2026 Women’s NCAA Tournament Picks & Predictions: UCLA vs. South Carolina (Sunday)
Now that the 68-team field has been whittled down to the final two teams. After a 3-0 Friday, National Championship action is set for Sunday, April 5, 2026 at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix, Arizona. Let’s see who cuts down the nets!
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Sunday’s Best Women’s NCAA Tournament Picks & Predictions
(Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook)
UCLA Bruins (+154) vs. South Carolina Gamecocks (-3.5) | O/U 127.5 (-110/-110)
I wanted to go with the Under in this game. Even after the rock fight Final Four games, 127.5 is just too low for my taste. Besides, there are bigger fish to fry. Or is it Gamecocks to fry?
Both teams sleighed dragons from their past on Friday. South Carolina avenged their 2025 National Championship loss to UConn with a 62-48 drubbing that ended with a bizarre altercation between head coaches Dawn Staley and Geno Auriemma, instigated by the 72-year-old grown man who lost and threw a fit over handshake decorum. No word if Geno yelled at any windmills in his postgame anger, but Staley and company are now one win away from their fourth Natty. UCLA got revenge on the Texas Longhorns for their only loss of the season, with a 51-44 victory to reach their first-ever National Championship game.
The UConn game could be the difference in this game. There is just an emotional high associated with beating UConn that can make it hard to get back up two days later. For context, the Huskies have lost in the Final Four 11 times. The team that beat them to reach the Natty are 3-8. That being said, South Carolina (and I) was not surprised by the outcome at all so how they move past the emotions remains to be seen. SC guard Raven Johnson was admittedly exhausted after guarding UConn stars Azzi Fudd and Sarah Strong all night the quick turnaround could impact this game as well.
If UCLA is going to bring home their first ever Natty, 6’7″ Lauren Betts is going to have to continue to step up like she has all tourney, The senior is the focal point of the offense and if she can handle the double teams and schemes that Dawn Staley throws at her then she should be climbing a ladder this afternoon.
Pick: UCLA Bruins Moneyline (+154)
Luke Monaldo is a featured writer at BettingPros. Follow him on Twitter @MoKnowsSports and Discord @alydar1227 AKA The GIFTing Crooner. For more from Luke, check out his archive.