UCLA Beats South Carolina for NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship

Gabriela Jaquez scored 21 points and had 10 rebounds to lead UCLA to a 79-51 rout of South Carolina in the NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship game. Lauren Betts also had a double double with 14 points and 11 rebounds, and all five UCLA starters scored in double figures. Tessa Johnson led South Carolina with 14 points. South Carolina has been the runner up the last two years, but won three championships between 2017-2024.

This is the first NCAA championship for the Bruins. UCLA made it to the Final Four last year, but lost in the semifinals to eventual champion UCONN. Prior to joining the NCAA, the Bruins were in the Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women, and won the championship there in the 1977-78 season.

Jaquez is the sister of former UCLA standout and current Miami Heat player Jaime Jaquez Jr. He was in the crowd cheering his sister on.

The Bruins never trailed, and South Carolina could not get anything going against the Bruins. The Gamecocks were outscored 21-10 in the first quarter and 25-9 in the third. UCLA finishes with a record of 37-1. The Bruins only loss of the season was to Texas back in late November.