“Let’s get this Chicken!” was apparently the motto that carried the UCLA Women’s Basketball team all the way to the NCAA Championship trophy—and fittingly, to a celebratory shift at Raising Cane’s in Los Angeles.

The scene was chaotic, warm, and a little surreal, exactly what you’d expect from a team that just lived through what Kiki Rice called, “the craziest three days of our lives.”

Fresh off a dominant tournament run, both players showed exactly why they’re stars on the rise. Lauren Betts anchored the Bruins averaging 21 points per game and earning the NCAA Most Outstanding Player Award for her standout performance… and I don’t just mean her dance moves, which Betts managed to do in the Raising Cane’s entrance as well.

Rice complemented that dominance with her all-around play, averaging 15 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists, including a clutch Elite Eight showing that helped push UCLA to the Final Four.

The two stars showed up to the celebration the same way they showed up to the tournament: confident and present.

“Honestly from the moment we walked in,” Rice answered when asked for the specific moment in the championship when the team felt that, “We Got This,” feeling.

For Betts, the weight of the moment goes deeper than any stat line. “I’m very grateful for my team and my coaches,” she said. “None of the accolades would be possible without the program I’m playing for or the position I’m in. These girls have changed my life and these coaches have made me so much better.”

She paused, then added something truly heartfelt:

“If my younger self could see me now, she would be so, so proud.”

Rice, who spoke openly about supporting Betts not just as a teammate but as a friend through personal struggles, described the championship in equally vivid terms, “That experience was one of the best of my life, to feel the confetti coming down on our faces, to win the national championship. That’s what we came here to do. To finally achieve that goal, to finish off our college careers, it was so special.”

Moments like this highlight something bigger than a win.

“It obviously shows when you invest in women’s sports, you get a great turnout,” Rice said. And she’s right, the turnout at Cane’s, the national attention, and the growing fan engagement all point to a shift that’s been building for years.

UCLA’s championship is more than a milestone, it’s a glimpse of what’s coming. Both Betts and Rice are headed to the WNBA Draft, carrying with them the confidence, chemistry, and competitive fire that made this run special.

But before the next chapter begins, they took a moment to celebrate the one they just finished — confetti, championships, and yes, a little Raising Cane’s. It was a fitting send-off for two players who never took themselves too seriously, even while achieving something seriously historic.

Sarah Villalobos is a guest contributor here at The Underdog Tribune (as well as a fantastic human being and a diligent worker). She puts her heart and soul into her craft and is a well-rounded creative who can tell stories in a thousand different ways. Check out her work and connect with her at her website.