After their marginal win over Texas in the Final Four, the UCLA Bruins exemplified composure in the National Championship game against the South Carolina Gamecocks.
Despite South Carolina’s dominance throughout the entire tournament, the Bruins were able to smoke their opponents. The score throughout the game is as follows:
| Team | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | Final |
| South Carolina | 10 | 13 | 9 | 19 | 51 |
| Los Angeles | 21 | 15 | 25 | 18 | 79 |
UCLA’s readiness led them to their first ever NCAA Tournament win, and Cori Close hopes to build off of their momentum. The long-standing head coach of the Bruins expresses her happiness with the victory, “‘I just keep thinking, and all these faces keep flooding my mind. It’s really about the journey and who I’ve been able to share things with. This is just about paying it forward. So it’s hard to describe, but really just humbled and thankful for the people I’ve been able to share it with.”
The Bruins’ win was in thanks to coaching, talent, and funding. UCLA utilized the transfer portal, with some of their star players such as Lauren Betts and Angela Dugalic. Additionally, Los Angeles left the Pac-12 to join the Big Ten, which increased revenue and resources.
In the 2024-2025 season, teams who were in the Big Ten averaged $60 million in distributions, while UCLA only received about $20 million. Joining a new conference will allow the Bruins to step out of their athletic deficit.
Even though the championship title will not influence great change, it opens the door to growth for the program. Top women’s basketball teams like Connecticut generated $3.25 million in ticket sales, while UCLA only made $313,000. If the Bruins continue performing at a high level, the increased attention could have a greater impact on the program and school.
