Follow along for live updates of the NCAA Women’s National Championship clash in Phoenix between the South Carolina Gamecocks and the UCLA Bruins.
In the end, only two teams remained standing.
The 2026 NCAA Women’s national championship game pits a showdown between No. 1 South Carolina Gamecocks and No. 1 UCLA Bruins. The display of top seeds defines this matchup as Dawn Staley is seeking her fourth championship with the Gamecocks and third in five years.
Since UCLA’s NCAA arrival in 1982, the Bruins will play in their first-ever championship game. Led by Lauren Betts and head coach Cori Close, the Bruins seek to bring a trophy to The Golden State.
March Madness Coverage: South Carolina vs. UCLA Preview | South Carolina UPSETS UConn | Texas vs. UCLA Final Four Preview | UConn vs. South Carolina Final Four Preview | Fort 1 Region Preview | Fort 3 Region Preview | Sacramento Region 2 Preview | Sacramento Region 4 Preview
More NCAA: Audi Crooks Enters Transfer Portal | Another Double Final For UConn? | Top NCAA Upset of All-Time | Azzi Fudd Signs with Jordan Brand
South Carolina’s Defense Is the Real Deal
Sunday’s marquee matchup between the Gamecocks and Bruins is the first this season, and sixth overall. South Carolina leads the series 4-1 under Staley, though UCLA trounced the Gamecocks 77-62 in November 2024. The last time both teams faced off was in the 2023 Sweet 16. Under the Kamilla Cardoso and Aliyah Boston era, South Carolina routed UCLA 59-43, but went on to lose against Caitlin Clark and Iowa in the Final Four.
Today is the battle of two elite defenses. Raven Johnson and the Gamecocks stunned No. 1 UConn Huskies 62-48. A dominant performance, South Carolina shut down UConn’s offense entirely, forcing 10 turnovers. Not only did sharpshooter Azzi Fudd shoot 3-of-15 from the field, but National Player of the Year, Sarah Strong, shot 4-of-16 for 12 points. Plus, Raven took it upon herself to guard the 6’2″ Strong.
Sometimes the box score doesn’t tell the whole story, and I think that’s the case with Raven Johnson today
While she only has 2 points so far, she’s played tremendous defense all game
And that’s what winners do: make an impact without needing to score https://t.co/zWdJciedTh pic.twitter.com/2qC7rJ0JPc
— Point Made Joshua (@pointmadejosh) April 4, 2026
The Gamecocks not only snapped UConn’s 54 game win-streak, but they also locked down passing lanes and offensive actions. A drama-filled evening, the game’s conclusion featured a heated exchange between Staley and Geno Auriemma. From Strong’s ripped jersey to halftime rants, South Carolina left UConn in disarray.
Florida State transfer Ta’Niya Latson was the hero, leading the Gamecocks with 16 points. Joining her in double figures were Joyce Edward, who had a stellar performance with 11 points, 8 rebounds, and 3 steals, and Tessa Johnson (10 points). Perhaps South Carolina’s hidden ace was Agot Makeer, who contributed 14 points off the bench.
UCLA Seeking Its First Championship
UCLA avenged itself against the Texas Longhorns and came out victorious 51-44 in the Final Four. There’s a reason why Close made the case that UCLA was the No. 1 overall seed over UConn. With a 36-1 record, the Bruins took care of Cap Baptist, Oklahoma State, Minnesota, and Duke.
Facing Madison Booker and company posed a challenge, but the Bruins did not waver defensively. UCLA’s stifling defense held Booker to 3-of-23 shooting from the field and Texas to 44 points overall. Yes, you read that correctly, 44 points.
The amount of history Cori Close has made at UCLA is ASTRONOMICAL.
And LOOK at the emotion in the moment as the clock hits zero, and Close leads the Bruins to the NCAA National Title Game for the FIRST time ever.
Just incredible. pic.twitter.com/MqJYDYcKl6
— Ben Stevens (@BenScottStevens) April 4, 2026
Led by Betts’ 16-point, 11-rebound outing, Gianna Kneepkens, Gabriela Jaquez, and Kiki Rice scored in double figures each. Defensively, UCLA held Texas to 20-of-65 (31%) from the field and 2-of-9 (22%) from three.
It’s an old tale that defense wins championships, and this should be a low-scoring affair between two elite programs. While I’m not convinced this game will be an offensive showing, it will come down to who can lock down defensively and consistently.
FINAL: South Carolina vs. UCLA
Final Scoring Leaders
South Carolina
POINTS:
ASSISTS:
REBOUNDS:
STEALS:
BLOCKS:
UCLA
POINTS:
ASSISTS:
REBOUNDS:
STEALS:
BLOCKS:
Fourth Quarter:
9:20—Kneepkens commits a foul
9:08– Jaquez gets the steal from Tessa Johnson and takes it to the basket for a layup. That’s 16 points from her (UCLA 63-, 32)
8:31—Tournebize with the huge block on Dugalić, UCLA once again gets another offensive rebound. Foul on Raven Johnson, and Kneepkens puts up the basket. She gets an and-one opportunity and makes 2-2 free throws (UCLA 65, 32)
8:16—Madina Okit scores a much-needed bucket followed by an offensive rebound. She is fouled by Rice and heads to the free-throw line. Okot misses the free throw (UCLA 65, 34)
7:54—Rice gets a left-hand layup and cuts to the basket on the inbound. She now has 10 points (UCLA 67, 34)
7:35–Nice finish by Edwards, who finally gets something going for South Carolina with a layup (UCLA 67, 36)
7:05—SC gets an offensive board, and Tessa Johnson works her way around the screen for a mid-range shot. She now has 14 points (UCLA 67, 38)
6:38–Edwards gets the steal for South Carolina, and there have been a number of turnovers by both teams in the last couple of minutes. Unfortunately, the Gamecocks can’t capitalize as Latson turns it over.
Third Quarter:
9:45–South Carolina misses, but gets the offensive board, and Okot puts it in (36-25)
9:23—Lauren Betts scores an easy layup (38-25) high-low action
8:48—Okot picks up her third personal foul. SC goes small with the lineup.
8:37—Jaquez gets the offensive rebound and puts up the shot herself inside (40-25 UCLA)
7:45—It all starts with Kiki Rice steal, but UCLA is firing on all cylinders, Walker drains another corner three (UCLA 43-25)
7:33—Foul on Tessa Johnson
7:05—Lauren Betts gets the offensive rebound, was getting doubled, and kicked out. South Carolina’s Latson fouls. Dugalić heads to the line and makes 1-2 free throws (UCLA 44-25)
6:51—Maddy McDaniel drives to the basket and is fouled by Kiki Rice. She heads to the line and makes free throws (UCLA 44, 26)
6:04—high to low, Betts gets the bucket inside over Edwards. UCLA is taking advantage of the small lineup (UCLA 46-26)
5:44—Lauren Betts gets the block on Latson. Rice makes a touchdown pass to Jaquez in transition, who scores a layup. The lead is extended to UCLA 48, 26.
5:41—Timeout taken, SC
5:30—Makeer gets something going for SC with the short-range shot (UCLA 48, 28)
4:52—Timeout
4:44—Walker steps out of bounds, UCLA turnover
4:29—Tessa Johnson gets separation and hits a tough mid-range over Betts (UCLA 48-30)
4:18–Raven Johnson hustles and gets the steal. Very on brand for her.
3:17—Jaquez gets the assist from Betts after being double-teamed, and hits the three on the weak side (UCLA 51-30)
3:01—Fourth personal foul on Dugalić
2:45—Kiki Rice fouled by Tounebize. She makes 1-2 free throws (UCLA 52-30)
2:37—Walker gets the block as South Carolina gets the loose ball from Lauren Betts. They stop the Gamecocks on the fast break.
2:09—UCLA continues to capitalize on South Carolina’s misses. Kneepkens gets the three to drain after Sienna Betts gets the offensive rebounds (55-30).
1:53—Foul on Joyce Edwards
1:50—Foul on Agot Makeer. UCLA is in the bonus, and Kiki Rice heads to the free-throw line. She makes 2-2 (UCLA 57-30). Ends to lead to 27 points.
1:28–Amanda Muse gets the steal, UCLA continues to show elite defensive prowess.
0:44—UCLA gets another second-chance opportunity. This time, Walker drives in and lays it in the paint (UCLA 59-30). As a result, South Carolina turns it over.
0:29–UCLA timeout.
0:26–Foul on Alicia Tournebize. Lauren Betts heads to the line since UCLA is in the bonus. She makes 1-2 free throws (UCLA 60-30). It is a lane violation by South Carolina, so Betts redoes the shot and makes it. 13-0 UCLA run. (UCLA 61-30). Outscoring SC 25-7 in the third quarter.
0:00: Personal foul on Lena Bilic. Joyce Edwards heads to the free throw line for two shots. She makes both of them. (UCLA 61-32)
End of the third: UCLA 61, South Carolina 32.
- South Carolina: FG: 24% | 3PT 9% | 12-49 FG | 1-11 3PT | 10 TO
- UCLA: FG 43% | 3PT 35% | 23-53 FG | 6-17 3PT | 8 TO
Halftime Leaders
South Carolina
POINTS: Tessa Johnson (10)
ASSISTS: Joyce Edwards (2)
REBOUNDS: Joyce Edwards (6)
STEALS: Madina Okot (1), Ta’Niya Latson (1)
BLOCKS: Raven Johnson (1), Maryam Dauda (2)
UCLA
POINTS: Gianna Kneepkens (7) Gabriella Jaquez (7)
ASSISTS: Gabriela Jaquez (3), Gianna Kneepkens (3), Angela Dugalić (3)
REBOUNDS: Lauren Betts (7)
STEALS: Kiki Rice (1), Angela Dugalić (1)
BLOCKS: Angela Dugalić
Second Quarter:
9:27–Jaquez goes high-low again. Dugalic inside with a two-pointer against a small South Carolina lineup (23-12)∂
9:12 Tessa Johnson ends UCLA’s run with a 14-foot jump shot (25-12)
8:41–Tessa Johnson hits another shot! This time getting the and-one (UCLA 26-15). Lauren Betts enters the game once again.
8:23 Jaquez once again with a layup bucket. UCLA continues to dominate inside. (28-15 UCLA)
7:33-UCLA continues its hot streak, and Kneepkens this time with the step-back jumper. South Carolina continues to struggle in the field, moving to a bigger lineup. (30-15 UCLA)
6:29—Betts has a chance with the mismatch to score inside, but she travels, UCLA turnover.
6:09 Raven Johnson hits a mid-range shot over Betts. This is a big shot for the Gamecocks as they previously missed 13-of-15 field goals. (30-17 UCLA).
4:52—Kiki Rice drives, gets the double, kicks out, shoots and misses. Lauren Betts makes a long two to extend the lead. (UCLA 32-17). 8-2 advantage in second-chance points for UCLA. 126 straight points have been scored by UCLA seniors.
4:34–Latson is fouled by Dugalić. Timeout is taken.
4:30—Edwards works inside and makes a tough mid-range shot in the paint (32-19 UCLA). After this, South Carolina moves to a 2-3 zone on defense. Shot clock violation by UCLA.
3:30–Latson has a wide open lane but missed the layup. The ball is out on South Carolina.
3:19–10-second violation by UCLA. South Carolina is applying pressure, especially on full-court defense.
2:48—Latson with the steal and the layup. She doesn’t get the foul but gets South Carolina back in a groove (UCLA 32-21). South Carolina cuts the deficit to 11 points.
2:48– A timeout is taken by UCLA. They’ve had three consecutive turnovers.
2:18—South Carolina continues to apply defensive pressure, another miss from UCLA.
1:35—Jaquez misses, Betts gets the offensive board, and Kiki Rice finishes the basket inside. Great ball movement by UCLA (34-21 UCLA)
1:21—Foul on Gianna Kneepkens
0:50—Kneepkens using the screen and drops in a fade two-pointer (UCLA 36-21)
0:37—Tessa Johnson delivers a much-needed mid-range bucket for South Carolina. (UCLA 36-23)
0:10—Foul on Dugalić
- South Carolina: FG: 26% | 3PT 13% | 9-35 FG | 1-8 3PT | 2 TO
- UCLA: FG 43% | 3PT 38% | 15-35 FG | 3-8 3PT | 6 TO
First Quarter:
09:43— Lauren Betts makes the 5-foot defense. South Carolina starts in man-to-man defense. (2-0 UCLA)
9:15–Madina Okot misses the three, South Carolina gets the offensive board, and Okot lays it in. (2-2)
8:28–Charlisse Leger-Walker hits the 14-foot pullup (UCLA 4-2)
8:32– Okot gets her first personal foul.
7:50— Jaquez to Betts high-low layin (UCLA 6-2). UCLA is showing its versatility in passing.
7:29: Foul on Lauren Betts, Ta’Niya Latson makes two free throws (6-4 UCLA)
7:11–Jaquez puts in the and-one. Grabs the offensive rebound and putback. Foul is on duadua. Jaquez gets to the line and makes it (9-4 UCLA)
5:39—Dugalić spin fade assists from Kneepkens (11-4 UCLA)
5:09–Jaquez pushes it in transition, goes in for a layup, but is fouled by Raven Johnson. Jaquez gets to the free-throw line and makes two. (13-4 UCLA). 7-0 run for the Bruins scored by seniors. South Carolina missed the last six shots.
4:53—South Carolina’s Tessa Johnson goes for the and-one over Sienna Bets. Johnson gets to the free-throw line. She makes two to complete the 3-point play.
4:23–Agot Makeer comes off the bench and pulls up a 3-pointer (13-10 UCLA).
3:45: UCLA gets the offensive rebound, showing good ball movement. Walker gets another three in the corner (16-10 UCLA). Cori Close is going to her bench early.
3:09 Personal foul called on Joyce Edwards of South Carolina.
2:14–UCLA turnover-back court violation.
2:06—Gabriela Jaquez picks up a personal foul
1:34–Lauren Betts remains on the bench with a medical issue. Sienna Betts gets the offensive board, but can’t finish. UCLA ball.
1:00–Latson plays great defense on Kneepkens and gets the defensive board, but South Carolina can’t finish on the other end.
0:27—Dugalić works Raven Johnson in the paint and finishes with another bucket. (18-10 UCLA)
0:02— What a finish for the first quarter. Kiki Rice drains a step-back three from a screen to put the Bruins up 21-10. 8-0 run for UCLA.
- South Carolina: FG: 17% | 3PT 20% | 3-18 FG | 1-5 3PT | 2 TO
- UCLA: FG 44% | 3PT 50% | 8-18 FG | 2-4 3PT | 2 TO
Starting Lineups
SOUTH CAROLINA: Raven Johnson | Ta’Niya Latson | Tessa Johnson | Joyce Edwards | Madina Okot
UCLA: Kiki Rice | Charlisse Leger-Walker | Gabriela Jaquez | Gianna Kneepkens | Lauren Betts
OFFICIALS:
LINE: SC: -4.5
O/U: 127.5
Prediction: South Carolina 62, UCLA 59
Sara Jane Gamelli is the Managing Editor and Senior Staff Writer at Ballislife.com, as well as Director of Ballislife Bets. Follow her on X at @SaraJGamelli.
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