UCLA storms past South Carolina to claim its 1st NCAA women's basketball title

Sports UCLA storms past South Carolina to claim its 1st NCAA women's basketball title April 5, 20269:25 PM ET By  The Associated Press UCLA players celebrate after defeating South Carolina in the women's National Championship Final Four NCAA college basketball tournament game on Sunday in Phoenix. Rick Scuteri/AP hide caption toggle caption Rick Scuteri/AP PHOENIX — It's mission accomplished for UCLA. Gabriela Jaquez, Lauren Betts and the rest of the UCLA seniors secured the first NCAA women's basketball national championship in school history — a goal that was set after losing in the first Final Four last season. Jaquez scored 21 points, Betts added 16 and UCLA routed South Carolina 79-51 Sunday in the title game. "I knew we were going to do it. Coming to UCLA we all set out for a goal, and I imagined this moment," Jaquez said. "I imagined it so many times, and I am just so, so proud. ... Crying a lot, the confetti, all of the fans being here to support us, my family being here, it just means everything. Celebrating with this group, like ... I'm so happy." Sponsor Message NPR's Book of the Day 'On Her Game' is Christine Brennan's portrait of basketball star Caitlin Clark The near-record lopsided victory completed the Bruins' journey through this year's March Madness. The Bruins ran through their opponents this season with their only loss coming in November, to Texas in a Thanksgiving tournament. "It's immeasurably more than I could ask or imagine," UCLA coach Cori Close said. "It's beyond my wildest dreams." UCLA (37-1) was led by Betts and her fellow seniors and graduate students, like Jaquez — who played all four years with the Bruins. She also had 10 rebounds and five assists in front of her brother Jaime, who plays for the Miami Heat and flew in to attend the game to watch his alma mater win. The group that coach Close put together through a combination of high school commitments and transfer portal players capped off their stellar careers with a champions...