UCLA Women’s Basketball Advances to NCAA Championship

PHOENIX – After an exhilarating journey through the postseason, marked by victory after victory and some enthusiastic celebrations, the UCLA women’s basketball team found itself on the verge of their biggest moment yet.

In a tense semifinal matchup, the Bruins edged out the top-seeded Longhorns of Texas, pulling off a 51-44 win at the Mortgage Matchup Center.

Now, they’re set for the championship—a first in their program’s history.

The game ended dramatically, as UCLA almost let go of a 13-point lead within the last four and a half minutes. Texas closed the gap to three points and got possession, but then ran straight into a wall: Lauren Betts.

With just 20 seconds remaining, Betts blocked a layup attempt from Madison Booker, securely passing the ball to her teammate Kiki Rice.

“When I saw her coming down, I thought, ‘Okay, I need to block this, no scoring allowed,’” Betts recalled.

Rice stepped up, scoring four crucial free throws to help UCLA (36-1) maintain an impressive 30-game winning streak.

In the aftermath, the Bruins celebrated enthusiastically with their trademark eight-clap cheer, right in front of their fans.

This victory against Texas was particularly sweet, as it set them up against South Carolina in the championship on Sunday—rather than UConn, who they had faced in last year’s semifinals.

With one last game to win, the Bruins have a chance to join legendary players like Ann Meyers Drysdale and Dennis Curry in the rafters of Pauley Pavilion.

“This is a dream come true for all of us,” Betts said, visibly emotional. “We can’t believe this moment is finally here.”

The path to this championship wasn’t without its challenges, marked by impressive plays but also some less-than-ideal moments, including 23 turnovers that UCLA coach Cori Close humorously likened to a rugby match.

Betts led the team yet again, achieving a crucial double-double with 16 points and 11 rebounds. Rice contributed another 11 points, while UCLA’s vigorous defense held the Longhorns (35-4) to a mere 30.8 percent shooting percentage.

None of Texas’ starters managed to reach double digits in scoring, with Kyla Oldacre leading the bench with 11 points. The defensive effort against Booker, who struggled significantly with just three made shots out of 23 attempts, was particularly vital.

“We really pushed the pressure and made it tough for her,” UCLA guard Gianna Neepkens noted.

After Rice hit a three-pointer and Gabriela Jaquez scored in transition off a steal, the Bruins’ bench erupted in celebration midway through the fourth quarter. This surge increased their lead to 38-28, matching the largest lead of the game.

This rematch against Texas was worlds apart from their first encounter just months prior, where they faced a significant deficit early on but turned the tables later in the game.

UCLA started the game with strong aggressiveness, stifling the Longhorns to only six points in the first quarter, showcasing their focus on defense, which Coach Close had insisted on as a key element.

While Texas eventually began forcing turnovers and cutting into the lead, UCLA managed to stabilize themselves, ending the first half with a bittersweet 20-17 advantage—the fewest combined points in a national semifinal’s first half.

Nonetheless, this wasn’t just a defensive struggle; it marked a significant moment for UCLA, avenging their only loss of the season and taking a step closer to a championship title.

“I’m incredibly proud of this team,” Betts said, finishing with a sense of optimism, “but we still have more work ahead.”