Los Angeles– Lauren Bates And his UCLA teammates celebrated Bruins‘The first NCAA women’s basketball championship with its fans at Pauley Pavilion on Wednesday night.
“This team is going to go down in history,” Bates said. “We’ve earned it.”
bates, gabriela jacquez And Charlie’s Leger-Walker Enjoyed the party by taking to the court to perform her TikTok dance with the championship trophy in the background. Angela Dugalic Created a snow angel in the blue and gold confetti covering the court.
“This group is very special,” Jacquez said to the crowd that filled half the arena. “We’re all best friends.”
Jacquez led a spirited eight-clap, the band played the school fight song, and mascots Joe Bruin and Josephine Bruin danced.
It’s been a whirlwind for the Bruins since their Defeated South Carolina 79-51 Sunday in the title game in Phoenix. The game averaged 9.9 million viewers, the third most watched Women’s Championship game since 1996.
Coach Corey Close recalled arriving at Westwood as head coach in 2011 and someone saying she didn’t know if she could ever make Los Angeles care about women’s basketball.
The crowd created an uproar.
“Let me tell you,” she said. “LA cares about women’s basketball now and you guys helped it happen.”
Close was greeted by his team and chants of “Corey! Corey!” Got a standing ovation from the crowd shouting slogans.
“I want to say thank you,” she said. “It really does take a village to win a championship.”
Eventually, a banner depicting the first NCAA women’s basketball title will be raised to the ceiling at Poly Pavilion, where the only women’s basketball title banner currently stands is from the school’s 1978 AIAW championship, the precursor to the NCAA.
“It’s getting some company. I can’t wait,” said Dennis Curry, who starred for the Bruins on that team with Ann Meyers Drysdale.
Via video, Meyers Drysdale told the team, “This is your TLC moment – your team, your legacy, your championship.”
John Wooden’s lone gold seat in a sea of blue lay empty behind the Bruins’ bench. He coached men’s teams to 10 national titles, including seven consecutive, and was Close’s mentor before his death in 2010.
Now, Close’s title run will be reflected in the same rarefied air as Wooden’s.
“It symbolizes something that has really made a difference in my life,” he said.
Wooden’s son Jim sent Close a congratulatory message. Wooden’s great-granddaughter Cori Anderson sent a photo of herself and her daughter wearing UCLA gear.
“They’ve been incredibly kind to me,” Close said.
The team’s six seniors took the stage in front of a mix of adults and young children.
“We couldn’t have done this without you,” Jacquez said. “I want to thank all the little kids who gave us friendship bracelets, cookies and notes.”
A group of youth from the Tamaki Basketball Academy in Auckland, New Zealand performed a traditional Māori dance showing respect and honor to Leger-Walker, who wrapped himself in the flag of his native country. The group flew to Los Angeles to perform at the festival.
“I’m the first female basketball player in New Zealand to win a national title, so it’s the talk of the town,” she said before the party. “It’s a huge thing for the kids at home to see that this is possible for them too.”
headed to the bruins shears game against Oklahoma City Later. they have already visited lakers and Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night show. Next week, they will be in one place dodgers game.
“I woke up this morning after a few more hours of sleep and I was like, ‘Wow, it’s true. I woke up again and I’m still a national champion,'” Leger-Walker said, laughing.
Bates was wearing a backwards championship cap with a piece of net stuck in the front.
“This is my trap, man,” he said. “No one can take it away from me. It is mine forever.”
