The Big Ten captured the national championship in both women’s and men’s basketball, with UCLA and Michigan crowned champions. No. 1 seed Michigan defeated No. 2 UConn in the men’s bracket, 69–63 in a hard-fought game, while the No. 1 seeded Bruins routed No. 1 seed South Carolina, 79–51.
Michigan’s Wolverines had one of the most dominant runs to the national championship in NCAA history, with a +108 point differential from the Round of 64 all the way up until the National Championship game. The Wolverines began their stretch of dominance against No. 16 seed Howard in a 101–80 win. They played No. 9 seed Saint Louis two days later with a trip to the Sweet Sixteen on the line. The Billikens proved to be no match for the Wolverines as the Big Ten champions prevailed, 95–72.
In the Sweet Sixteen, Michigan matched up with the No. 4 seed Alabama Crimson Tide. While the Tide are famous for their success on the gridiron, their basketball team has enjoyed their own success in recent years. The Crimson Tide gave Michigan their biggest challenge yet, holding the lead at half with a score of 49–47. However, the Wolverines found their form in the second half en route to a 90–77 win.
In the Elite Eight, with a mixture of suffocating defense and efficient offense, Michigan defeated No. 6 seed Tennessee 95–62. Michigan emerged as the champion of the Midwest region; however, to earn an appearance in the National Championship, they needed to defeat No. 1 seed Arizona out of the West region.
Michigan jumped out to an early 10–1 lead within the first four minutes of the game and never looked back; the game ended 91–73 in favor of the Wolverines. With that win, Michigan advanced to the National Championship game, where they would face the UConn Huskies, who won back-to-back championships in 2023 and 2024.
The first half ended with Michigan ahead 33–29 on the No. 2 seeded Huskies. The Wolverines began to seemingly run away with it in the second half, going up by 11 points with 12 minutes to go. The Huskies clawed back and were on the verge of another comeback after UConn guard Solo Ball drilled a 26-foot three with 37 seconds to go to make the score 67–63. However, Michigan was able to hold on and win their first national championship since 1989, capping off one of the most impressive runs in tournament history.
Elliot Cadeau was named the Most Outstanding Player of the tournament. This award was especially important to Cadeau, as he had a rough start to his career at North Carolina. At UNC, Cadeau was a seemingly failed five-star after coming in as the No. 8 ranked freshman in his class. However, he redeemed himself at Michigan this season, with this award being the cherry on top. Dusty May captured his first championship as a head coach, winning it only two years after becoming the Wolverines head coach in March 2024.
In the women’s tournament, the Bruins would display their own dominance, with only their Final Four matchup ending within single digits. Led by first-team All-American Lauren Betts, UCLA began their run against No. 16 seed California Baptist. Betts put up 22 points and 10 rebounds in a blowout 96–43 victory. They faced No. 8 seed Oklahoma State two days later.
The Cowgirls were no match for the Bruins, falling 87–68 in a game that was never close. Betts put on a clinic, scoring a career-high 35 points to go along with nine rebounds. Defensively, the Bruins held Oklahoma State to 43 percent from the field and 25 percent from three while only committing four fouls.
UCLA would face off against No. 4 seed Minnesota in the Sweet Sixteen. The Golden Gophers were able to keep it close in the first half, only trailing 34–29. The Bruins were able to stretch that lead to 12 by the end of the third quarter and would run away with it in the fourth, defeating Minnesota 80–56, advancing to the Elite Eight.
UCLA faced No. 3 seed Duke in the Elite Eight. The Blue Devils took a 10-point lead over UCLA late in the second quarter and a 39–31 lead into halftime. They held onto that lead through much of the third quarter until UCLA guard Gianna Kneepkens hit a three-point shot to give UCLA the lead with 2:37 left in the quarter. The Bruins pulled through and won 70–58, booking their ticket to the Final Four.
The Bruins were matched up with No. 1 seed Texas. Unlike Michigan and Arizona in the men’s bracket, this game lived up to the hype in a defensive showdown that came down to the final seconds. UCLA ended the first quarter up 14–6 but were held to only six points in the second quarter, ending 20–17 in favor of the Bruins. UCLA was seemingly able to pull away in the fourth with a 47–37 lead with 2:43 to go. Texas kept fighting and eventually cut the lead to three with 30 seconds to go, but a missed jump shot secured a 51–44 win for the Bruins.
UCLA was matched up against the legendary Dawn Staley and her No. 1 seed South Carolina Gamecocks. Staley had become familiar with the spotlight, leading the Gamecocks to eight Final Fours and winning three National Championships since becoming head coach in 2008.
Despite their legendary leadership, the Gamecocks proved to be no match for the Bruins. UCLA ended the first quarter up 21–10 and grew their 11-point lead throughout the rest of the game, ending in a 79–51 blowout victory to give UCLA their first NCAA national championship in program history.
Betts capped off her legendary career by being named the Tournament’s Most Outstanding Player. This was Head Coach Cori Close’s first national championship, ending her 15-year quest after taking the job in 2011.
Both teams cemented themselves as the best in college basketball, not only in the championship, but throughout the entire tournament. These teams completed the goal that every team sets out to accomplish while also providing the sport with some parity, as Michigan ended a 35-year drought while UCLA won their first NCAA title.
