UCLA women's basketball out to author Final Four redemption story

Story by

Story by
UCLA women's basketball out to author Final Four redemption story

Meghan L. Hall, USA TODAY · USA TODAY Sports

Fri, Mar 27, 2026 ·

3 min read

About Our Ads

UCLA women's basketball (33-1) wants another chance at redeeming its 2025 Final Four loss.

Last season, the UConn Huskies beat the Bruins in the semifinals, 85-51, before defeating South Carolina in the national championship game. UCLA head coach Cori Close told USA TODAY Sports after the Bruins lost, she felt she had failed as a leader. Close also shared, according to many players, the season's devastating end tarnished the memory of the best year in UCLA women's basketball history. Senior guard Gabriela Jaquez recently confirmed that notion to USA TODAY Sports.

"A lot of us kinda forgot the great year that we did have because of how we lost," Jaquez said while promoting a partnership with Great Clips . "We all had to take a second to remind ourselves of what we accomplished last year and acknowledge that, but then at the same time, understand that that loss did hurt us, and we do need to improve to be better (this year)."

The 2024-25 Bruins went 30-2 in the regular season, winning 30 matchups for the first time, a program record. UCLA also won its first Big Ten championship, and the Bruins then earned the No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament , another program first. Jaquez and her teammates cruised through the first, second and Sweet 16 rounds of March Madness before meeting LSU in the Elite Eight.

UCLA withstood a late fourth-quarter surge from the Tigers before punching their ticket to the Final Four. That's where their season ended.

1 /13

See women's March Madness 2026, from mascots and fans to celebrities

The Alabama bench celebrate after a big three-point shot by Alabama Crimson Tide guard Karly Weathers (22) in the fourth quarter against Louisville during the 2026 NCAA Women's March Madness Second Round basketball at the KFC Yum Center In Louisville, Ky. Weathers finished with 13 points. March 23, 2026.

(Matt Stone, Courier Journal via USA TODAY NETWORK)

Laura Ziegler of the Louisville Cardinals kisses the court after her team's 69-68 victory over the Alabama Crimson Tide in the second round of the 2026 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament at KFC YUM! Center on March 23, 2026 in Louisville, Ky.
(Andy Lyons, Getty Images)

Ohio State mascot Brutus Buckeye and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish leprechaun mascot cheer prior to the NCAA women's basketball tournament second round game at the Jerome Schottenstein Center in Columbus on March 23, 2026.
(Adam Cairns, Columbus Dispatch via USA TODAY NETWORK)

Louisville fans cheer during a first-round game between the Louisville Cardinals and Vermont Catamounts in the 2026 NCAA WomenâÕs Basketball Tournament at the KFC Yum Center, March 21, 2026, in Louisville, Ky.
(Jeff Faughender, Courier Journal via USA TODAY NETWORK)

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish huddle up prior to the start of the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament Second Round game against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Jerome Schottenstein Center on March 23, 2026 in Columbus, Ohio. Notre Dame defeated Ohio Sate 83-73.
(Kirk Irwin, Getty Images)

A Louisville fan held a sign in the final seconds as the Cards defeated Alabama 69-68 to move on to the Sweet 16 during the 2026 NCAA Women's March Madness Second Round basketball at the KFC Yum Center In Louisville, Ky. March 23, 2026.
(Matt Stone, Courier Journal via USA TODAY NETWORK)

Alabama mascot Big Al works the crowd during a first-round game between the Rhode Island Rams and Alabama Crimson Tide in the 2026 NCAA WomenÕs Basketball Tournament at the KFC Yum Center, March 21, 2026, in Louisville, Ky.
(Jeff Faughender, Courier Journal via USA TODAY NETWORK)

The Ohio State Buckeyes sit for the starting lineup prior to the NCAA women's basketball tournament second round game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at the Jerome Schottenstein Center in Columbus on March 23, 2026.
(Adam Cairns, Columbus Dispatch via USA TODAY NETWORK)

Ohio State Buckeyes fans react to a foul call during the NCAA women's basketball tournament second round game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at the Jerome Schottenstein Center in Columbus on March 23, 2026.
(Adam Cairns, Columbus Dispatch via USA TODAY NETWORK)

A member of the Louisville Cardinals band performs during the third quarter against the Alabama Crimson Tide in the second round of the 2026 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament at KFC YUM! Center on March 23, 2026 in Louisville, Ky.
(Andy Lyons, Getty Images)

A player spins a basketball branded with the NCAA logo before a game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Louisville Cardinals in the second round of the 2026 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament at KFC YUM! Center on March 23, 2026 in Louisville, Ky.
(Andy Lyons, Getty Images)

The Iowa State Cyclones mascot on the court during a break against the Syracuse Orange in the first half at Harry A. Gampel Pavilion in Storrs, Ct. on Mar 21, 2026.
(David Butler II, Imagn Images)

Guard Kylie Feuerbach #4 of the Iowa Hawkeyes interacts with fans after a match-up against the FDU Knights on March 21, 2026 at Carver-Hawkeye Arena during the first round of the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament in Iowa City, Iowa.
(Matthew Holst, Getty Images)

Jacquez said the team didn't waste any time preparing to return to the Final Four and win the program's first championship. The senior guard said the Bruins started working in spring 2025, focusing on the details that make a championship team. It started with defense and taking care of the basketball. It also included all the little details that can sometimes be taken for granted. Everything from "squaring up" to creating catches to communicating more became a focus.

For Jaquez, who has been described as a "glue player " by teammate Kiki Rice , being willing to do the little things has seemingly always been on the docket. She said she loves competing, defending, rebounding, and of course, scoring. The future WNBA draft prospect is one of four UCLA players who average double figures, putting up 13.6 points per matchup and shooting 40% from deep. Jaquez also contributes an average of 5.4 rebounds and 1.1 steals per game.

"I just want to help the team win. So I just want us to win so bad, and so whatever I need to do, I'm willing to do it," Jacquez said. "And I think that our coaches know that (and) our players do because I just want to do it all."

Ahead of a Sweet 16 matchup with No. 4 Minnesota on Friday, March 27 (7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN), Jaquez and the No.1 Bruins have a single goal: "going 1-0 every day."

Jaquez said getting to the Final Four won't matter if they haven't taken the time to get through what's in front of them. The journey continues against the Golden Gophers in Sacramento. However, even with all the pressure to get back there, the Bruins are choosing joy in the midst of the high expectations.

"We're having a lot of joy this year. I think you can see that with our team, and that's what makes it so fun with this group ― is that we play with so much joy, " Jaquez said. "We love each other a lot. We love to compete and love to win. ... Super excited for the (NCAA) Tournament with these girls."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: UCLA women seek March Madness title after 2025 Final Four loss to UConn

Mobilize your Website

View Site in Mobile | Classic

Share by: