By Earl Heath | Contributing Sports Writer
INDIANAPOLIS — The UCLA women’s basketball team left little doubt about its dominance this season.
For the second straight year, the Bruins captured the Big Ten Women’s Basketball Tournament championship, overwhelming second-seeded Iowa 96–45 Sunday in front of 6,045 fans at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
The decisive victory not only secured UCLA’s second consecutive conference tournament crown but also etched the Bruins deeper into the record books. With the win, UCLA improved to 31–1 on the season and earned the Big Ten’s automatic berth into the 2026 NCAA Tournament.
Record-Setting Performance
UCLA’s 51-point victory set a new record for the largest margin in a Big Ten Tournament final. The previous mark was Iowa’s 33-point win over Ohio State in 2023.
The Bruins were nearly unstoppable on offense, shooting 63.5 percent from the field (40-for-63), the highest field goal percentage ever recorded in a Big Ten Tournament game. UCLA also set a tournament record with 34 assists and tied the championship game record with 15 steals.
Ball movement proved to be the foundation of the Bruins’ offensive success. UCLA finished with an 85 percent assist rate, showcasing a team-first approach that has defined its championship run.
“Everyone shares the ball. We pass up good shots for great shots,” said UCLA senior guard Kiki Rice, who finished with a team-high eight assists. “That’s what makes it fun.”
Balanced Scoring Leads the Way
UCLA’s depth was on full display as six Bruins finished in double figures.
Graduate student Gianna Kneepkens led the way with 19 points. Rice added 15 points to go along with her eight assists, while freshman standout Sienna Betts contributed 14 points on an efficient 7-for-8 shooting performance and grabbed seven rebounds.
The Bruins’ balanced attack kept pressure on Iowa from start to finish, turning the championship game into a showcase of UCLA’s offensive efficiency and defensive intensity.
“I think we were able to show our camaraderie as a team,” Rice said. “Our program is built on blue-collar plays — playing through assists, finding each other and sticking together. Working our way up to this championship game was a demonstration of that.”
Iowa’s Effort Falls Short
Despite the lopsided score, Iowa had bright spots in the performance of Ava Heiden and Addie Deal, who each scored 15 points. They were the only Hawkeyes to reach double figures as UCLA’s defense limited Iowa’s offensive opportunities throughout the game.
Individual Honors
Rice’s leadership throughout the tournament earned her the Jim and Kitty Delany Most Outstanding Player award, as selected by the media.
She was joined on the Big Ten All-Tournament Team by UCLA teammate Lauren Betts, along with Iowa’s Hannah Stuelke and Ava Heiden and Ohio State’s Chance Gray.
Eyes on March Madness
With the conference title secured, UCLA now turns its attention to the NCAA Tournament. The full 68-team bracket will be announced Sunday, March 15 at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN.
Given their dominant season and tournament run, the Bruins are widely projected to earn a No. 1 seed, likely joining perennial powerhouse UConn at the top of the bracket.
For now, UCLA celebrates a historic achievement — back-to-back conference tournament championships and one of the most dominant title-game performances in Big Ten history.