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The UCLA Bruins made history on April 5, 2026, capturing the program’s first-ever NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship in the modern era, dismantling the South Carolina Gamecocks 79-51 in a dominant performance that left no doubt about college basketball’s new queen.
UCLA (37-1) never trailed throughout the entire championship game. The Bruins delivered the third-largest margin of victory in women’s title game history, ending South Carolina’s (36-4) bid for back-to-back championships in emphatic fashion.
Senior guard Gabriela Jaquez led all scorers with 21 points, shooting 8-of-14 from the field and 2-of-4 from three-point range. Center Lauren Betts, a projected top pick in the 2026 WNBA Draft, was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player for her commanding presence throughout March Madness.
Head coach Cori Close, in her 15th season at the helm, finally claimed the national title that had eluded her program since the AIAW era in 1978 — decades before the NCAA took over the women’s tournament in 1982.
“This team fought all season for this moment,” Close said after the victory. “We never stopped believing.”
The championship arrives amid growing conversation about parity in women’s college basketball, with powerhouses like South Carolina and UConn seeing fresh challengers rise. UCLA’s 28-point victory signals a new era in the sport.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is this UCLA’s first NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship?
A: Yes, in the NCAA era. UCLA won the AIAW title in 1978, but the NCAA took over the women’s tournament in 1982. This 2026 title is their first NCAA championship in women’s basketball.
Q: Who won Most Outstanding Player at the 2026 NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament?
A: Lauren Betts, UCLA’s star center and a projected top pick in the 2026 WNBA Draft, was named the Most Outstanding Player of the 2026 NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament.
This article was written by AI based on publicly available information.
