UCLA women's basketball defeated South Carolina 77-62 on Sunday. UCLA entered play ranked No. 5 overall, while South Carolina was No. 1. It was a shocking upset as UCLA made history in the win. According to FOX College Hoops, it was UCLA's first victory over a No. 1 ranked team in program history.
South Carolina also saw their 43-game winning streak come to an end on Sunday. South Carolina is certainly still a tremendous team, but Sunday's defeat could serve as a wake-up call.
UCLA is now 5-0 overall this season. South Carolina, meanwhile, fell to 5-1 with the defeat.
UCLA women's basketball upsets South Carolina
UCLA utilized a complete team effort in the win. Five players scored double-digit points. Londynn Jones led the way with 15 points. Lauren Betts added 11 points, 14 rebounds and four assists. Elina Aarnisalo scored 13 points and recorded four assists and three rebounds.
UCLA's victory will force the entire women's college basketball world to take notice. Betts shared a fiery message following the game, via FOX College Hoops.
"If you've been sleeping on UCLA, you need to stop right now," Betts said in her postgame interview.
Betts entered the game leading the team in scoring with over 21 points per game. Her 11.5 rebounds per outing also leads the team. However, UCLA has received contributions from plenty of different players on the roster. Four players are averaging double-digit points per game and seven players are averaging 7.8 points per outing or more.
Players such as JuJu Watkins and Paige Bueckers are receiving most of the headlines, but UCLA's players clearly deserve more respect and attention. This team looks like a true contender this year.
What's next for UCLA?
UCLA will enjoy their victory on Sunday. They still have no shortage of work to do throughout the season, however. UCLA's next game is scheduled for Friday against UT Martin.
Friday's game represents the first of three consecutive contests. On Saturday, they will battle Fresno state. UCLA and Hawaii will then go head-to-head on Sunday.
It will be a challenging weekend for UCLA. However, they will certainly have confidence following their big upset victory over South Carolina.
Sunday's victory could change the dynamic of the women's college basketball landscape this year. South Carolina was the team to beat, but now UCLA is establishing themselves as a legitimate contender.
The UCLA women's basketball team will look to build off the momentum of the win.