UCLA Defeats South Carolina 79-51 to Win First Women's NCAA Championship

UCLA defeated South Carolina 79-51 in the women's NCAA Tournament national championship game on April 5, 2026, at the Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix. The victory secured UCLA's first national title in program history during the NCAA era. South Carolina, appearing in its third straight championship game, shot 29% from the field, made two 3-pointers, committed 14 turnovers, and was outrebounded by 12.

UCLA led wire-to-wire, with Lauren Betts dominating in the paint, Gabriela Jaquez contributing across multiple statistical categories, and Gianna Kneepkens making key 3-pointers. South Carolina players, including Joyce Edwards, Raven Johnson, and Ta’Niya Latson, underperformed offensively.

Edwards scored in single digits for the third time this season, while Johnson and Latson combined for seven points.

entered the game after defeating top-seeded UConn in the Final Four, avenging a 82-59 loss to UConn in the 2025 championship. Under coach Dawn Staley, South Carolina has won three national titles (2017, 2022, 2024) and made five championship appearances since 2017, more than any other program in that period.

UCLA, coached by Cori Close since 2011, completed an undefeated season with the win. South Carolina freshman Agot Makeer described the team as coming out flat, while senior forward Maryam Dauda noted UCLA's consistent pressure. Senior point guard Raven Johnson, playing her final game, urged younger teammates to use the loss as motivation for offseason work.

the postgame press conference, Staley complimented Close and UCLA, stating the Bruins outworked and outexecuted her team. Staley acknowledged the difficulty of championship games, noting multiple elite programs reduce winning chances but consistent appearances increase them.

>"We just didn't have it today. And they were the better team today. " — Dawn Staley, April 5, 2026 (Newsweek) South Carolina plans to reload for the next season through recruiting and transfers, maintaining its status as a top program under Staley.

No immediate roster changes were reported, though player retention is typical for the team.