A Hard-Fought Path to the Final

UCLA has officially secured a place in the national championship game, even if their recent performance was not the display of finesse that basketball purists might have expected. The Bruins managed to scrape past Texas with a 51-44 victory during Friday night’s Final Four matchup.


Coach Close's Candid Assessment

The game was a defensive grind from the start. With UCLA holding a slim 31-28 lead heading into the final frame, head coach Cori Close offered an honest critique during an in-game interview, stating: «I feel bad for the fans. 31-28? I mean, it’s an ugly basketball game.»


Following the conclusion of the contest, Close doubled down on her sentiment while appearing on SportsCenter. She humorously apologized to the audience, noting:


«It wasn’t the sport I thought I was coaching. I think it was more rugby than it was basketball. I wanted to apologize to all the fans that we couldn’t give them a cleaner game, with 23 turnovers.»

A Historic Low-Scoring Affair

While the UCLA faithful will certainly celebrate the win as the team prepares to face South Carolina for a shot at their first-ever NCAA title, neutral viewers likely found the affair lackluster. The data supports this frustration, as the match recorded the third-lowest combined score in the history of the women’s Final Four:

  • 1st: 2008 Final Four (Tennessee 47, LSU 46)
  • 2nd: 2007 Final Four (Rutgers 59, 35)
  • 3rd: 2024 Final Four (UCLA 51, Texas 44)

Statistical Breakdown

The offensive struggles were clear on both sides of the ball. Texas finished the game shooting 31% from the field and struggled from behind the arc. Although UCLA fared slightly better with a 41% shooting percentage, they kept the contest close by committing 23 turnovers. Ultimately, a strong 20-point performance in the fourth quarter allowed the Bruins to pull away.


Looking Ahead to the Title Game

With South Carolina coming off a dominant defensive display—holding UConn significantly below their season average in a 62-48 victory—Sunday's championship game promises to be another intense, defensive-minded battle. Fans should prepare themselves for another physical encounter.