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5d ago

UCLA Brings First NCAA Women’s Title Home With Pauley Pavilion Celebration

The homecoming signaled how Cori Close’s 15-year rebuild has made Los Angeles care about women’s basketball.

Apr 8, 2026; Inglewood, California, USA; UCLA Bruins women’s basketball players Gabriela Jaquez, Lauren Betts and Charlisse Leger-Walker join the Los Angeles Clippers Spirit Dance team during a time out at the game between the Los Angeles Clippers and the Oklahoma City Thunder at Intuit Dome. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
An image collage containing 2 images, Image 1 shows Two female UCLA basketball players embrace in an emotional hug after a game, Image 2 shows UCLA coach Cori Close holding up the NCAA National Champion trophy in Phoenix, Arizona

Overview

  • The Bruins celebrated with fans at Pauley Pavilion on Wednesday night with the trophy on display, player introductions and confetti raining down.
  • The party featured a TikTok routine by Lauren Betts, Gabriela Jaquez and Charlisse Leger‑Walker, a confetti snow angel by Angela Dugalić, and a haka from New Zealand’s Tāmaki Basketball Academy honoring Leger‑Walker.
  • Head coach Cori Close told the crowd the title validated a 15-year effort to make Los Angeles care about women’s basketball.
  • The championship broadcast averaged 9.9 million viewers, placing it among the most-watched women’s finals since 1996.
  • The Bruins continue a public victory lap with a scheduled Raising Cane’s stop Thursday and a Dodgers visit next week, as several seniors eye high selections in Monday’s WNBA draft.