South Carolina vs. UCLA: 2026 NCAA Women's National Championship Preview & Game Info

Dawn Staley and the South Carolina Gamecocks are back in the NCAA Finals. After avenging last year’s loss to UConn in the national championship, Staley is now seeking her fourth title and third in the past five years.

(Christian Petersen / C. Morgan Engel / Getty Images)

Meanwhile, UCLA head coach Cori Close and the Bruins are seeking the program’s first-ever national title. Close led the Bruins to a program record 30-game win streak, showcasing a team that steps up in big moments. Having lost just one regular-season game to the Texas Longhorns, the Bruins have a tough matchup ahead of them on Sunday.

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National Championship Preview: South Carolina Gamecocks vs. UCLA Bruins

Both teams were tested in their respective Final Four matchups. Each was a rematch that had significant weight.

Let’s start with the Gamecocks, who were topped by the UConn Huskies in the 2025 National Championship. While the rematch was unlike South Carolina in terms of shooting and turnovers, strong games from Ta’Niya Latson and Agot Makeer willed the way to victory over the reigning champions.

Defensively, this South Carolina team shut down the best player in the country, Sarah Strong, all thanks to Raven Johnson. Furthermore, the Gamecocks limited the potential No. 1 WNBA draft pick, Azzi Fudd, to only eight points. The Huskies were rattled and lost their composure early. Eventually, Staley and company kept their foot on the gas and took complete control of the game.

On the other side, UCLA proved exactly why they’ve been one of the most resilient teams in the country all season. In their Final Four matchup against the Texas Longhorns, the Bruins showed poise in high-pressure moments, executing late and controlling tempo when it mattered most. Although it was a sloppy, low-scoring game, this is exactly why UCLA is dangerous. Its defense can define the outcome of a game.

Close has built a team that thrives on balance. UCLA doesn’t rely on just one star; it comes at you in waves. Their ability to stretch the floor, combined with disciplined defense, allowed them to flip the script from their regular-season loss to Texas. When the game tightened, the Bruins didn’t panic; they responded. Now, they face their toughest test yet.

Key Matchup

This game ultimately comes down to composure versus depth. Dawn Staley’s South Carolina Gamecocks are battle-tested, physical, and relentless defensively. They force mistakes and capitalize better than anyone in the country. If South Carolina can dictate pace and turn this into a half-court, physical game, as they did against UConn, then the odds heavily favor the Gamecocks.

However, UCLA’s versatility could disrupt that rhythm. If the Bruins can push tempo, knock down perimeter shots, and avoid the turnover issues that plagued South Carolina in the Final Four, they have a real chance to control stretches of this game.

Who: (1) South Carolina Gamecocks (36-3, 15-1 SEC) vs. (1) UCLA Bruins (35-1, 18-0 Big Ten)

What: NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament National Championship

Where: Mortgage Matchup Center, Phoenix, AZ

When: Sunday, 3:30 p.m. ET, ABC/ESPN

Wager: SC -3.5 (O/U 129.5)

South Carolina Gamecock to Watch: Madina Okot

South Carolina will surely be relying on Joyce Edwards and Latson to get the offense rolling, but against UCLA, the focus will be in the paint. Lauren Betts is playing phenomenally, which will present a challenge for Madina Okot. Against UConn, she wasn’t the biggest factor, but the nine rebounds she did have were a major contribution to their win. What mattered most were South Carolina’s nine offensive boards.

Madina Okot to the rescue #MarchMadness x ESPN / @GamecockWBB pic.twitter.com/jyNDAL6bf3

— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessWBB) March 24, 2026

With height unlikely to be a factor, it’s going to come down to defense. While UCLA thrives on Betts being an offensive threat, the Gamecocks rely on Okot to shut down the paint and grab the tough boards. For Okot, she averages a double-double, while also shooting 58 percent from the field in 38 games. This is going to be an entertaining matchup for both teams.

UCLA Bruin to Watch: Kiki Rice

This is the moment Kiki Rice has been waiting for. As UCLA’s most pivotal guard, Rice will need to give it her all against South Carolina. The past two games against Duke and Texas were left to be desired, but the National Championship is the game where a player makes up for less memorable performances. Rice averages 15.1 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 4.3 assists.

KIKI RIIIIIIC3⃣3⃣3⃣3⃣

: ESPN#GoBruins | @kiki_rice0 pic.twitter.com/IyhCHO8124

— UCLA Women’s Basketball (@UCLAWBB) April 4, 2026

She’s an offensive threat not only by her scoring but also by her ability to facilitate. She’ll likely be challenged by Raven Johnson, which will lead to the most interesting matchup that isn’t Betts and Okot.

National Championship Prediction:

When you look at this matchup, on paper, it’s evenly balanced. Both have bigs who can challenge one another, but also guards who can be an offensive threat. Although this may not have been the predicted national championship matchup, it actually could be a close and entertaining game. While South Carolina is looking to reclaim its throne, UCLA is seeking its first championship. With this matchup highlighting Edwards and Betts, we have to remember that both teams are stacked with well-rounded players.

Prediction: South Carolina 56, UCLA 50