UCLA captures 2026 DI women's basketball championship with dominant win over South Carolina

UCLA delivered a commanding performance in the 2026 national championship game, overpowering South Carolina with a dominant showing on both ends of the floor. From the opening tip, the Bruins set the tone, building an early lead and never allowing the Gamecocks to find their rhythm. The 79-51 win marks the third-largest margin of victory ever in the women's title game. 

By the end of the first quarter, UCLA had already established control, leading 21–10 behind efficient shooting and aggressive defense. South Carolina struggled to generate consistent offense, while the Bruins capitalized on transition opportunities and second-chance points.

"I think it starts with that perimeter pressure," Lauren Betts said after the game. "Our guards did a really good job of just making it difficult for them. I think once we get stops, they're just not able to do what they want to do."

The momentum continued into the second quarter, with UCLA extending its advantage to 36–23 at halftime. Senior guard Jaquez provided energy and scoring in crucial moments, while senior center Betts made her presence felt in the paint. 

In the third quarter, UCLA effectively put the game out of reach. The Bruins outpaced South Carolina on both ends, stretching the lead to 61–32 by the end of the period. Jaquez and Betts combined for 24 points and 18 rebounds through three quarters, nearly matching the Gamecocks’ total output on their own. Both Betts and Jacquez finished with double-doubles, Betts with 14 points and 11 rebounds and Jaquez with 21 points and 10 rebounds.

"It's just so rare in life that you can start a journey with a group of people and really envision something, then trying to reverse engineer a plan that will actually lead you to the point that we're experiencing right now," UCLA head coach Cori Close said. "It's just really with great humility. Man, we are so fortunate to be experiencing that. They earned every bit of it."

If I had a nickel for every time an opposing star player came out in a different jersey midway through the second half of a Final Four game against South Carolina in Phoenix, I'd have three nickels, which isn’t a lot but it’s strange it happened three times and TWICE to one player.

UConn’s Sarah Strong had to switch from her usual No. 21 to No. 55 between the third and fourth quarter of their loss to South Carolina on Friday. Today in the third quarter, UCLA’s Lauren Betts was seen coming out wearing No. 26 after getting blood on her usual No. 51 jersey. A few minutes later in the third quarter, before I even had a chance to finish this post, she was back in her traditional No. 51 that she hopes to keep until the end of this game with UCLA up 61-32 over South Carolina. 

South Carolina performed a little better in the second quarter, scoring 13 points, but UCLA still outscored them with 15. UCLA turned the ball over on four straight possessions, struggling particularly to get the ball out the backcourt on possession changes. Still, the Bruins go into the break with a 13-point cushion and 20 minutes away from its first national title.

Everyone in UCLA's starting lineup has at least five points, while Lauren Betts and Gabriela Jaquez have combined for 13 points and 14 rebounds.

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?

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.

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

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.