UCLA Wins Women's Basketball National Championship, First for Big Ten Since 1999

This is the first national championship for the Big Ten conference in women's basketball since Purdue won in 1999. UCLA, which joined the Big Ten in 2024 along with Oregon, USC, and Washington, finished the season with a 34-4 record. The Bruins were led by standout performances from Charisma Osborne, who scored 18 points, and Gabriela Jaquez, who added 17 points in the final.

South Carolina, the defending champions, ended the season at 38-0 before the loss, with Kamilla Cardoso contributing 17 points and 11 rebounds.

The Big Ten's previous women's basketball national title came from Purdue in 1999, when the Boilermakers defeated Duke 62-45. UCLA's win represents a significant achievement for the conference, which has expanded recently to include West Coast programs.

Prior to this season, the Big Ten had not claimed a women's basketball national championship in over two decades. The game drew a crowd of 19,298 spectators and was broadcast nationally. UCLA's coach, Cori Close, noted the team's resilience after facing injuries and a tough schedule.

This victory caps a season where UCLA advanced through the tournament by defeating teams including LSU in the Final Four.

success comes amid the Big Ten's realignment, which added four Pac-12 schools to strengthen its competitive footprint. The conference now includes 18 teams, increasing travel demands but also rivalries. For UCLA, the title solidifies its status as a powerhouse in women's college basketball.

Looking ahead, UCLA players like Osborne and Jaquez may enter the WNBA draft, with eligibility ending for seniors. The Big Ten could see heightened recruiting interest following this championship. The NCAA tournament format remains unchanged for next season, with 68 teams competing for the title.