The UCLA women’s basketball team has a new, coveted title: best in the country.
A day after toppling top-ranked South Carolina, the Bruins vaulted over three other undefeated teams on Monday to take over the top spot in the Associated Press rankings.
It’s the first appearance at No. 1 for UCLA, which moved ahead of Connecticut, Notre Dame, Texas and USC in the aftermath of the Trojans’ home loss to Notre Dame. USC is number 6 in the new poll, three places lower. South Carolina fell to No. 4 after the 15-point loss to the Bruins.
What does it all mean?
“I don’t want to be boring, but I really don’t care who is ranked at what point,” UCLA coach Cori Close said Sunday after the most memorable regular-season win of her career. “I just want us to learn the lessons this game has taught us and I want us to fall more in love with the process of what it takes to become great. That’s all that matters to me.”
Read more: No. 5 UCLA stuns No. 1 South Carolina to confirm its national title goals
The Bruins (5-0) showed no discernible weakness in dismantling the Gamecocks. UCLA had a superior post presence with center Lauren Betts (14 rebounds), excellent play from guards Kiki Rice and Elina Aarnisalo (seven total assists) and big contributions off the bench from guards Londynn Jones (five 3-pointers) and Gabriela Jaquez (11 points).
The win over South Carolina was a breakthrough for UCLA after going 0 for 20 against No. 1 teams. It helped the Bruins earn 20 first-place votes from the 32-member media panel. The Huskies received nine first-place votes and Notre Dame received the other three.
Close hinted that the only time No. 1 matters is at the end of the season. UCLA won the Assn. for the Women’s Intercollegiate Athletics Championship behind the dynamic play of Ann Meyers-Drysdale and Denise Curry. Meyers-Drysdale and Curry attended Sunday’s game and looked at a group of players who could take the Bruins to new heights.
Close said the win over the Gamecocks was another step toward her team’s desired destination.
“It’s November 24th,” Close said after the game. “Am I proud of our team? Yes, but this is just the beginning and we cannot get tired of doing things right.”
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This story originally appeared in the Los Angeles Times.
