'l.a. Cares About Women's Basketball Now': Ucla Celebrates Its National Championship

Lauren Betts and her UCLA teammates celebrated nan Bruins’ first NCAA women’s hoops championship pinch their fans astatine Pauley Pavilion connected Wednesday night.

Betts, Gabriela Jaquez and Charlisse Leger-Walker capped nan statement by hitting nan tribunal to execute their TikTok dance pinch nan title trophy successful nan background. Angela Dugalic made a snowfall angel successful nan blue-and-gold confetti littering nan court.

“This group is truthful special,” Jaquez told nan crowd that filled half nan arena. “We’re each champion friends.”

UCLA players and coach Cori Close guidelines connected shape during their nationalist title triumph ceremony astatine Pauley Pavilion connected Wednesday night.

(Ronaldo Bolaños / Los Angeles Times)

Jaquez led a spirited eight-clap, nan set blared nan schoolhouse conflict song, and mascots Joe Bruin and Josie Bruin danced.

It’s been a whirlwind for nan Bruins since their 79-51 rout of South Carolina successful nan title crippled successful Phoenix connected Sunday. The crippled averaged 9.9 cardinal viewers, nan 3rd most-viewed women’s title crippled since 1996.

Coach Cori Close recalled arriving successful Westwood arsenic caput coach successful 2011 and personification saying they didn’t cognize if she could ever make Los Angeles attraction astir women’s basketball.

The crowd booed.

“Let maine show you,” she said. “L.A. cares astir women’s hoops now and you guys helped do that.”

UCLA halfway Lauren Betts holds nan NCAA title trophy during nan Bruins’ nationalist title celebration.

(Ronaldo Bolaños / Los Angeles Times)

Close received a opinionated ovation from her squad and nan crowd that chanted: “Cori! Cori!”

“I want to opportunity convey you to you,” she said. ”It genuinely does return a colony to spell triumph a championship.”

Eventually, a banner signifying nan first NCAA women’s hoops title will beryllium raised to nan ceiling successful Pauley Pavilion, wherever presently nan only women’s hoops title banner is from nan school’s 1978 AIAW championship, nan precursor to nan NCAA.

“It’s getting immoderate company. I can’t wait,” said Denise Curry, who starred for nan Bruins connected that team, on pinch Ann Meyers Drysdale.

Via video, Meyers Drysdale told nan team, “This is your TLC infinitesimal — your team, your legacy, your championship.”

John Wooden’s azygous golden spot successful a oversea of bluish ones sat quiet down nan Bruins bench. He coached nan men’s teams to 10 nationalist titles, including 7 successful a row, and was a mentor to Close before his death successful 2010.

Now, Close’s title tally will beryllium represented successful nan aforesaid rarified aerial arsenic Wooden.

“It’s specified a awesome of thing that’s really made a quality successful my life,” she said.

Wooden’s boy Jim texted congratulations to Close. Wooden’s great-granddaughter Cori Anderson sent a photograph of her and her girl dressed successful UCLA gear.

“They’ve been incredibly gracious to me,” Close said.

The team’s six seniors took nan shape successful beforehand of a operation of adults and young kids.

UCLA coach Cori Close waves to fans during nan Bruins’ title triumph ceremony astatine Pauley Pavilion.

(Ronaldo Bolaños / Los Angeles Times)

“We could not person done it without you,” Jaquez said. “I want to outcry retired each nan small kids who gave america relationship bracelets, cookies and notes.”

A group of young men from nan Tamaki Basketball Academy successful Auckland, New Zealand, performed a accepted Maori creation signifying respect and grant for Leger-Walker, who wrapped herself successful her autochthonal country’s flag. The group flew into Los Angeles conscionable to execute astatine nan celebration.

“I’m nan first New Zealand women’s hoops subordinate to ever triumph a nationalist title, truthful that’s been benignant of nan talk of nan town,” she said earlier nan party. “It’s immense for nan kids backmost location to spot that this is imaginable for them, too.”

The Bruins headed to nan Clippers crippled against Oklahoma City afterward. They’ve already visited nan Lakers and Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night show. Next week, they’ll beryllium astatine a Dodgers game.

UCLA’s Gabriela Jaquez, left, and Lauren Betts creation during nan Bruins’ triumph ceremony astatine Pauley Pavilion connected Wednesday.

(Ronaldo Bolaños / Los Angeles Times)

“I did aftermath up this greeting aft a mates much hours of slumber and I’m like, ‘Wow, this is real. I did aftermath up again and I’m still a nationalist champion,’” Leger-Walker said, laughing.

Betts was wearing a backward title headdress pinch a portion of nan nett tucked successful front.

“This is my net, man,” she said. “No 1 tin return this from me. It’s excavation forever.”

Harris writes for nan Associated Press.