South Carolina Gamecocks look to 'disrupt' UCLA Bruins' offense in NCAA Women's National Championship

Head coach Dawn Staley challenges her team's defense after a slow start in the title game

Apr. 5, 2026 at 8:38pm

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The top-seeded South Carolina Gamecocks struggled to start the 2026 NCAA Women's National Championship game, falling behind the UCLA Bruins 21-10 after the first quarter. Head coach Dawn Staley told ESPN's sideline reporter that her team needs to 'disrupt' the Bruins' offense and 'play more inspired' defense to get back in the game.

Why it matters

The Gamecocks are seeking their third national title in the last five years, while the Bruins are looking to become just the second Big Ten team ever to win the women's basketball championship. This high-stakes matchup between two No. 1 seeds will determine the 2026 NCAA champion.

The details

South Carolina opened the game just 1-of-9 from the field and finished the first quarter 3-of-18 (16.7%) shooting, while UCLA shot 8-of-18 (44%) and hit 2-of-4 from 3-point range. The Bruins built a 13-4 lead before the Gamecocks scored on a three-point play from senior guard Raven Johnson. Freshman Agot Makeer hit a 3-pointer to cut the deficit to 13-10, but UCLA closed the quarter on an 8-0 run.

  • The 2026 NCAA Women's National Championship game is being played on Sunday, April 5, 2026.
  • The game is being held inside the Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix, Arizona.

The players

Dawn Staley

The head coach of the South Carolina Gamecocks women's basketball team, who is seeking her third national championship in the last five years.

Raven Johnson

A senior guard for the South Carolina Gamecocks who scored a three-point play in the first quarter to cut the deficit.

Agot Makeer

A freshman guard for the South Carolina Gamecocks who hit a 3-pointer in the first quarter to further cut the Bruins' lead.

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What they’re saying

“We've got to disrupt a little bit, I think we've got to play more inspired. We've got to dictate a little bit more. They're getting to their spots and we've got to do a better job of just trying to be a little bit more physical with them and not let them cut in front of us. It's just really disciplined defense.”

— Dawn Staley, Head Coach, South Carolina Gamecocks

What’s next

The Gamecocks will look to implement Staley's defensive adjustments in the second quarter as they try to mount a comeback against the Bruins.

The takeaway

This matchup between two top-seeded powerhouses in women's college basketball will come down to which team can better execute their game plan, with South Carolina needing to disrupt UCLA's offense to get back in the championship game.