UCLA women’s title bid goes through team they modeled themselves after

PHOENIX – From admiring the model to becoming one.

That’s the transformational change that the UCLA women’s basketball team has experienced, with a major assist from South Carolina.

The Bruins began scheduling the Gamecocks several years ago to give themselves a measuring stick. South Carolina Coach Dawn Staley’s championship program was one that UCLA counterpart Cori Close wanted to emulate.

“Dawn does such a great job,” Close said. “I mean, she’s a standard bearer in our sport.”

Progress required patience. After losing to South Carolina twice during the 2022-23 season – current UCLA seniors Kiki Rice and Gabriela Jaquez’s first on campus – the Bruins returned the favor with a resounding victory early last season at Pauley Pavilion that preceded their first Final Four run 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.