UCLA Crushes South Carolina 79-51 to Win First Women’s Basketball National Title

In Phoenix’s Mortgage Matchup Center on April 5, 2026, the UCLA Bruins captured their inaugural women’s basketball championship, routing the South Carolina Gamecocks 79‑51.

Game overview
UCLA surged to a 30‑15 lead midway through the second quarter and never looked back, extending the margin to 33 points in the third. The Bruins finished with a 79‑51 victory, the largest margin in a title game in the NCAA era.

Key performances
Gabriela Jaquez led all scorers with 21 points. Gianna Kneepkens added 15, while Charlisse Leger‑Walker and Kiki Rice each contributed 10. All five Bruins starters hit double figures. South Carolina’s Tessa Johnson topped the Gamecocks with 14.

Statistical dominance
UCLA held the Gamecocks to 29% shooting, out‑rebounded them 49‑37 and out‑scored them in the paint 40‑28. The Bruins also led the glass, winning the rebounding battle by 12.

Coaching milestone
Coach Cori Close became the first first‑year champion since Dawn Staley in 2017, capping a season that transformed the Bruins from semifinalists last year into national champions.

Implications
The win signals a power shift in women’s college basketball, ending South Carolina’s recent dominance and establishing UCLA as a new benchmark for program building.