UCLA sets school record by earning No. 1 overall seed in women’s NCAA tournament
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Gabriela Jaquez leapt out of her chair and whipped her fist through the air. Kiki Rice joined in, jumping up and down with her arms wrapped around Jaquez’s shoulders, wide smiles splitting their faces as they held phones in the air to record a moment that was equal parts joyful and historic.
UCLA earned its highest NCAA tournament position in school history Sunday, securing the tournament’s No. 1 overall seed.
Coming off their first conference tournament title since 2006, a comeback win over USC in the Big Ten tournament final, the Bruins (30-2) lead Spokane regional 1. They will host the winner of No. 16 seed UC San Diego (20-15) versus No. 16 seed Southern (20-14) in the first round at Pauley Pavilion at 7 p.m. Friday. The game will air on ESPN. If UCLA wins, it will face the winner of No. 8 Richmond (27-6) versus No. 9 Georgia Tech (22-10).
“We’ve focused all year long on ‘earn what you want,’” UCLA coach Cori Close said. “Bottom line is your work will speak for itself and just focus on what you’re earning and being present that day and I think that’s what led us to getting the seed that we have.”
The Bruins have won 13 consecutive NCAA tournament games at Pauley Pavilion, including 10 straight as a top-four seed hosting first- and second-round games.
The home court advantage has helped the Bruins reach the Sweet 16 six times in their last seven NCAA tournament appearances. But with a talented junior class led by center Lauren Betts and Rice, who were, respectively, the No. 1 and No. 2 prospects in their recruiting class, UCLA has grander expectations than two NCAA tournament wins.
A look at the brackets for the 2025 NCAA men’s and women’s basketball tournaments, with UCLA women’s basketball the No. 1 overall seed.
The Bruins are trying to reach their first NCAA Final Four and win their first national championship since the 1978 AIAW crown.
“No. 1 overall seed doesn’t get us to the Final Four, doesn’t get us to the national championship game,” Rice said. “We have to go out there and earn it.”
The path to the Final Four in Tampa is highlighted by a potential rematch against No. 3 seed Louisiana State, who knocked the Bruins off in the Sweet 16 last season.
A murmur spread through the crowd assembled on UCLA’s Ann Meyers Drysdale practice court, where the team hosted a watch party for donors, fans and program alumni when LSU was announced in UCLA’s Spokane regional 1. Several players and staff members cheered at the potential Elite Eight matchup.
The No. 1 USC Trojans, led by star JuJu Watkins, will open the women’s NCAA tournament against No. 16 UNC Greensboro on Saturday at the Galen Center.
“We really wouldn’t complain at another opportunity to go at them,” Close said to the crowd between a commercial break.
An even juicier matchup looms in the Final Four as crosstown USC took the No. 1 seed in Spokane regional 4. The teams have played three times this season already, with UCLA going 1-2 in the rivalry. The Bruins avenged their only two regular-season losses in the Big Ten tournament championship and flexed their win by displaying the trophy and the championship net in the lobby of the Mo Ostin Center. Donors took photos with the trophy on their way into Sunday’s watch party. It was displayed proudly at the center of the room while players watched the show.
Sunday’s historic postseason seed is just the latest accomplishment for the record-setting team that already spent 13 weeks ranked first in the country, achieving the program’s highest ranking in the Associated Press poll. With two sell-out crowds that equaled the program’s attendance record set last year against USC, the Bruins also had their best attendance for home games ever.
A look at the brackets for the 2025 NCAA men’s and women’s basketball tournaments, with UCLA women’s basketball the No. 1 overall seed.
Standing in front of a packed gym, Close outlined a new record in sight this weekend: postseason sell-outs.
“This is really important for us,” Close told the crowd. “We need to have Pauley rocking and share it with our city.”
