UCLA Bruins vs South Carolina Gamecocks Prediction & Picks - NCAA Division I, Championship Women
USA - NCAA Division I, Championship Women
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by Travis Pulver | in Basketball Picks
The South Carolina Gamecocks (36-3) will take on the UCLA Bruins in the NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship game Sunday afternoon at 3:30 p.m. EST. Coverage for this epic battle will be provided by ABC.
South Carolina shocked the world Friday night when the Gamecocks defied the odds and took down the undefeated UConn Huskies, 62-48. It was an incredible defensive effort as South Carolina held Connecticut to 31% shooting from the floor and just 29% from 3-point range. The Gamecocks also dominated the rebound battle (47-32), won the paint (34-20), but had 15 turnovers to UConn’s ten.
As for the Bruins, UCLA won a low-scoring (51-44) and somewhat sloppy game against Texas to earn a spot in the title game. Texas attempted 21 more shots than UCLA but made only two more (20-65 vs. 18-44 for UCLA). Texas recorded 14 steals to just five for UCLA. The Bruins also had 23 turnovers in the game to 12 for Texas. But UCLA went 11-12 from the free throw line to 2-5 for Texas.
South Carolina opened as 2.5-point favorites for the game with an OVER/UNDER of 131.5. This is the third consecutive title game appearance for the Gamecocks and the first ever for UCLA.
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UCLA Bruins vs South Carolina Gamecocks Form
UCLA Bruins and South Carolina Gamecocks Latest Matches
5/6 (83%)
1/6 (17%)
Apr 3, 2026 - NCAA Division I, Championship Women
Mar 29, 2026 - NCAA Division I, Championship Women
Mar 27, 2026 - NCAA Division I, Championship Women
Mar 23, 2026 - NCAA Division I, Championship Women
Mar 21, 2026 - NCAA Division I, Championship Women
Apr 4, 2025 - NCAA Division I, Championship Women
5/6 (83%)
1/6 (17%)
Apr 3, 2026 - NCAA Division I, Championship Women
Mar 29, 2026 - NCAA Division I, Championship Women
Mar 27, 2026 - NCAA Division I, Championship Women
Mar 23, 2026 - NCAA Division I, Championship Women
Mar 21, 2026 - NCAA Division I, Championship Women
Apr 4, 2025 - NCAA Division I, Championship Women
5/6 (83%)
1/6 (17%)
Apr 3, 2026 - NCAA Division I, Championship Women
Mar 30, 2026 - NCAA Division I, Championship Women
Mar 28, 2026 - NCAA Division I, Championship Women
Mar 23, 2026 - NCAA Division I, Championship Women
Mar 21, 2026 - NCAA Division I, Championship Women
Apr 6, 2025 - NCAA Division I, Championship Women
5/6 (83%)
1/6 (17%)
Mar 30, 2026 - NCAA Division I, Championship Women
Mar 28, 2026 - NCAA Division I, Championship Women
Mar 23, 2026 - NCAA Division I, Championship Women
Mar 21, 2026 - NCAA Division I, Championship Women
Apr 6, 2025 - NCAA Division I, Championship Women
Apr 4, 2025 - NCAA Division I, Championship Women
1/1 (100%)
0/1 (0%)
Apr 3, 2026 - NCAA Division I, Championship Women
UCLA Bruins - South Carolina Gamecocks Key Points
- South Carolina leads the series (since 2015) vs. UCLA, 4-1.
- UCLA has the seventh-highest scoring offense in the country at 84 points per game; South Carolina ranks third at 86.5 points per game.
- UCLA allows 56.6 points per game (17th) while South Carolina allows 57.3 points per game (23rd).
- The Bruins have an effective field goal percentage of 56.7%; the Gamecocks have 55.1%.
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Our UCLA Bruins vs South Carolina Gamecocks Prediction
They have been two of the top four teams in the country, and for that reason alone, this should be an epic battle. Neither team looked great on the offensive end in their respective Final Four games. But I am more concerned about the Bruins than the Gamecocks. Why? Because while UConn couldn’t capitalize on the massive steals/turnovers disparity in the game, South Carolina will. You don’t win many games when you are that sloppy with the ball, and you definitely don’t win a championship game.
The line wasted no time moving to South Carolina at -3.5. From what both teams showed on the court Friday night, I have to go with the Gamecocks to cover.
Our South Carolina vs. UCLA Pick: Gamecocks -3.5
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