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Post-game<\/p>\n
You have to feel good for UCLA head coach Cori Close, who is speaking to ABC TV in the US. She hugs her mom and says it\u2019s \u201cbeyond my wildest dreams\u2026it\u2019s all about the heart\u2026I am just so confident in their character and that\u2019s what determined the way they played today.\u201d<\/p>\n
The band plays, the confetti falls. Jaquez is the star of this game \u2013 she was everywhere. She says \u201cshe imagined this moment and I am just so so proud\u2026oh my gosh, I\u2019m just so happy.\u201d<\/p>\n
And why not, she played the game of her life on the biggest stage.<\/p>\n
Share<\/a>South Carolina 51-79 UCLA, FINAL<\/p>\n The UCLA Bruins have won their second national title and their first in the NCAA era! They dominate Dawn Staley and South Carolina in a stunning performance over one of the most prolific programs in collegiate sports.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n South Carolina 51-79 UCLA, 0:37 4th quarter<\/p>\n Fans on their feet in Phoenix with under a minute remaining.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n South Carolina 48-79 UCLA, 2:14 4th quarter<\/p>\n The UCLA seniors are coming off, one by one. Kneepens leaves the floor.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n South Carolina 46-79 UCLA, 2:42 4th quarter<\/p>\n UCLA seniors have scored the last 160 UCLA points \u2013 experience pays off.<\/p>\n Actually, Jaquez drains a three, so make that 163. Timeout on the floor as hysteria breaks out amongst UCLA fans in Phoenix.<\/p>\n This is Shangri-La for the Bruins.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n South Carolina 43-76 UCLA, 3:46 4th quarter<\/p>\n Betts finishes a fast break! She has 14 points and 11 rebounds in the biggest and last game of her UCLA career.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n South Carolina 41-72 UCLA, 5:18 4th quarter<\/p>\n I know I\u2019ve been alluding to this for some time, but it\u2019s not often you see a superior basketball program, that\u2019s engineered incredible results for some time, with an iconic coach, just get a complete ass kicking in a final. It just doesn\u2019t happen.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n South Carolina 38-70 UCLA, 5:47 4th quarter<\/p>\n Kneepkens hits another three and for SC, it\u2019s all over but the crying.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n South Carolina 38-67 UCLA, 6:47 4th quarter<\/p>\n Tessa Johnson hits from the free-throw line \u2013 she has 14 and has been the best Gamecock on the floor today.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n South Carolina 36-67 UCLA, 7:33 4th quarter<\/p>\n Okant, a rebound, and a put back, plus the foul by Rice. She misses the free-throw.<\/p>\n Then Rice gets away underneath the basket and hits a layup.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n South Carolina 32-63 UCLA, 8:45 4th quarter<\/p>\n Betts misses a turn around fade-away. Then Carolina turn it over \u2013 Jaquez finishes the break. That\u2019s 16 points, nine rebounds and five assists for Jaquez if you\u2019re keeping score at home.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n South Carolina 32-61 UCLA, end of 3rd quarter<\/p>\n Edwards is fouled after an offensive rebound and a put-back that missed the mark. She hits both shots and that will do it for the third quarter where SC were outscored 25-9.<\/p>\n The jaw is on the floor over here folks.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n South Carolina 30-61 UCLA, 0:26 3rd quarter<\/p>\n If you\u2019re a Gamecocks fan, or Dawn Staley, you have to be spinning right now, down 29 points as the third quarter winds down.<\/p>\n Betts is at the line after being fouled and hits both shots as UCLA have DOUBLED UP SC. Can you believe that?<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n South Carolina 30-59 UCLA, 0:29 3rd quarter<\/p>\n Another SC turnover! Muse takes it away from Latson! Kneepkens for three, no good, but rebound UCLA.<\/p>\n Now Leger-Walker has it down low and she lays it in! It\u2019s an 11-0 run for the Bruins!<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n South Carolina 30-55 UCLA, 1:50 3rd quarter<\/p>\n Tournabize misses a three, then Kneepkens comes back for the bruins and she\u2019s able to hit from downtown!<\/p>\n It\u2019s all UCLA! Wow! What a display from the Bruins, who remember, came in as 3.5 point dogs.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n South Carolina 30-52 UCLA, 2:37 3rd quarter<\/p>\n Tournabize has a rebound for South Carolina, but then Rice strips her immediately and is fouled. SC are over the limit, so Rice shoots free-throws, hitting one of two.<\/p>\n SC looking dejected.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n South Carolina 30-51 UCLA, 3:01 3rd quarter<\/p>\n No! because Jaquez, who has scored or assisted on 24 of UCLA\u2019s 51 points, drains a three!<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n South Carolina 30-48 UCLA, 4:37 3rd quarter<\/p>\n Tessa Johsnon hits a 10 footer, then tie up a loose ball \u2013 Gamecocks ball. I ask again, is this a turning point?<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n South Carolina 28-48 UCLA, 4:37 3rd quarter<\/p>\n UCLA force SC into a five second violation under their own basket. Yikes.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Summary<\/p>\n South Carolina 28-48 UCLA, 4:52 3rd quarter<\/p>\n With 10 minute quarters, this game moves fast. SC need to turn this 180 degrees immediately if they\u2019re going to have a chance. And the room for error is slim. Meeker hits a layup to start their comeback bud.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a016.59 EDT<\/p>\n South Carolina 26-48 UCLA, 5:41 3rd quarter<\/p>\n Maddy McDaniel is fouled and heads to the line, hitting just one of two free-throws.<\/p>\n Then a missed shot by UCLA and Jaquez gets in there and ties it up the rebound. Hustle play, possession to UCLA.<\/p>\n Then Betts catches an entry pass and lays it in. She\u2019s dominating.<\/p>\n Now Betts blocks Latson! UCLA are on a fast break and Jaquez, who is everywhere, is able to finish with a layup!<\/p>\n This game has totally gotten away from Staley and South Carolina! Time out Gamecocks!<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n South Carolina 25-44 UCLA, 6:51 3rd quarter<\/p>\n Latson fouls Dugalic on a drive and she hits one of two free throws.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n South Carolina 25-43 UCLA, 7:30 3rd quarter<\/p>\n Leger-Walker drains a three from the far corner! UCLA are up 18!<\/p>\n Share<\/a>We’re back<\/p>\n Jaquez, an offensive rebound and put back. There\u2019s more second half points for UCLA as the first half begins.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a016.51 EDT<\/p>\n Highlights!<\/p>\n Here\u2019s a re-cap of the first half of the 2026 women\u2019s NCAA basketball championship game.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Enjoy!Share<\/a><\/p>\n Stats<\/p>\n SC are shooting 26 percent, and are just 1-8 from three. And UCLA are out rebounding SC 29-17 while dominating the scoring in the paint. I think it\u2019s fair to say that the Bruins are, maybe not dominating, but are on the precipice of that descriptor.<\/p>\n SC scored 106 points in their first game of the NCAA tournament and in this game they\u2019ve score 23 points at the half.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n South Carolina 23-36 UCLA, end of 2nd quarter<\/p>\n Johnson responds for SC with a mid-range jumper. Then SC get a defensive stop. Five seconds to play, Johsnon looks for a shot, fires, but it\u2019s too late! The half is over and UCLA lead by 13. Who had that?<\/p>\n Betts is talking to ABC TV, she said she doesn\u2019t know what happened with her throat. She mentions that it\u2019s really dry out in Phoenix, which is true, because, you know, it\u2019s a desert. Betts declares herself healthy then takes off for the break.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n South Carolina 21-34 UCLA, 0:45 2nd quarter<\/p>\n Okot misses a jumper, then Kneepkens hits for UCLA. Good response following the timeout for UCLA.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n South Carolina 21-34 UCLA, 1:21 2nd quarter<\/p>\n UCLA players spoke in the huddle about how to handle the SC press while trying to regroup and gather themselves. They\u2019re still up 11, but their arrow is pointing down for the first time today.<\/p>\n Now they have the ball following the timeout. The shot clock is winding down, and Dugalic has to force a shot \u2013 no good.<\/p>\n Edwards comes back and misses a three for SC, then Rice has it for UCLA, the dribble drive and the layup for Kiki!<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n South Carolina 21-32 UCLA, 2:48 2nd quarter<\/p>\n Now SC force a 10-second violation, UCLA\u2019s fifth turnover of the half. They\u2019ve certainly cut down v their game against Texas in the semis where they had 23 turnovers.<\/p>\n But now UCLA turn it over again, thanks to furious SC pressure! Now Latson does hit her layup! UCLA call for time and here come the Gamecocks!<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n South Carolina 19-32 UCLA, 3:24 2nd quarter<\/p>\n Latson drives and has room but can\u2019t finish! She was right there but could not convert the layup. UCLA are living right.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n South Carolina 19-32 UCLA, 3:52 2nd quarter<\/p>\n Edwards is able to hit for SC, and then the Gamecocks cause a shot clock violation on defense. Is this a turning point?<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a016.24 EDT<\/p>\n Betts<\/p>\n She was on the bench sayi9ng \u201csomething is stuck in my throat\u201d. She used an inhaler, came in, went back out, sat for several minutes, and now is back and looks OK, which is paramount for UCLA it goes without saying.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n South Carolina 17-32 UCLA, 4:34 2nd quarter<\/p>\n Betts misses a turn-around jumper, followed by a Latson misfire on the other end: rebound UCLA.<\/p>\n Now Betts on the other end, she hits from 19 feet out!<\/p>\n Timeout on the floor, which is another term for a mandatory commercial break.<\/p>\n UCLA have been steadied by eight offensive rebounds, many of which have been put right back in the hoop; second chance points have been a factor in Phoenix.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n South Carolina 17-30 UCLA, 5:49 2nd quarter<\/p>\n Ravens from mid-range from head on \u2013 big shot for SC as they try to steady the ship.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n South Carolina 15-30 UCLA, 6:42 2nd quarter<\/p>\n Pretty shot from 10 feet out on the side by Kneepkens, then a missed shot by SC\u2019s McDaniel and a rebound by Betts! All Bruins right now.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n South Carolina 15-28 UCLA, 7:49 2nd quarter<\/p>\n UCLA keeps up the pressure on offense with a Jaquez layup.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, more good news for UCLA, Betts is back and on the floor.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n South Carolina 15-26 UCLA, 8:26 2nd quarter<\/p>\n Johnson takes it to the hole, hits a layup and is fouled! That\u2019s SC basketball! Johnson converts the free throw as the lead is cut to 11.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n South Carolina 12-26 UCLA, 9:14 2nd quarter<\/p>\n Coach Staley tells ABC network in the US:<\/p>\n \u201cI think we gotta play more inspired, We have to dictate a little bit more\u2026it\u2019s just really disciplined defense\u201d<\/p>\n Play restarts, UCLA take the ball up. Jaquez feeds Dugalic who hits a layup extending UCLA\u2019s lead.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Stats<\/p>\n The big numbers are SC shooting 3-13 in the first quarter, while dominates the paint, 12 points to four. And Betts has only played six minutes.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n South Carolina 10-21 UCLA, end of 1st quarter<\/p>\n Duglic hits a layup for UCLA, then Rice hits a three to beat the buzzer! UCLA are up 11 as the first quarter comes to a close, and that\u2019s with Betts on the bench!<\/p>\n It\u2019s an 8-0 run to finish the frame by the Bruins. Wild!<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n South Carolina 10-16 UCLA, 1:04 1st quarter<\/p>\n Makeer fires from way downtown and it\u2019s too strong. Rebound UCLA, Rice has it, she shoots and it\u2019s off the front rim.<\/p>\n A lull in the scoring here as we approach one minute remaining in the first quarter.<\/p>\n Meanwhile Betts is on the sideline and struggling. We\u2019re not sure what\u2019s happening there. That\u2019s a big development.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n South Carolina 10-16 UCLA, 2:06 1st quarter<\/p>\n Madina Okot misses a shot for SC, but then UCLA turn it over, failing to build on their lead.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n South Carolina 10-16 UCLA, 2:46 1st quarter<\/p>\n Now UCLA answer with a three from Leger Walker! The Bruins have the hot hands early on.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n South Carolina 10-13 UCLA, 3:52 1st quarter<\/p>\n Rice misses a shot, and there\u2019s signs SC are settling \u2013 like this three pointer from the freshman Makeer, who is already scoring off the bench!<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n South Carolina 6-13 UCLA, 4:54 1st quarter<\/p>\n Jaquez drives for UCLA and is bumped in the lane by Johnson. She\u2019ll shoot two and hits two.<\/p>\n Betts sits early while the going is good, giving her a quick breather, early on.<\/p>\n Now SC comes back and Tessa Jonson drives and with an outstretched hand, hits a badly needed layup for the Gamecocks.<\/p>\n Timeout on the floor. It\u2019s mostly UCLA early.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n South Carolina 4-9 UCLA, 5:14 1st quarter<\/p>\n After Ta\u2019Niya Latson hits a pair of free throws, Jaquez follows a miss with a rebound and a floater that falls, and she\u2019s fouled!<\/p>\n She drains the free throw and UCLA is up five early while SC continue to misfire on the other end, a 1-9 start from the floor.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n South Carolina 2-6 UCLA, 7:29 1st quarter<\/p>\n Charlisse Leger-Walker drains from 15 feet out. Then UCLA get a stop, come back down the floor, feed Betts down low and she hits, off the glass again! She\u2019s shooting fish in a barrel. This is what the Bruins need to do to win.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>The 2026 Women’s National Championship game is off and running!<\/p>\n Betts wins the tip, comes down, gets the ball in the paint, back to the basket, turns, fires, and hits off the glass! Good start there!<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n National Anthem<\/p>\n It\u2019s being sung by Kahara Hodges, an alum Arizona State. She\u2019s done it before, most notably at the 2024 men\u2019s Final Four. It\u2019s a slower rendition. Serviceable, but not really my taste. Not that it was bad, but it did need a bit more pace. I\u2019ll give it a 7\/10.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n It\u2019s not her first rodeo. <\/p>\n Now the lineups are being announced, which means tip-off is imminent. Your patience shall be rewarded.<\/p>\n Stick with us!<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n How they got here<\/p>\n Here is how South Carolina beat UCONN.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Come on Geno! Do better!<\/p>\n And here\u2019s highlights of of UCLA\u2019s victory over Texas.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n twenty-three UCLA turnovers and they still won?!Share<\/a><\/p>\n Agot Makeer<\/p>\n When it comes to South Carolina, there\u2019s always generation next knocking on the door, and on this team it\u2019s Agot Makeer. The freshman averaged roughly seven points a game during the regular season, and in this tournament, she\u2019s putting up 15ppg. That\u2019s formidable off the bench on a SC team that is noticeably deeper than UCLA.<\/p>\n She\u2019s one to watch.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Will Makeer be the difference off the bench?Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a015.24 EDT<\/p>\n Can UCLA upset the Gamecocks?<\/p>\n Yes, they can. It will take a prolific performance from two-time All American center Lauren Betts, who plays her last game as a Bruin today. She\u2019ll need to summon the type of performance she game in the second round v Oklahoma State where she poured in 35 points while providing her usual brand of suffocating defense and hard work on the boards. UCLA isn\u2019t a one woman team of course, but as the LA Times wrote<\/a>:<\/p>\n \u201cUCLA is at its best when the offense runs through Betts, but not solely with passes into the low post. When she sets screens on the perimeter and rolls to the basket or passes from a variety of spots on the court, it overloads defenses and opens up potent offensive options for the Bruins.\u201d<\/p>\n Even if that happens, it\u2019s pretty scary that Staley\u2019s Gamecocks, which are deeper on the bench than UCLA, held UCONN to just 48 points in their semifinal game. They\u2019re led by forward Joyce Edwards, who averages nearly 20ppg, and Raven Johsnon, who averages over five assists per game and 10 points.<\/p>\n One last note: since the start of the tournament, UCLA\u2019s point total has shrunk with every game, starting with 96 against CBU and then winning with just 51 points v Texas. And you can say the same about SC; as the competition got stiffer the point totals dropped, beginning with 103 v SOU in their first round, then beating UCONN with just 62.<\/p>\n South Carolina are favored by 3.5 points.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a015.18 EDT<\/p>\n About last night<\/p>\n OK, it wasn\u2019t last night, it was actually two nights ago when things got a bit testy between Geno Auriemma and Dawn Staley, with a post-game altercation that, no question, took away from the actual coverage of the game itself. As it turns out, it was all about some silly handshaking, with Auriemma putting Staley on blast in the final moments of UCONN\u2019s defeat for the SC coach allegedly not shaking his hand before the game. It was enough of an incident that referees and assistant coaches<\/p>\n After a relaxing nights sleep, Auriemma, admitted to throwing his toys out of the pram and apologized sincerely for the altercation and kind of ruining the night for everyone. Staley said she\u2019d address the incident at a later date, choosing wisely to focus on winning the national title, which is sensible.<\/p>\n Anyway, in case you missed it, here\u2019s the drama.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Oh Geno. Try to relax. Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a015.05 EDT<\/p>\n Hello…<\/p>\n \u2026and welcome to our live, rolling coverage of the women\u2019s NCAA basketball championship game between the Bruins of UCLA and the Gamecocks of South Carolina. It\u2019s a blockbuster match-up between two of the best coaches, Dawn Staley and Cori Close, and two top seeds that have made it through to the final in Phoenix, Arizona.<\/p>\n Both teams are coming off lower scoring, defensive games, which, let\u2019s be honest, were of the choppy, less entertaining type, which can happen when the stakes get high and bodies tense up. UCLA turned the ball over 23 times against Texas, a team that got 21 more shots than the Bruins, who still managed to prevail as they bid for their first national women\u2019s basketball title. Needless to say, it was hardly a showcase of the nation\u2019s leading offense.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, the Gamecocks were also in a war, with two of the most overpowering coaches in all of sports, Staley and Geno Auriemma leading South Carolina against UCONN. The Huskies suffered their first loss in 54 games at precisely the wrong time as both teams shot poorly as SC avenged their 82-59 rout by UCONN a year ago in the national championship game.<\/p>\n Now UCLA and SC meet for the third time in the past five years. The last time they met back in November of 2024, the Bruins ended the Gamecocks\u2019 43-game winning streak during a 77-62 win in LA. The Gamecocks won two years earlier. And now, it\u2019s the rubber match of all rubber matches, a third meeting for all the marbles and a pretty underwhelming partially wooden, partially glass, plaque\/trophy<\/a>.<\/p>\n We\u2019ll have all the action for you, just as it happens. Do you have a prediction, or some thoughts on what may or may not happen? Write in and join our coverage! Tip-off is about 330PM on the east coast of the United States, and 830PM in the UK.<\/p>\n We\u2019ll have more to come shortly \u2013 stick with us!<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n David will be here shortly. In the meantime, catch up on what happened in Friday night\u2019s Final Four games.<\/p>\n South Carolina\u2019s 62-48 victory over UConn in the first semi-final ended the Huskies\u2019 54-game winning streak. The Gamecocks\u2019 defense silenced UConn\u2019s All-American duo of Sarah Strong and Azzi Fudd and exacted revenge for last year\u2019s national championship game.<\/p>\n Much of the conversation about that game centered on the heated sideline exchange<\/a> between UConn coach Geno Auriemma and South Carolina coach Dawn Staley in the final seconds. Auriemma, who had used one of his mid-game interviews with ESPN to deliver a fiery diatribe about officiating, skipped the post-game handshake after launching a tirade of words in Staley\u2019s direction. He apologized on Saturday for his \u201cuncalled for\u201d behavior<\/a>, which he said was sparked by a disagreement over the pre-game handshake. Staley said she would address the incident at a later point and wanted to keep her focus on the chase for a national title.<\/p>\n