UCLA's Dominant Defense Crushes South Carolina's Title Hopes

Gamecocks suffer second straight blowout loss in national championship game

Apr. 6, 2026 at 3:24am

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South Carolina was no match for UCLA's stifling defense in the national championship game, as the Bruins cruised to a 79-51 victory. The Gamecocks struggled mightily on the offensive end, shooting just 29% from the field, while UCLA's defense disrupted their rhythm throughout the game. Despite the lopsided defeat, South Carolina coach Dawn Staley says the loss will serve as motivation to get back to the title game next season.

Why it matters

This loss marks the second consecutive year that South Carolina has been blown out in the national championship game, raising questions about the program's ability to win the big one. However, Staley remains confident that her team will learn from this experience and use it as fuel to return to the title game in 2027.

The details

UCLA jumped out to a 21-10 lead in the first quarter and never looked back, leading by as many as 29 points in the fourth quarter. The Bruins' defense completely shut down the Gamecocks, holding them to just 29% shooting from the field. South Carolina's post players struggled to make an impact, and the team's dynamic guards were unable to get into a rhythm. UCLA's Gabriela Jaquez was a force on both ends of the floor, finishing with 21 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 assists.

  • South Carolina lost to UConn 82-59 in last year's national championship game.
  • This year's 79-51 defeat was the third-largest margin of defeat in a national title game.

The players

Dawn Staley

Head coach of the South Carolina Gamecocks women's basketball team.

Cori Close

Head coach of the UCLA Bruins women's basketball team, who won her first national championship.

Gabriela Jaquez

UCLA guard who had a dominant all-around performance with 21 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 assists.

Lauren Betts

UCLA's 6-foot-7 senior center who had 14 points and 11 rebounds despite early foul trouble.

Tessa Johnson

South Carolina guard who scored a game-high 14 points in the loss.

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What they’re saying

“'Obviously we got smacked. We've got to figure out how we smack back and put ourselves in a position where we're hosting the trophy at the end of the day.'”

— Dawn Staley, Head Coach, South Carolina Gamecocks

“'See the score? Score speaks for itself.'”

— Raven Johnson, Guard, South Carolina Gamecocks

“'Every 50/50 ball went their way. Every rebound, they got second-, third- and fourth-chance points. We didn't do the little things, we didn't do the intangibles. That's something that Coach talks about a lot.'”

— Ta'Niya Latson, Guard, South Carolina Gamecocks

What’s next

South Carolina will look to bounce back next season, with Tessa Johnson, Agot Makeer, and Joyce Edwards returning to lead the team. The Gamecocks also plan to use the transfer portal to add some guard depth around Maddy McDaniel.

The takeaway

This lopsided defeat in the national championship game for the second straight year highlights the challenge South Carolina faces in getting over the hump and winning the title. However, coach Dawn Staley remains confident that her team will learn from this experience and use it as motivation to return to the big stage next season.