UCLA rallies past Duke to reach Final Four

Betts and fellow seniors lead Bruins' comeback in regional final

Mar. 30, 2026 at 11:04am

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The UCLA Bruins women's basketball team overcame a double-digit deficit to defeat the Duke Blue Devils and advance to the Final Four of the NCAA Tournament. Led by senior center Lauren Betts, the Bruins rallied in the second half to secure the victory and extend their season.

Why it matters

UCLA's comeback win over a highly ranked Duke squad showcases the resilience and experience of the Bruins' veteran roster, which is aiming to win the program's first national championship since 1978. The Final Four berth also continues UCLA's strong run in the NCAA Tournament under head coach Cori Close.

The details

After trailing by as many as 12 points in the first half, UCLA stormed back in the second half behind the play of Betts and fellow seniors Charisma Osborne and Gina Conti. Betts, a 6-foot-5 center, scored 18 points and grabbed 12 rebounds to lead the Bruins' charge. Osborne added 16 points, while Conti dished out 8 assists to orchestrate the comeback.

  • The game was played on March 29, 2026 in Sacramento, California.
  • UCLA trailed Duke by 12 points in the first half.

The players

Lauren Betts

A 6-foot-5 senior center for the UCLA Bruins women's basketball team.

Charisma Osborne

A senior guard for the UCLA Bruins who scored 16 points in the regional final victory.

Gina Conti

A senior point guard for the UCLA Bruins who dished out 8 assists to help lead the comeback.

Cori Close

The head coach of the UCLA Bruins women's basketball team, who has guided the program to the Final Four.

Duke Blue Devils

The opponent that UCLA defeated in the regional final to advance to the Final Four.

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What they’re saying

“We knew we had to dig deep and leave it all on the floor. This team has so much fight and resilience, and we weren't going to let our season end today.”

— Lauren Betts, UCLA Senior Center

“I'm so proud of how our team battled back. We've been through a lot together, and this group of seniors has worked so hard to get us to this point. Now we've got one more weekend to make some more history.”

— Cori Close, UCLA Head Coach

What’s next

UCLA will face the winner of the other regional final between South Carolina and Maryland in the Final Four on April 4th in Dallas.

The takeaway

UCLA's gutsy comeback victory over Duke showcases the experience and determination of the Bruins' veteran roster, which is now just two wins away from the program's first national championship in nearly 50 years.