UCLA now has an Elite Eight matchup with Duke on Sunday afternoon. The winner of the game will have a trip to the Final Four. UCLA is looking to make it for the second straight season. With their top six players graduating out due to eligibility. This is the best opportunity for these women ever to win a national championship. They seem motivated to go out on top and have been playing like it. Led by Lauren Betts who is one of the best players in the nation.
Still dancin’ in Sacramento! 🪩 #GoBruins pic.twitter.com/8K35hODmHM
— UCLA Women's Basketball (@UCLAWBB) March 28, 2026
Duke makes their way into the Elite Eight after a huge win against LSU. They were able to win that game 87-85 and the No. 3 seed has had a good run to get to where they are. UCLA is coming off of a dominating second half over Minnesota. Which led them to an 80-56 win and now on a 28-game winning streak. UCLA is set to be pretty big favorites in this game and will need to come out of the gates quick and keep their foot on the pedal.
ICYM @SportsCenter Top 10 ⤵️ #SCTop10 pic.twitter.com/gW9Tcd7HTX
— Duke Women’s Basketball (@DukeWBB) March 28, 2026
These two teams met earlier in the season in a non-conference tournament. A game in which UCLA easily won 89-59 and completely dominated that game from the start. The women know things have changed over the months and they cannot rely on that game to win this game. The slate is now clean and a tournament game early in the season means nothing now. This is March Madness with the phrase “expect the unexpected” as anything could happen.
Duke is led by forward Toby Fournier who averages 17.5 points and 8 rebounds per game. Betts will be relied on as she always to control the paint in this game and not allow Fournier opportunities. Kiki Rice and Gabriela Jaquez will need to get Ashton Jackson and Taina Mair on the perimeter. Limiting their opportunities to score the basketball. UCLA has done that very well all season and they should be able to do it again against Duke.