carolina in the championship game.

"Let me tell you, LA cares about basketball now," Close told fans. "You all made that happen."

The Ripple Effect

The celebration at Pauley Pavilion was just one stop on an extended victory tour. The Bruins got honored at a Lakers game, appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live, and will visit a Dodgers game soon. The Clippers honored them at the Intuit Dome right after the Pauley celebration.

"I think all of us expected to get a lot of attention for winning a national championship but not at this level," said center Lauren Betts. "You don't really understand what it's really like until you finally win."

The team received emotional congratulations from their 1978 championship predecessors. Former UCLA stars Denise Curry and Ann Meyers Drysdale praised the current Bruins for their selfless play and character.

The players also got surprise reunions. Former teammate Izzy Anstey flew in from Australia for the championship game. Megan Grant, who left the team in February to rejoin softball, showed up to celebrate with her former basketball family.

"We were so excited because we didn't know she was coming," guard Gianna Kneepkens said.

Guard Angela Dugalic said returning to Pauley Pavilion after waving goodbye during the NCAA Tournament felt "super meaningful." The team had promised fans they'd be back with the trophy.

As many as six Bruins could be selected in the first round of Monday's WNBA draft. But Kneepkens says the team wants to be remembered for more than basketball skills.

"I just hope they're able to look up to me as a person first and then as an athlete second," she said. "At the end of the day that's what matters is how you treat people."

A championship banner will soon hang in Pauley Pavilion, inspiring the next generation of Bruins who now have proof that LA really does love basketball.