UCLA women\u2019s basketball coach Cori Close likes to say that maximum growth can only be achieved through the right balance of struggle and joy.<\/p>\n
The second-ranked Bruins experienced some of both emotions Thursday night in their second-to-last home game of the season.<\/p>\n
They struggled for pockets of their game against pesky Washington at Pauley Pavilion but ultimately prevailed for an 82-67 victory, allowing them to savor the significance of the moment.<\/p>\n
UCLA center Lauren Betts is defended by Washington forward Brynn McGaughy during the second half of an NCAA women\u2019s college basketball game in Los Angeles, Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026. AP<\/p>\n
UCLA clinched a share of the Big Ten regular-season title while also securing the No. 1 seed for the conference tournament. It\u2019s the Bruins\u2019 first regular-season conference title since 1999, when they played in the Pac-10.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have a lot we\u2019ve got to clean up from today, we\u2019ve got things we\u2019ve got to grow in,\u201d Close told reporters afterward, \u201cbut I want our overall message to be like, we did something that hasn\u2019t been done here since 1999 and that\u2019s pretty darn cool.\u201d<\/p>\n
Close said the achievement was even more special because several players from that 1999 team were at the game.<\/p>\n
UCLA (26-1 overall, 16-0 Big Ten) can clinch the conference\u2019s regular-season championship outright with a victory over Wisconsin on Sunday.<\/p>\n
\u201cObviously we want to win it outright,\u201d Bruins center Lauren Betts said, \u201cso we\u2019re going to continue to make sure we finish this regular season the right way.\u201d<\/p>\n
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UCLA withstood Washington\u2019s 10 3-pointers by outscoring the Huskies (19-8, 9-7), 48-24, in the paint. Betts was central to that interior dominance by making 11 of 15 shots on the way to 23 points.<\/p>\n
Guard Charlisse Leger-Walker of the UCLA Bruins drives to the basket against forward Brynn McGaughy of the Washington Huskies in the second half of a women\u2019s NCAA basketball game. MediaNews Group via Getty Images<\/p>\n
What does it mean?<\/p>\n
The Bruins avoided a letdown while continuing their bid to earn a top overall seed in the NCAA tournament.<\/p>\n
They also remained on track to become the first Big Ten team to finish the regular season with a perfect conference record since Maryland went 18-0 during the 2014-15 season. The Terrapins reached the Final Four that season before losing to UConn in a national semifinal.<\/p>\n
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California Post News: Facebook<\/a>, Instagram<\/a>, TikTok<\/a>, X<\/a>, YouTube<\/a>, WhatsApp<\/a>, LinkedIn<\/a> Turning point<\/p>\n After a stretch late in the second quarter that irritated Close because her team made careless turnovers and didn\u2019t rebound well, the Bruins came out with a quick burst to surge into a 17-point lead early in the third quarter.<\/p>\n After a Charlisse Leger-Walker steal led to a Betts layup in transition, UCLA was up 48-31 and Washington called a timeout. The Bruins were well on their way to a 20th consecutive victory.<\/p>\n UCLA center Lauren Betts and guard Gianna Kneepkens reach for a rebound against Washington center Yulia Grabovskaia and guard Devin Coppinger during the first half of an NCAA women\u2019s college basketball game. AP<\/p>\n MVP<\/p>\n Betts put together another superb performance, routinely scoring over double teams and contributing across the board.<\/p>\n She snagged eight rebounds to go with her game-high scoring total, nearly giving her a double-double in only 25 minutes. She added two assists and two blocks.<\/p>\n Up next<\/p>\n The Bruins\u2019 game against Wisconsin on Sunday afternoon will be the home finale for seniors Betts, Leger-Walker, Kiki Rice, Gabriela Jaquez, Gianna Kneepkens and Angela Dugalic in what figures to be an emotional sendoff.<\/p>\n \u201cIf you aren\u2019t in the building Sunday,\u201d Close said during a postgame interview with radio announcer Dave Marcus, \u201cyou\u2019re missing out.\u201d<\/p>\n Senior forward Timea Gardiner will return next season after being sidelined by a knee injury.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t
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