The UCLA Bruins routed the South Carolina Gamecocks 79-51 in the national championship on Sunday, and Bruins head coach Cori Close gave an emotional postgame interview.
Close hugged her mother before taking the first question.
“It’s immeasurably more than I could ask or imagine,” Close said tearfully to ESPN’s Holly Rowe. “It’s beyond my wildest dreams. It’s meaningful because of the people I’ve gotten to share it with. It’s all about the heart. It would be shallow without the amazing village and the incredible people that have poured into me my whole life.”
Close joined the Bruins in 2011 and led them to the Final Four last season before losing to UConn. Now, she’s led them to the first national championship in program history.
James Parker contributed to this story.

















































































