Top 5 Highlights to Look Out for in the UCLA vs. South Carolina Championship Showdown

PHOENIX – The journey from observer to contender has been significant for the UCLA women’s basketball team.

This remarkable shift was greatly influenced by South Carolina’s example.

UCLA strategically scheduled games against the Gamecocks a few years back to gauge their progress. Dawn Staley, South Carolina’s esteemed coach, set a benchmark that UCLA’s coach, Cori Close, aspired to reach.

“Dawn is exceptional,” Close remarked. “She’s a benchmark in women’s basketball.”

Advancement demanded perseverance. Although UCLA fell to South Carolina twice in the 2022-23 season—marking the debut year for seniors Kiki Rice and Gabriela Jaquez—the Bruins turned the tables with a decisive win at Pauley Pavilion early last season. This victory was a prelude to their inaugural Final Four appearance in the NCAA Tournament.

Now the teams will meet Sunday afternoon in the national championship game.

“It’s kind of full circle,” Jaquez said of facing a team that’s appearing in the title game for a third consecutive year and the fourth time in the last five years.

For the Bruins, this is a chance at a first NCAA title, allowing them to become the envy of everyone else in the sport.

Here are five things to watch in the title game inside the Mortgage Matchup Center:

A tall order

South Carolina is one of the few teams that has the size to challenge UCLA center Lauren Betts.

The Gamecocks’ starting lineup features Madina Okot, a 6-foot-6 center, alongside 6-3 forward Joyce Edwards. They also bring 6-4 forward Maryam Dauda off the bench.

“I thought UConn could struggle with South Carolina’s length, the way in which they can keep you from playing north and south,” Close said, referring to the problems the Gamecocks caused in their semifinal victory. “They really made them go side to side, didn’t get a lot of paint productivity, didn’t let them get three-point shots off because they’re so long, versatile, they can switch so many screens.

“I think that’s the key, is how do you move the angles, how do you use screening actions, how do you make it so that it’s not just a one-on-one long athletic battle because they are that. They are so good on so many fronts.”

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Then again …

Staley said the 6-7 Betts’ development into a complete player makes her a unique matchup challenge.

“A couple years ago you could kind of be real physical with her, she would kind of back down a little bit,” Staley said. “Now she embraces it, right? Now she welcomes it. She can play off of it so well. You have to make a decision whether you’re going to double her, single cover her, whether you’re going to triple her, then figure out how you’re going to scramble out of that and prioritize who because they can shoot the basketball.

“Lauren can see it all and is patient enough to read the defenses and pass the ball where it’s supposed to go or bet on herself.”

A repeat of history?

Close said the factor that determined the recent meetings between the Bruins and Gamecocks was which team rebounded the best and dictated play with its defense.

“I’ve been on both sides of that,” Close said. “I don’t think it’s probably going to be that different.”

Pressure check

After committing a season-worst 23 turnovers against Texas, UCLA should expect a similarly disruptive style from a team that likes to impose its physical presence.

“If I’m South Carolina,” Close said, “I would imagine we’re going to see a lot of pressure.”

Close said there were only three possessions in the semifinal when her team got clean shots in rhythm. That number needs to increase exponentially for the Bruins to beat the Gamecocks.

Prediction

The boogeying Bruins have come too far to make a misstep in their last dance.

A team for the ages further solidifies its legacy, UCLA holding on for a 69-65 victory over the Gamecocks.