UCLA Women’s Hoops Team Steals the Show at LA Game

A few nights after hoisting their first-ever NCAA title, the UCLA women’s basketball squad pulled off another kind of win—one even louder than their championship run. While the visiting Oklahoma City Thunder were busy blowing out the Lakers 123–87, the Bruins stepped onto Crypto. com Arena’s floor like royalty during the first quarter break. Holding up a gleaming trophy just two days after beating South Carolina for the crown, they got the biggest cheer of the night.

Cori Close stood courtside watching her players—including stars like Lauren Betts, Sienna Betts, Gabriela Jaquez, and Kiki Rice—shine in front of a crowd that went wild. Even stars such as Kate Hudson spotted courtside gave a nod of respect. Meanwhile, the Lakers struggled without three key players and barely put up resistance, making the Bruins’ victory lap feel almost unfair to the home side. Back at Staples Center (or Crypto. com Arena, as they call it now), the Lakers’ bench turned into the real drama zone. Guard Jarred Vanderbilt got into it with coach J. J. Redick during a timeout, the only real tension in an otherwise one-sided game. The loss dropped LA into a four-way tie for fourth in the West, sharing space with teams they usually expect to beat.

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