PHOENIX — History belongs to Cori Close and the UCLA Bruins.
Friday night was the program’s first Final Four win in the NCAA era and on Sunday they capped it off with their first NCAA championship, thrashing the Gamecocks 79–51.
UCLA women’s basketball won its first national championship in 1978, when women’s college sports were governed by the Association for Intercollegiate Athletics. The AIAW was founded in 1971 and was replaced 10 years later when the NCAA began hosting women’s championships in the 1981–82 season.
Denise Curry, Anita Ortega, Ann Meyers Drysdale, and Heidi Nestor led the 1978 team coached by Billie Moore to UCLA’s first AIAW national championship. Ahead of the second quarter Drysdale was honored with other members of the 1976 U.S. women’s olympic basketball team. Standing at center court she lifted up her red, white, and blue USA Basketball polo to reveal a UCLA t-shirt underneath.
Sunday’s title win was the first basketball championship for UCLA since the men’s program—led by Ed O’Bannon, who later sued the NCAA in a landmark case—beat Arkansas in 1995.
The Bruins were the top seed last year, but got demolished by UConn 85–51 in the Final Four. Close returned six seniors from that group—all five 2025 starters plus forward Angela Dugalić.
Gabriela Jaquez led UCLA with 21 points Sunday afternoon. Lauren Betts was named the Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four.
This was South Carolina’s sixth straight Final Four appearance, and third consecutive championship game. The Gamecocks have won two of the last six NCAA titles and three under Staley.
Last year, South Carolina went 35–4 en route to a 82–59 loss to UConn in the championship game. On Friday, Staley’s team exacted revenge on the Huskies with a stifling defensive performance. UConn coach Geno Auriemma responded to his team’s loss by admonishing Staley in the closing seconds for not participating in a pregame handshake at midcourt, which he said was “protocol” at the Final Four.
Auriemma issued a public apology on Saturday, but noticeably left out Staley’s name.
On the broadcast, Rebecca Lobo—a UConn alum—said Auriemma reached out to Staley personally to apologize.
Sunday’s loss leaves Staley one championship shy of joining the game’s greatest coaches—Kim Mulkey (4), Pat Summitt (8), and Auriemma (12)—who all have four titles.
