UCLA WBB Scout Team Wins Second Straight Club National Championship

TL;DR

UCLA women's basketball's scout team, consisting of 20 club players, played a crucial role in the Bruins' success, helping them achieve a 37-1 record and their first NCAA title. The scout team was honored during the national championship celebration.

Key points

UCLA women's basketball won its first NCAA title
The scout team consisted of 20 club men's basketball players
UCLA finished the season with a 37-1 overall record
The scout team was honored during the national championship celebration
Coach Cori Close expressed gratitude for the scout team's contributions

UCLA BruinsLauren Betts

There were multiple factors and people that helped UCLA women’s basketball secure its first NCAA title in program history this season. One big contributor to the Bruins’ success was their scout team.

UCLA’s scout team consisted of 20 club men’s basketball players, who would emulate different opponents each week for the Bruins to practice against. The contributions from the scout team helped UCLA finish the season with a 37-1 overall record.

“If you saw who we go against every day in practice, it’s really nothing when you’re out there,” former UCLA center and now Washington Mystics rookie Lauren Betts said, per the California Post. “I mean, our scout guys, they do not take it easy on us and every time we go blitz in practice, I get my mind right, like I’ve got to keep them in front, and that’s something that I’ve worked really hard on.”

UCLA even invited the scout team to join them on stage during the national championship celebration.

“They are a part of our basketball family, period,” UCLA coach Cori Close told the California Post, “and we are so grateful for their sacrifice.”

After UCLA won the NCAA title, the scout team headed to Erie, Pennsylvania for the 2026 National Club Basketball Men’s National Championship tournament.

Then, exactly one week after the Bruins took home the NCAA title, the scout team won its third national championship in four seasons on April 12.

What’s better than one national championship basketball team? 🐻🏆

Congrats to our scout team and their men’s club teammates on capturing the title last weekend
#GoBruins
pic.twitter.com/3DRZ58wwGm

— UCLA Women's Basketball (@UCLAWBB) April 18, 2026

UCLA went head-to-head with James Madison for the fourth consecutive title game. The Bruins defeated the Dukes by a score of 70-44.

Senior center Jonny Garnett, who was also a linebacker for UCLA football in 2019 and 2020, won his third Most Valuable Player Award during the tournament. He averaged 24 points, two assists and three blocks while shooting 75 percent from the field.

Q&A

How did UCLA women's basketball's scout team contribute to their NCAA title win?

The scout team emulated various opponents in practice, which significantly prepared the Bruins for their games, contributing to their successful season.

What was the overall record of UCLA women's basketball this season?

UCLA women's basketball finished the season with a remarkable overall record of 37-1.

Who is Lauren Betts and what did she say about the scout team?

Lauren Betts is a former UCLA center and current Washington Mystics rookie who praised the scout team for their intense practice contributions, stating they helped her improve her game.