Live updates at the South Carolina-UCLA NCAA title game in Phoenix
Q1: UCLA 21, South Carolina 10
UCLA jumped out the gate hot, going 4-5 to start the game while South Carolina only made one of its first five shots. The Gamecocks were just one of its last seven field goals before the first timeout, trailing 13-6.
South Carolina went on a quick 6-0 run out of the timeout to cut it to one possession, before missing two of their next 15 shots. Kiki Rice hit a fallaway bullseye from deep to put the Bruins up 21-10 after the first frame.
Kiki Rice puts the finishing touches on a great first quarter for 🔥
— Big Ten Women's Basketball (@B1Gwbball)
The Bruins end it with an 8-0 run 👀
📺: ABC
WOAH Count the bucket 😤 x 🎥 ABC /
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessWBB)
National Championship has begun: UCLA wins the tip
UCLA wins the opening tip as we are under way here in Phoenix for the 2026 March Madness women's final! The Bruins fans are chanting loud, but can the Gamecocks quiet them down?
🏅 Today is the day to crown a national champ
Today marks the first of a potentially historic two-day stretch for the Big Ten conference. It’s been a quarter of a century since the conference has taken home a national title in basketball.
Purdue was the last Big Ten women’s team to take home the trophy. UCLA in just its second season in the conference has the chance to do what no other women’s team has been able to do since 1999. Then on Monday night, Michigan can end the men's drought with a win over UConn. The last time a Big Ten men’s team won it all was Michigan State in 2000.
The energy is high here in downtown Phoenix. On our off day between games yesterday, I was told by multiple locals that foot traffic was abnormally high this weekend and that it’s never this packed downtown.
Among the fans flocking to Arizona, it looks like the UCLA takes the edge the fan split, no surprise being 1,630 miles closer than the Gamecocks' arena.
With just over an hour until the 3:30 tip, we’re here in the building taking it all in. Stay tuned for wall-to-wall coverage.
It all comes down to this.
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessWBB)
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Previewing the South Carolina vs. UCLA national title game
A national champion will be crowned Sunday afternoon when South Carolina meets UCLA after both teams delivered dominant defensive Final Four performances.
South Carolina enters with the edge in experience. Head coach Dawn Staley is seeking her third national title in five seasons, and the Gamecocks enter with momentum after a 14‑point win over previously unbeaten UConn. Ta’Niya Latson led the way with 16 points and 11 rebounds, while South Carolina’s defense held the Huskies in check throughout.
UCLA, meanwhile, is playing for its first national championship in program history. The Bruins earned their spot with a smothering defensive effort against Texas, holding the Longhorns to 31% shooting. Senior center Lauren Betts anchored the win with 16 points, 11 rebounds and three blocks on 7-of-10 shooting from the field.
"She (Lauren Betts) brings about a great challenge," Staley said after the team's Saturday practice. "She's the focal point and when your big is the focal point it's really hard... everybody's challenged when teams work inside out and Lauren can just see it all and is patient enough to read the defenses and pass the ball where it's supposed to go or bet on herself."
Both teams bring elite balance. UCLA ranks No. 1 nationally in adjusted offensive efficiency and No. 4 in adjusted defensive efficiency, according to Bart Torvik. South Carolina sits at No. 3 in both categories and has been tested repeatedly, facing one-seeded Texas three times this season before knocking off UConn.
The Bruins lean on a veteran five of Kiki Rice, Gabriela Jaquez, Betts, Gianna Kneepkens and Charlisse Leger‑Walker, all seniors with deep postseason experience of their own. South Carolina does have a blend of youth and impact transfers, including sophomore standout Joyce Edwards and a guard trio of Latson and returners Raven Johnson and Tessa Johnson.
"We're just going to go out there and be ourselves," Raven Johnson said. "Execute what the coaches have for us and we have a high standard here and that's keeping the main thing the main thing. This is no different than other Final Fours or championships, it's a whole new team but at the end of the day we want one end goal and that is to win a national championship."
Freshman Agot Makeer has also emerged as a key contributor off the bench, scoring in double figures in every NCAA tournament game thus far.
Stylistically, UCLA prefers to slow the pace and play through Betts in the post. South Carolina doesn’t have Texas’ size inside, but the Gamecocks still finished No. 2 nationally in opponent two‑point percentage and limited UConn star Sarah Strong to 4-for‑16 shooting in the semifinal. Offensively, South Carolina’s perimeter shooting could be a deciding factor against UCLA’s interior strength.
UCLA head coach Cori Close spoke on what she learned after splitting the last two matchups with South Carolina, "What I remember is the team that rebounds the best and defends the best down the stretch won both of those games. I've been on both sides of that and I don't think it's probably going to be that different."
Both teams have the talent and defensive discipline to control the game, and Sunday’s matchup has the makings of a physical, possession‑by‑possession championship battle, so keep refreshing this page for complete coverage of all the action.
⏪ The last time South Carolina and UCLA met
Cori Close did get the better of Dawn Staley the last time their teams faced off in Los Angeles last season. The then-No. 5 Bruins stunned the No. 1 Gamecocks in a dominant wire-to-wire 77-62 victory that snapped South Carolina’s 43-game win streak. The win marked UCLA’s first-ever victory over an AP No. 1 team and announced them square in the mix of the nation’s top programs.
The Bruins jumped out the gate with a 15-2 lead in the first quarter and never trailed, going up by 24 points at halftime thanks to a 17-5 run. The Gamecocks couldn't get anything going offensively, shooting a woeful 9 of 34 from the field in the opening half.
UCLA was led by Londynn Jones, who scored 15 points and went a perfect 5 for 5 from 3-point range. Lauren Betts controlled the paint with 11 points, 14 rebounds and four blocks, while Elina Aarnisalo had 13 points and four assists.
Te-Hina Paopao led all scorers with 18 points for South Carolina, while Tessa Johnson added 14 off the bench. However, the Gamecocks struggled to generate offense, shooting just 36% for the game and turning the ball over 13 times.
The loss ended a historic streak for South Carolina, having won 85 of its last 86 games with no regular season losses since December 2021.
📚Series History: South Carolina vs. UCLA
Unlike some of the matchups we’ve seen — or could have had — the Gamecocks vs. the Bruins is by far the least familiar matchup we’re getting.
The two schools have played each other only five times in the NCAA era, all in the last 10 years. South Carolina holds a 4-1 record in those games with an average margin of victory of just over nine a game.
UCLA won the most recent iteration of this short series, defeating the Gamecocks 77-62 at home early last season. However, South Carolina did win the one time these teams met in the NCAA tournament in 2023.
- Nov. 22, 2015: South Carolina won, 68-65
- Dec. 18, 2016: South Carolina won, 66-57
- Nov. 29, 2022: South Carolina won, 73-64
- March 25, 2023: South Carolina won, 59-43 in the Sweet 16
- Nov. 24, 2024: UCLA won, 77-62
💤 We're heading out for the night: Here's the highlights from the semifinals
It all comes down to this.
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessWBB)
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What a night of women's college hoops! The 2026 Women’s Final Four delivered two defensive masterclasses. Here is your recap as we sign off from a historic Friday at the Mortgage Matchup Center.
The Headlines
1. The Streak is Over: South Carolina stunned undefeated UConn in a rematch of last year's title game as Dawn Staley’s Gamecocks got revenge in emphatic fashion. South Carolina ended UConn’s incredible 54-game winning streak with a 62-48 victory. The Gamecocks' defense was the story, holding the high-powered Huskies to just 31% shooting and limiting stars Sarah Strong and Azzi Fudd to a combined 20 points.
- The Drama: The intensity boiled over at mid-court with a heated postgame exchange between Geno Auriemma and Dawn Staley, adding even more fuel to this burgeoning legendary rivalry.
2. Bruins Make History: UCLA advances to the title game for its first time in the NCAA era. In a gritty battle, UCLA outlasted Texas 51-44.
- The Closer: Lauren Betts was the undisputed MVP of the night, finishing with 16 points and 11 rebounds on 70% shooting. Her massive block on Texas star Madison Booker with 20 seconds left officially slammed the door on the Longhorns' comeback attempt.
Stat of the Night: 23.1%
The shooting percentage UCLA held Texas to in the first half. The Bruins’ defense set the tone early, holding the Longhorns to just 6 points in the opening quarter.
Looking Ahead: The National Championship is set
We have a heavyweight showdown set for Sunday. It will be the powerhouse seeking its fourth title against the program looking for its first ever. Rest up, hoops fans — we’ll see you Sunday for the finale!
Sunday's championship is set: (1) UCLA vs. (1) South Carolina
With the semifinals are in the books, the championship matchup is set as South Carolina and UCLA will meet on Sunday in the final game of the 2025-26 women's basketball season.
What's next?
The championship game is slated for 3:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, April 5 on ABC. We'll be back on-site in Phoenix giving you behind-the-scenes looks and live coverage from the final game of the season, so be sure to check in with us and follow along throughout the day.
What's at stake?
South Carolina already avenged last year's blowout loss to UConn in the title game on Friday, and Dawn Staley's squad now turns its attention to the Bruins as the Gamecocks look for their third title since 2022.
For UCLA, it's making its first championship appearance in the NCAA era — the Bruins were AIAW tournament champions in 1978 but have never made an NCAA title game — and they're just one year removed from their first Final Four appearance in program history.
It'll be a clash of some of the biggest names in the sport on Sunday afternoon, and we will be here all weekend keeping you up to date on all of the action leading up to the championship showdown.
Signing off for the night from Phoenix.
FINAL: UCLA 51, Texas 44
UCLA outlasted Texas in a low-scoring defensive battle, clinching a trip to the championship game with a 51-44 win. The 95 combined points make it the third-lowest scoring Final Four game in tournament history.
The scoring might have been slow, but it was still a dramatic finish in the dying minutes, with Texas clawing back into striking distance after trailing by double digits in the fourth. UCLA led 45-32 with 4:36 to go before the Longhorns went on a 12-2 run to pull within three in the final minute.
A clutch late block by Lauren Betts on Madison Booker kept UCLA up three, sealing the win for the Bruins as they advanced to their first NCAA championship game in program history. Betts also had a double-double with 16 points, 11 rebounds and three blocks.
LAUREN BETTS CLUTCH BLOCKKKKKK
— Shabazz 💫 (@ShowCaseShabazz)
UCLA's defense locked Booker up all game — she previously averaged over 22 points per game throughout the tournament but finished the night shooting 3 for 23 from the field in an uncharacteristically cold performance.
End of 3Q: UCLA 31, Texas 28
Traffic in the lane? No problem for 🚙 x 🎥 ESPN /
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessWBB)
Notable Alumni: Star-studded crowd for the women's semifinals
The stars are out in Phoenix tonight as some of the best these schools have to offer returned to support their programs. From WNBA legends to NFL stars, the sidelines are packed with talent.
For UConn, former Huskies Paige Bueckers and Diana Taurasi have been seen chatting throughout Game 1. Joining them in support were former standouts Renee Montgomery and Kaitlyn Chen.
For South Carolina, the Gamecock faithful are represented by powerhouses from two different professional leagues. Former South Carolina star Aliyah Boston is in attendance, alongside San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel.
The Bruins brought a heavy veteran presence to the arena tonight. Former NBA player Matt Barnes is taking in the action, joined by fellow UCLA alumnus and NFL linebacker Eric Kendricks.
Other Celebrities in Attendance
The star power isn't limited to alumni. Several other high-profile figures were spotted enjoying the festivities:
- Lisa Leslie
- Flavor Flav
- Deja Kelly
- Shedeur Sanders
- Aneesah Morrow
- Saniya Rivers
- Cheryl Miller
HALFTIME: UCLA 20, Texas 17
After a red-hot first quarter for UCLA, the Bruins cooled off in the second, managing just six points. The Longhorns clawed back to narrow the deficit to three at the half after a slow first-quarter start of their own.
Texas' top threat Madison Booker sank her first shot attempt on an 18-footer in the first, but she missed her next 11 looks from the floor in a cold first half.
Here's how the numbers stack up after the first 20 minutes:
End of 1Q: UCLA 14, Texas 6
UCLA is firing on all cylinders early, racing out to an early 10-point lead before Texas cut it to eight by the end of the first quarter. Six points is the Longhorns' season low for a single quarter in this season.
The early 10-point deficit is the largest Texas has faced since its 86-70 loss to Vanderbilt on Feb. 12. The Longhorns ripped off 12 straight wins after that loss.
What a start for 🐻
— Big Ten Women's Basketball (@B1Gwbball)
📺: ESPN
Game 2 is on: (1) UCLA vs. (1) Texas
After a thrilling first game of the night, the Bruins and the Longhorns will battle for a date with the Gamecocks in the championship game. These teams have met once already this season, as Texas handed UCLA its only loss of the season back in November, 76-65. UCLA won its next 29 games after that loss.
UCLA wins the tip, and we are underway in Phoenix.
Starting lineups:
Starting 5⃣ for the Final 4⃣!
— UCLA Women's Basketball (@UCLAWBB)
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📺: ESPN
your first 5️⃣ Horns in the Final Four.
— Texas Women's Basketball (@TexasWBB)
FINAL: South Carolina 62, UConn 48
South Carolina powered past UConn, 62-48, after a dominant second half performance to defeat the defending champions and snap their win streak at 54 games.
The Gamecocks stifled the Huskies' offense, holding them below 50 points for the first time since the 2022 title game. The 14-point loss is UConn's worst since Feb. 11, 2024, when Dawn Staley's team beat the Huskies by 18.
Ta'Niya Latson led the Gamecocks with 16 points, going 10 of 10 on free throws, and grabbing 10 defensive boards, heavily contributing to a 47-32 rebound advantage for South Carolina.
The Gamecocks are back in the national championship game for the third straight year, avenging a .
UConn stars Sarah Strong and Azzi Fudd struggled from the field, combining to go 7 for 31.
South Carolina will now play the winner of UCLA-Texas on Sunday for the title.