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WNBA superstar and Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark reacted to the standout performance of UCLA Bruins guard Gabriela Jaquez, who powered her team to its first national championship with a dominant double-double.
Caitlin Clark's message to Gabriela Jaquez
Jaquez delivered 21 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 assists on 8-of-14 shooting in UCLA's 79-51 win over the South Carolina Gamecocks. After the game, Clark praised the Bruins star on social media:
"Jaquez going crazy".
Jaquez also made history, becoming just the fifth player ever to post at least 20 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 assists in a national championship game, joining elite names like Breanna Stewart, Chamique Holdsclaw, and Dawn Staley.
In her senior season with UCLA Bruins, Jaquez is projected as a first-round pick in the 2026 WNBA Draft. Across 37 games, she averaged 13.3 points and 5.4 rebounds, shooting 53.8% from the field and 38.7% from three-point range. She is also the sister of Jaime Jaquez Jr. of the Miami Heat.
The title marked a historic milestone for UCLA, as the Bruins became just the eighth team in the last 30 years to win their first NCAA women's basketball championship. UCLA took control early with a double-digit lead and never looked back, sealing a 28-point victory - the third-largest margin in Division I women's championship history.
After the win, Clark also praised head coach Cori Close:
"Not many people care about the game as much as Coach Close. Couldn't be happier for her! Congrats @UCLAWBB."
Close, who has led the program since 2011, captured her first national title in her 15th season, becoming the longest-tenured coach to win a first championship.
Meanwhile, Clark - preparing for her third WNBA season - has closely followed March Madness. During her time with the Iowa Hawkeyes, she led the program to back-to-back national championship games (2023, 2024) and became the all-time leading scorer in NCAA Division I history.