UCLA women celebrate NCAA basketball championship with fans at Pauley Pavilion

They got to rock their home arena one last time.

Three days after winning the program’s first NCAA championship, the UCLA women’s basketball players and coaches celebrated with fans inside Pauley Pavilion.

Players were introduced, confetti sprayed into the air and the championship trophy was hoisted into the air.

Apr 5, 2026; Phoenix, AZ, USA; UCLA Bruins guard Kiki Rice (1) celebrates with the trophy after the National Championship game against the South Carolina Gamecocks of the women’s 2026 NCAA Tournament at Mortgage Matchup Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

It felt like a basketball school again.

“This team is truly the best team I’ve ever been on,” point guard Kiki Rice told the crowd of roughly 5,000. “These girls will be my sisters for life.”

There were congratulatory messages from their championship predecessors, Denise Curry and Ann Meyers Drysdale of the 1978 AIAW title team telling the players how proud they were of everything they did and the selfless manner in which they represented their school.

And of course, there was another dance.

Lauren Betts, Gabriela Jaquez and Charlisse Leger-Walker reprised the routine that had become embedded in every celebration over the last month, including the team’s 28-point shellacking of South Carolina in the championship game.

Addressing the doubters who told her for years that she wouldn’t be able to get a foothold in a crowded Southern California sports market, coach Cori Close said this team – and these fans – proved otherwise.

“Let me tell you, L.A. cares about basketball now,” Close told the fans, who roared in appreciation. “You all made that happen.”

Betts said this team had the confidence to believe it would be back inside this arena after players waved goodbye following their victory over Oklahoma State in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

She was right – there was another farewell to come.

“To come circle back and come to Pauley,” sharpshooter Angela Dugalic said, “is just super meaningful for us.”

This was just part of an extended celebratory tour. The Bruins have also been honored at a Lakers game, and a handful of players appeared alongside Close on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!”

Rice and Betts are scheduled to appear Thursday at a Raising Cane’s on Sunset Boulevard. There will undoubtedly be a first pitch to be thrown out at a Dodgers game, especially since Dodgers manager Dave Roberts is a former Bruin outfielder who delivered his own congratulatory message shown on the Pauley Pavilion scoreboard.

UCLA women’s basketball players celebrated Tuesday night at the Lakers game. NBAE via Getty Images

There’s also the matter of their futures to think about – as many as six Bruins could be selected in the first round of the WNBA draft Monday.

“It’s been crazy,” Betts said. “I think all of us expected to get a lot of attention for winning a national championship, but not at this level. You don’t really understand what it’s really like until you finally win. It’s incredible. Like, I never thought I’d see myself on Jimmy Kimmel.”

The Bruins also got a surprise reunion with former teammate Izzy Anstey, who flew in from Australia to attend the championship game.

“I was in a state of shock,” Dugalic said. “I mean, I haven’t seen her in over two years and I just loved her so much. It was a special moment.”

Teammate Megan Grant, who had departed in February to rejoin the softball team, also joined the Bruins for the celebration.

“We were so excited,” guard Gianna Kneepkens said, “because we didn’t know she was” coming.

These Bruins will be back at a future date. There’s a banner to raise, joining the AIAW championship team, history repeating itself in the current team inspiring the next generation.

“When we were younger,” Kneepkens said, “there was always people I looked up to, so to do that for somebody else is super important. I just hope they’re able to look up to me as a person first and then as an athlete second just because at the end of the day that’s what matters is how you treat people.

“It’s awesome that we won a national championship, but I think we all take pride in our character rather than just how well we performed on the court, so I think that’s how we want to be remembered.”

As the Bruins walked off the court, confetti strewn everywhere, it was off to their next celebration. The Clippers were going to honor them at the Intuit Dome.