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The UCLA Bruins made history on April 5, 2026, claiming their first-ever NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Championship with a dominant 79-51 victory over South Carolina at the Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, Ohio. The 28-point margin of victory stands as the third-largest in the history of the women’s title game.
A Dominant Performance
Senior center Lauren Betts delivered a double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds, anchoring the Bruins’ interior game. But it was Gabriela Jaquez who stole the spotlight, pouring in a team-high 21 points while also recording 10 rebounds, making her just the fifth player in NCAA history to record 20 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 assists in a national title game.
South Carolina, the defending champions, had no answer for UCLA’s relentless pressure. The Gamecocks’ offense was held to 51 points, well below their season average.
An Unmatched Season
UCLA entered the championship game having gone 37-1 for the season, closing on a stunning 31-game winning streak. Head coach Cori Close built a squad that went wire-to-wire as one of the nation’s elite programs. The Bruins were one of four No. 1 seeds to reach the Final Four — just the fifth time in women’s tournament history that all four No. 1 seeds made it to the semifinal round.
While UCLA won the AIAW national title in 1978 before the NCAA took over the women’s basketball championship in 1982, Sunday’s victory marks the program’s first NCAA title, making it a historic milestone for the storied program.
Turning the Page from Last Year’s Heartbreak
This victory was especially sweet after the Bruins suffered a lopsided loss in the 2025 Final Four. Rather than breaking the team, the defeat served as fuel. UCLA responded by going unbeaten in the final 31 games of the season, finishing 37-1 overall.
FAQ
Q. Is this UCLA’s first-ever national women’s basketball championship?
A. It is UCLA’s first NCAA women’s basketball title. The Bruins previously won the AIAW championship in 1978, before the NCAA assumed control of the women’s tournament in 1982. Sunday’s win is their first under the NCAA banner.
Q. Who were UCLA’s standout players in the 2026 championship game?
A. Gabriela Jaquez led all scorers with 21 points, adding 10 rebounds, while center Lauren Betts posted a 14-point, 11-rebound double-double. Both players were central to UCLA’s historic 79-51 win over South Carolina.
This article was written by AI based on publicly available information.
