Connor David Dullinger

Lauren Betts wins the NCAA Most Outstanding Player Award.

Chants of "U-C-L-A" reverberate around the arena here in Phoenix as the final minutes dwindle off the clock.

Good Lord. I expected @GamecockWBB to lose — just thought @UCLAWBB would be entirely too big for them — but I certainly did not expect this kind of beatdown. 60-30 in the 3rd QT? Damn! UCLA just seemed more composed, more ready for the moment, plus bigger and more physical. Damn impressive!

UCLA is nearing a 30 point lead on an extraordinarily storied program led by the extraordinarily storied Dawn Staley. This is ridiculousness by a team that has never, ever been on this stage.

This Final Four has been one of redemption for UCLA. It first knocked off Texas, which caused a blip in the Bruins' otherwise-perfect regular-season slate. UCLA is now about to annihilate South Carolina, avenging a 34-point loss (albeit to UConn) at the same stage last year.

Couldn't agree more.

Without a doubt.

Jaquez splashes a 3-pointer as the shot clock dwindles down. UCLA leads by 34. Jaquez is subbed out after cheers and chants of "MVP" as she walks off the court for the final time as a Bruin. Finishes the game with 21 points, 10 rebounds and six assists.

Complete and utter domination as Kneepkens 3-pointer gives UCLA 70 points.

After the Lauren Betts made free throw, UCLA is officially up 30 -– seems like the Bruins are reversing what UConn did to them last year in the Final Four.

Sienna Betts, with the huge offensive rebound, finds her sister Lauren, who then finds Kneepkens for the corner 3-pointer. UCLA up 25.

Jaquez up to 14 points, nine rebounds and five assists with 2:45 remaining in the third quarter. She's definitely my MVP so far for today's game.

Timeout South Carolina as UCLA takes a 22-point lead.

If Leger-Walker was going to find a time to light it up from deep, it was today. She hits her second 3-pointer as UCLA's lead extends to 18. UCLA leads 43-25.

Jaquez is just everywhere out there. Exerting herself early on the interior and making her presence known. She's already up to nine points and eight rebounds.

Cori Close told me that all of her former players now in the WNBA tell her they hope their teams draft Gabriela Jaquez. You can see why already in this title game — she fights for every loose ball, she's fearless out there.

Vying for its first NCAA title, No. 1 seed UCLA women’s basketball (36-1, 18-0 Big Ten) will face No. 1 seed South Carolina (36-3, 15-1 SEC) Sunday afternoon at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix in the national championship. The Bruins and the Gamecocks have not faced off since November 2024, when coach Cori Close’s squad upset the then-reigning national champions at Pauley Pavilion. Follow along for updates.

Q1: SOUTH CAROLINA 10 | UCLA 21
Lauren Betts: 2-for-2, four points, three rebounds
Gabriela Jaquez: 1-for-2, five points, four rebounds
Angela Dugalic: 2-for-3, four points

HALFTIME: SOUTH CAROLINA 23 | UCLA 36 
Lauren Betts: 3-for-6, six points, seven rebounds 
Gabriela Jaquez: 2-for-6, seven points, seven rebounds 
Gianna Kneepkens: 3-for-6, seven points, three assists 
Angela Dugalic: 3-for-6, six points