- NCAA. Who is Gabriela Jaquez? The MVP with Mexican roots who won the NCAA Championship
- NCAA. March Madness Winners List: All NCAA basketball champions until today
Gabriela Jaquez scored 21 points, Lauren Betts added 16, and UCLA routed South Carolina 79-51 on Sunday to win its first NCAA women's basketball championship.
The near-record blowout capped a dominant run through March Madness for the Bruins, who entered the tournament motivated after last year's Final Four loss to UConn. UCLA powered through the season with authority, suffering its only defeat back in November against Texas during a Thanksgiving tournament.
UCLA (37-1) was led by Betts and a veteran core of seniors and graduate players, including Jaquez, who spent all four years with the program. She also delivered 10 rebounds and five assists in front of her brother, Jaime Jaquez Jr., a Miami Heat player who attended the game to support his alma mater.
Head coach Cori Close built a championship roster through a mix of elite high school recruits and key transfer portal additions, culminating in a historic title run. This marks UCLA's first national championship since the 1978 AIAW title, before the NCAA officially took over women's college basketball in 1982.
For South Carolina, the loss marks back-to-back appearances in the title game after winning it all in 2024. Head coach Dawn Staley and the Gamecocks (36-4) are expected to remain contenders, led by rising stars Joyce Edwards and Agot Makeer.