History was made in Phoenix on Friday night as the UCLA Bruins women’s basketball team punched their ticket to the NCAA national championship game for the very first time, outlasting Texas 51-44 in a gritty and unforgettable Final Four showdown at Mortgage Matchup Center. The win not only avenged the Bruins’ only loss of the season—suffered at the hands of these very Longhorns back in November—but also capped a remarkable journey that’s seen UCLA string together 30 consecutive victories and capture both the Big Ten regular-season and tournament crowns.
For Montgomery County’s own Kiki Rice, the moment was a culmination of years of hard work, leadership, and clutch playmaking. The junior point guard delivered 11 points and five rebounds, but it was her composure in the game’s most pressure-packed moments that truly stood out. With Texas surging late and the Bruins’ once-comfortable lead whittled down to just three points, Rice calmly sank four consecutive free throws in the final 13 seconds—sealing the victory and sending the Bruins faithful into raucous celebration.
“Kiki’s been the heartbeat of our team all season,” noted UCLA coach Cori Close after the game, her voice brimming with pride. “She steps up when it matters most, and tonight was no different.”
Yet, as much as Rice’s heroics were pivotal, the night belonged equally to senior center Lauren Betts. Betts, a two-time Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and a force in the paint, led all scorers with 16 points, pulled down 11 rebounds, and swatted three shots. None were bigger than her block on Texas All-American Madison Booker with just 20 seconds left—a play that will be replayed in Bruins lore for generations. With Texas on the fast break and Booker barreling toward the basket, Betts backpedaled, timed her leap perfectly, and denied the shot, preserving UCLA’s 47-44 advantage. “As soon as I saw her getting downhill I was like ‘Alright, please block this. Don’t let her score,’” Betts recounted with a smile, echoing the collective sentiment of Bruins fans everywhere.
Coach Close was effusive in her praise: “When that play happened, I really have so much confidence that every time she is in a matchup, she’s going to find a way to alter, block, scare somebody from doing that. I just think she’s spectacular.”
The Bruins’ journey to this historic moment has been marked by resilience and redemption. Just last season, UCLA’s Final Four dreams were dashed in a blowout loss to UConn. Betts, motivated by that defeat, forced herself to watch the painful tape repeatedly during the offseason—a ritual that fueled her drive. “I just didn’t want to feel that way again,” she admitted. On Friday night, her determination paid off in the most dramatic fashion.
From the opening tip, UCLA set the tone with stifling defense and relentless hustle. After two empty possessions to start, Charlisse Leger-Walker and Gianna Kneepkens helped the Bruins settle in, with Kneepkens scoring the first points and Lauren Betts soon giving UCLA its first lead. The Bruins stormed out to a 14-4 advantage late in the first quarter, forcing Texas into a timeout and setting the stage for a physical, hard-fought contest. By the end of the opening frame, UCLA led by eight—a cushion that would prove critical as the game wore on.
Texas, known for their suffocating defense, clamped down in the second quarter, holding the Bruins to just six points and pulling within 20-17 at halftime. The Longhorns’ defense has been among the nation’s best all season, and they flexed their muscles again, limiting scoring opportunities and forcing UCLA into tough shots. But the Bruins weathered the storm, with Betts and Rice steadying the ship out of the break. Betts’ inside presence was especially vital, as she attacked before Texas’ double teams could arrive, notching her fourth double-digit scoring effort of the tournament.
The third quarter saw UCLA maintain a slim 31-28 lead, with Gabriela Jaquez and Angela Dugalic chipping in at key moments. Then came the decisive stretch: the Bruins exploded with a 7-0 run to open the fourth, capped by a Jaquez fast-break layup that pushed the lead to 38-28. Gianna Kneepkens’ three-pointer with 4:36 left gave UCLA its largest lead of the night at 13 points. But Texas, as expected, refused to go quietly. Kyla Oldacre—Texas’ lone double-digit scorer with 11 points—sparked a furious rally, and the Longhorns clawed back to within three with just over a minute to play.
That’s when Betts and Rice delivered their signature moments. Betts’ block on Booker, followed by Rice’s ice-cold free throws, slammed the door on Texas’ hopes and sent the Bruins to the title game at long last. “We feel like, in our locker room, we let one get away,” admitted Texas coach Vic Schaefer, whose team shot just 30.8% from the field and managed only 44 points—one of the lowest totals in Final Four history. Booker, who finished with just six points on 3-of-23 shooting, was visibly frustrated: “It did surprise me when I couldn’t get out of my funk because every shot I put up it felt like it was going to be money,” she said. “I wish a few more fell in, not just for me but for my teammates, too.”
For UCLA, the victory was doubly sweet. Not only did it avenge their November defeat to Texas (76-65 in Las Vegas), but it also propelled the Bruins to a sparkling 36-1 overall record—an achievement made even more impressive considering the program’s rich history. This marks UCLA’s first NCAA women’s basketball championship game appearance since joining the tournament, though the Bruins did win the AIAW national title back in 1978.
Rice’s journey from Bethesda to the national stage is a story in itself. After moving to the area in 2007, she starred at Sidwell Friends School in DC, leading the program to a No. 1 national ranking and an undefeated senior year. Her high school accolades are legendary: eight varsity letters across basketball and soccer, Gatorade Female Athlete of the Year, Gatorade National Girls Basketball Player of the Year, Naismith High School Player of the Year, McDonald’s All-American, and a No. 2 national ranking by espnW HoopGurlz, among others. She even led Sidwell Friends to two state soccer titles.
Now, with Third Team AP All-American honors and a career-high 15.2 points per game this season, Rice stands as one of college basketball’s premier point guards—her steady hand and leadership guiding the Bruins to the sport’s biggest stage.
Up next? A showdown for the ages. UCLA will square off against the three-time national champion South Carolina Gamecocks on Sunday, April 5, at 3:30 p.m. ET (12:30 p.m. PT) in Phoenix. South Carolina enters as a 1.5-point favorite, but with the Bruins’ blend of star power, defensive grit, and the unshakable confidence of a team on a 30-game winning streak, anything can happen. The nation will be watching as history beckons for both programs.
All eyes will be on Phoenix this Sunday as UCLA chases its first NCAA crown, eager to cap a season for the ages and etch new names into college basketball’s record books.