Members of the UCLA Bruins women’s basketball team said President Donald Trump has not reached out to congratulate them following their 2026 NCAA championship victory. For the unversed, the Bruins secured the national title on April 5 with a win over the South Carolina Gamecocks women’s basketball.
Two days later, standout players Kiki Rice, Gabriela Jaquez, Angela Dugalić, and Lauren Betts, along with head coach Cori Close, appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live! to celebrate their achievement.
During the interview, host Jimmy Kimmel asked whether the team had heard from the president. Rice replied, “We have not.” Kimmel also pointed out that former president Barack Obama had congratulated the team, prompting a warm reaction from the players.
Close added a humorous note, saying, “everybody makes mistakes,” after Kimmel mentioned that Obama had predicted UCLA would lose the final. Maintaining a lighthearted tone, Kimmel joked that the team would hear from Trump “in two weeks.”
He then brought out a fake trophy and encouraged the players to take it with them if they are invited to the White House. Kimmel said, “I want you to bring this fake trophy we’ve made. When you bring a trophy, he sometimes takes it and keeps it for himself, so this is for you guys to take to the White House,” as the players laughed.
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As of now, there has been no public confirmation from the White House regarding any outreach to the UCLA Bruins women’s basketball following their championship win. While an official message had been shared earlier recognizing men’s title-winning teams, no similar statement has been issued for the women’s final between UCLA and the South Carolina Gamecocks women’s basketball team.
UCLA Bruins Celebrate Championship With Media Tour And NBA Spotlight
Following their championship win, the UCLA program has been actively celebrating with media appearances and public events. Coach Cori Close appeared on The Today Show on April 7, where she reflected on the journey to the title.
She described it as an “honor” to coach the group and spoke about the key experiences during the NCAA tournament that shaped the team’s success. The Bruins also received recognition from the Los Angeles Lakers during their game against the Oklahoma City Thunder in Los Angeles.
The team was introduced as special guests before tip-off. Players walked onto the court with their championship trophy and wore custom jerseys to mark the occasion.
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These appearances came shortly after UCLA secured the national championship on April 5, completing a successful tournament run. The win marked a significant achievement for the program and concluded the 2026 NCAA women’s basketball season with UCLA at the top.
