UCLA’s historic season came to an end as the Bruins fell short against Connecticut in the NCAA women’s national semifinals. The Huskies dominated UCLA 85-51, winning by the largest margin of victory in an NCAA final four game.
Despite star center Lauren Betts’ 26 points, the Bruins struggled with turnovers and three-point shots, committing 19 errors that led to their downfall. Connecticut’s talented trio of Paige Bueckers, Azzi Fudd, and Sarah Strong fueled the Huskies’ success, outscoring UCLA by a combined total.
UCLA coach Cori Close acknowledged her team’s struggles, saying “We got exposed… And it stings right now.” Close attributed her team’s loss to a lack of experience on the biggest stage. The Bruins’ bench struggled to swing momentum, and the team’s vocal leader, junior guard Kiki Rice, encouraged her teammates to “go out and take the game.”
Betts, who had hoped that the loss would fuel her team’s comeback, expressed determination to return stronger next season. “I hope this fuels us… And I hope that we come out angry after this,” she said.
The Bruins’ season, which featured a school record for wins and their first No. 1 NCAA tournament seed, came to an end with a historic loss. The team’s experienced core, including Betts, Rice, Gabriela Jaquez, and Timea Gardiner, will look to return stronger next year as they seek another championship opportunity.
Source: https://www.latimes.com/sports/ucla/story/2025-04-04/uclas-ncaa-tournament-run-ends-uconn-final-four