PHOENIX – The No. 1-seed UCLA women's basketball team will face No. 1-seed South Carolina in the 2026 NCAA Championship contest this Sunday afternoon at Mortgage Matchup Center.
 
This will mark UCLA's first-ever appearance at the women's basketball NCAA Championship. Previously, UCLA's program won the AIAW national title in 1978, prior to women's basketball being overseen by the NCAA. The Bruins' program advanced to the national semifinals in 1978 and 1979, before making its first-ever NCAA Final Four appearance last season in Tampa, Fla.
 
UCLA took place in multiple media appearances on Saturday at Mortgage Matchup Center, in addition to an open practice in the middle of the day.

Saturday's UCLA Press Conference: Coach Close | L. Betts 
 
"I definitely think last year felt like, we were reacting to everything, not anticipating," said Cori Close, The Michael Price Family UCLA Women's Head Basketball Coach. "Now that we've been a part of this, it was just a totally different planning experience. I felt like we were able to be more strategic in how we put our players in positioning to be successful. They were able to anticipate, 'Okay, I heard the returner saying now this is going to be a long day, this is what you have to bring, this is what you have to do.' You just think that makes all the difference in the world."
 
This marks UCLA's second straight season playing in the NCAA Final Four, but the first year since 1982 – when the women's basketball tournament was adopted by the NCAA – in which the Bruins have played for the NCAA title.
 
The Bruins have gone 2-4 in six previous meetings with South Carolina. Most recently, UCLA defeated the Gamecocks in a non-conference showdown at Pauley Pavilion presented by Wescom Financial on Nov. 24, 2024. The Bruins secured a 77-62 win and led the Gamecocks at halftime, 43-22.
 
UCLA last faced South Carolina in the NCAA Tournament's regional semifinals (Sweet 16) on March 25, 2023. South Carolina won that matchup, 59-43.
 
"I think this team has already created a legacy in itself," senior Lauren Betts said during the Bruins' mid-day press conference. "Tomorrow would just be obviously the cherry on top. I want to leave this season knowing I left it all out on the floor. I want to play hard for 40 minutes. Regardless of the outcome tomorrow, I want to know in the back of my head that I gave everything to this team and this program. Tomorrow my mindset is just being a leader, being vocal, giving everything, leaving this game empty, regardless of how I feel. I think the biggest thing that I've learned in these past three seasons at UCLA, for me just to always believe in what I'm capable of doing and to surround myself with good people. Regardless of what I do on the court, that doesn't take away from my value as a person."
 
The Bruins advanced to this year's national title contest with a 51-44 win over No. 1-seed Texas on Friday evening. UCLA led by 12 points early in the fourth quarter, saw its lead fall to three points in the game's final 90 seconds, and held on for the seven-point win. Lauren Betts came up with a key block of Texas, under the basket, with 20 seconds to play. Kiki Rice was a perfect 4-for-4 from the free throw stripe in the game's final 15 seconds to preserve the UCLA win.
 
Betts finished Friday night's national semifinal with her second double-double of the 2026 NCAA Tournament. She totaled 16 points and 11 rebounds and also registered three blocks. 
 
UCLA fans will be able to attend a Final Four watch party on Sunday at Pauley Pavilion. The event begins at 12 p.m. (PT), and admission is free for all fans (tickets can be requested by clicking here). UCLA's game against South Carolina will be shown on the arena's videoboard. Food, beer and wine will be available for purchase inside the arena. Please note, that Pauley Pavilion's clear bag policy will be in effect.

The Bruins have won five NCAA Tournament games over the past three weeks, extending their season-long winning streak to 30 games. UCLA registered a perfect 18-0 record in Big Ten play and won three games in as many days at the Big Ten Tournament in Indianapolis to win the conference tournament title for the second straight year.

Last weekend, UCLA defeated Minnesota in the Sweet 16, and Duke in the Elite Eight, to move into the Final Four in Phoenix. The Bruins overcame a 39-31 halftime deficit against Duke last Sunday in Sacramento, outscoring the Blue Devils, 39-19, in the final two quarters to win the game, 70-58.
 
This Sunday' championship contest will be nationally televised on ABC, with Ryan Ruocco and Rebecca Lobo on the call and Holly Rowe serving as the sideline reporter. Fans can also tune to UCLA's digital radio broadcast at uclabruins.com/watch. The national radio broadcast from Westwood One (SiriusXM 84) will include broadcasters Ryan Radtke, Debbie Antonelli and Ros Gold-Onwude.