UCLA Bruins Women's Basketball Advances To Final Four
UCLA Bruins Womens Basketball Advances To Final Four...
The UCLA Bruins women's basketball team secured a historic Final Four berth after defeating top-seeded South Carolina 72-68 in a thrilling Elite Eight matchup on Saturday. The victory marks the program's first Final Four appearance since 2018 and only the third in school history, sparking celebrations across Los Angeles and the broader college basketball community.
Head coach Cori Close led the Bruins to the upset win behind a standout 24-point performance by sophomore guard Kiki Rice. The game, played at MVP Arena in Albany, New York, saw UCLA overcome a 10-point second-half deficit against the defending national champions. The Bruins' defense held South Carolina to just 38% shooting in the fourth quarter.
The victory is trending nationally as UCLA becomes just the fourth Pac-12 team ever to reach three Women's Final Fours. The Bruins will face undefeated UConn on Friday in Cleveland, with a spot in the national championship on the line. Ticket prices for the semifinal game have already surged over 200% on secondary markets.
Social media erupted after the game, with NBA stars LeBron James and Russell Westbrook congratulating the team. The upset also reignited debates about tournament seeding, as many analysts had questioned UCLA's initial No. 4 seed placement. ESPN's Bracketology had projected the Bruins as a No. 2 seed before selection Sunday.
Campus celebrations began immediately after the final buzzer, with hundreds of students gathering at Bruin Plaza. University officials announced plans for a pre-Final Four sendoff rally on Tuesday. The team's success comes amid growing national attention on women's college basketball, which set viewership records during this year's tournament.
UCLA's last national championship appearance came in 1978 under coach Billie Moore. A win Friday would give the program its first title and make Close the first UCLA women's coach to reach the championship game. The Bruins are currently 4-point underdogs against UConn according to Vegas sportsbooks.
