South Carolina Gamecocks center Madina Okot (11) shoots the ball over UCLA Bruins center Lauren Betts (51) during their NCAA women's basketball national championship game at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix on April 5, 2026. Joe Rondone/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Social Media Reacts To The National Championship

Originally posted on UCLA Bruins on SI | By Nathan Berry | Last updated Apr 5, 2026 5:57 PM ET

The Bruins were able to get to their first national title appearance in school history after defeating the Texas Longhorns, and they had their eyes on more than just showing up, they wanted to win the championship.

However, their opponent was formidable and many projected the Bruins to lose to the South Carolina Gamecocks, and they were the underdogs by 2.5 points going into the match.

They had the chance to prove social media wrong, and they did just that as they not only won the championship but did it in dominant fashion.

A Dominant Win In The Championship Game: The First Quarter

The first quarter was the best representation of the game as a whole, as the Bruins came in with fire in their eyes and caught the Gamecocks off guard, enough to find a huge lead by their standards.

Even though they were the underdog UCLA was able to get up 21-10, a lead that was better than many of their matches thus far in the tournament, and one that social media definitely had not expected but was loving.

They been telling me all morning Okot shutting down Betts.

Then a sentence later admitted they be sleep when UCLA plays
— WBB MAYER (@wbbmayer) April 5, 2026

A Dominant Win In The Championship Game: The Second Quarter

Just because they were up by 11 points did not mean the Bruins could let their guard down, as South Carolina still had a lot of fight left within them.

They showed that in pressuring the Bruins with the full court press, and making coach Cori Close call some unneeded timeouts.

Yet UCLA was still able to extend their lead, even if marginally, to go into the half up 36-23, which was getting Bruins fans hyped that a national title could be on the way.

I've been told all morning that it's UCLA who won't be able to keep up with South Carolina by people who only watch SEC basketball.

Game still early, but now you know
— WBB MAYER (@wbbmayer) April 5, 2026

UCLA came to win. #marchmadness #NCAAchampionship #wbb #SouthCzrolina #UCLA
— Jasmine (@Poohbear1030) April 5, 2026

A Dominant Win In The Championship Game: The Third Quarter

The third quarter was when the Bruins blew the game open, as they outscored the Gamecocks by 16 points and everything that the opposition tried to put up was getting shut down.

The Bruins looked like a completely different team compared to their play against Texas, and social media was ecstatic that they saved their best play for last.

UCLA WBB was the most disrespected 1 loss team in history. The Bruins are crushing the Gamecocks. Dawn Staley has no answers.
— Darrin Luksik (@DarrinLuksik) April 5, 2026

A Dominant Win In The Championship Game: The Fourth Quarter

The Bruins capped off the season in the best way they could, by not letting their lead even falter to the Gamecocks by the time the final buzzer sounded.

They won the national championship 79-51, and UCLA fans were happily surprised and celebrating the victory; even South Carolina fans had to admit that they lost to a very good team.

What a thorough beatdown by UCLA. Wow. #WBB #MarchMadness
— Drew Allen (@drewallennews) April 5, 2026

Congratulations to Coach Close and the UCLA WBB program. Superb performance.
— D. Lockhart (@RealLockhartUSA) April 5, 2026

South Carolina ran into a team that matched their physicality and grit. They weren't used to that. UCLA is no joke. #UCLA #USC
— SirPlotnick (@SirPlotnick) April 5, 2026