Russian fans celebrate once-maligned team as heroes

What a transformation. Russia's World Cup soccer team, metamorphosed from national laughingstock to heroes of the motherland in less than a week.

Russian fans celebrate Russia's 3-1 victory over Egypt in the group A match at the 2018 soccer World Cup near the St. Petersburg stadium in St. Petersburg, Russia, Tuesday, June 19, 2018. (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky)

And no one is more stunned than their own fans.

Chants of "Ro-see-ya! Ro-see-ya!" reverberated through the St. Petersburg Stadium and along the nearby wind-whipped shores of the Baltic on Tuesday after Russia beat Egypt 3-1.

"Incredible!" said science student Daniil Stefaychuk. He went into Tuesday's match dreaming of a tie, and left with his voice sore from screaming with excitement.

Thousands celebrated through the night in central Moscow, dancing, chanting and blowing car horns while lines of police kept watch. Roads were blocked by cars full of flag-waving Russia fans. Mexican, Polish and Brazilian fans also joined in the festivities.

Fan waves a flag prior the group A match between Russia and Egypt at the 2018 soccer World Cup in the St. Petersburg stadium in St. Petersburg, Russia, Tuesday, June 19, 2018. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

Even in a World Cup full of surprises, Russia's team stands out. The lowest ranked team heading into the World Cup , Russia is now all but guaranteed to advance to the second round.

That's a first for post-Soviet Russia, and a big boost both to fans and to President Vladimir Putin, who wants the tournament to improve his country's image.

Russia's 5-0 win against Saudi Arabia in the World Cup opener last week might have been a fluke. But Tuesday's win against the stronger Egyptian team showed the Russian players "the experience, the skills, the energy" to go much farther, said St. Petersburg company manager Alexei Ivanov.

Fans cheer prior the group A match between Russia and Egypt at the 2018 soccer World Cup in the St. Petersburg stadium in St. Petersburg, Russia, Tuesday, June 19, 2018. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

He claims fans deserve some of the credit: "When you're among your own, you're more confident."

Yet he was among those with little hope for the team going into the World Cup. "It seemed like they absolutely didn't know how to play," he said. His laugh echoed with relief.

With a satiric song and goofy video games, Russians openly joked about their team and its coach ahead of the tournament.

The teasing got so bad that a conservative lawmaker is drafting a bill to ban mockery of the team, arguing that they're "fighting for the honor of our country."

A Russian fan celebrates Russia's 3-1 victory over Egypt in the group A match at the 2018 soccer World Cup near the St. Petersburg stadium in St. Petersburg, Russia, Tuesday, June 19, 2018. (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky)

Fans seem to think that's going too far. "Constructive criticism helps," said sports instructor Andrei Ushakov.

A week ago, there was an undercurrent of self-deprecation and defensiveness in the Russian fan mood. By Tuesday night, that had vanished, replaced by an assertive swagger.

Crowds draped in white-blue-red Russian flags sang folk songs and whooped wildly in the marbled corridors of the St. Petersburg subway.

So what's next for the team? "Victory, only victory," Ushakov said.

Russian fans celebrate Russia's 3-1 victory over Egypt in the group A match at the 2018 soccer World Cup near the St. Petersburg stadium in St. Petersburg, Russia, Tuesday, June 19, 2018. (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky)

Karen Arutunian, who is about to turn 8 years old, isn't so optimistic.

Arutunian successfully predicted Tuesday's result, unlike anyone else in his family. He thinks Russia's next match, against Uruguay next week, will end in a tie.

"We won't win. But it doesn't matter. We're making it out of the first round," he said.

"It's the best feeling."

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Lauren Betts and her UCLA teammates celebrated the Bruins' first NCAA women's basketball championship with their fans at Pauley Pavilion on Wednesday night.

“This team is going to go down in history,” Betts said. “We've earned it.”

Betts, Gabriela Jaquez and Charlisse Leger-Walker capped the party by hitting the court to perform their TikTok dance with the championship trophy in the background. Angela Dugalic made a snow angel in the blue-and-gold confetti littering the court.

“This group is so special,” Jaquez told the crowd that filled half the arena. “We're all best friends.”

Jaquez led a spirited eight-clap, the band blared the school fight song, and mascots Joe Bruin and Josie Bruin danced.

It's been a whirlwind for the Bruins since their 79-51 rout of South Carolina in the title game in Phoenix on Sunday. The game averaged 9.9 million viewers, the third most-viewed women's championship game since 1996.

Coach Cori Close recalled arriving in Westwood as head coach in 2011 and someone saying they didn't know if she could ever make Los Angeles care about women's basketball.

The crowd booed.

“Let me tell you,” she said. “L.A. cares about women's basketball now and you guys helped do that.”

Close received a standing ovation from her team and the crowd that chanted “Cori! Cori!”

“I want to say thank you to you," she said. ”It truly does take a village to go win a championship."

Eventually, a banner signifying the first NCAA women's basketball title will be raised to the ceiling in Pauley Pavilion, where currently the only women's basketball title banner is from the school's 1978 AIAW championship, the precursor to the NCAA.

“It’s getting some company. I can’t wait,” said Denise Curry, who starred for the Bruins on that team, along with Ann Meyers Drysdale.

Via video, Meyers Drysdale told the team, “This is your TLC moment — your team, your legacy, your championship.”

John Wooden's single gold seat in a sea of blue ones sat empty behind the Bruins bench. He coached the men's teams to 10 national titles, including seven in a row, and was a mentor to Close before his death in 2010.

Now, Close's title run will be represented in the same rarified air as Wooden.

“It's such a symbol of something that’s really made a difference in my life,” she said.

Wooden's son Jim texted congratulations to Close. Wooden's great-granddaughter Cori Anderson sent a photo of her and her daughter dressed in UCLA gear.

“They've been incredibly gracious to me,” Close said.

The team's six seniors took the stage in front of a mix of adults and young kids.

“We could not have done it without you,” Jaquez said. “I want to shout out all the little kids who gave us friendship bracelets, cookies and notes.”

A group of young men from the Tamaki Basketball Academy in Auckland, New Zealand, performed a traditional Maori dance signifying respect and honor for Leger-Walker, who wrapped herself in her native country's flag. The group flew into Los Angeles just to perform at the celebration.

"I’m the first New Zealand women’s basketball player to ever win a national title, so that’s been kind of the talk of the town,” she said before the party. “It's huge for the kids back home to see that this is possible for them, too.”

The Bruins headed to the Clippers game against Oklahoma City afterward. They've already visited the Lakers ("LeBron waved at me," Betts said) and Jimmy Kimmel's late-night show. Next week, they'll be at a Dodgers game.

“I did wake up this morning after a couple more hours of sleep and I'm like, ‘Wow, this is real. I did wake up again and I’m still a national champion,'" Leger-Walker said, laughing.

Betts was wearing a backward championship cap with a piece of the net tucked in front.

“This is my net, man,” she said. "No one can take this from me. It's mine forever."

AP women’s college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-womens-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/womens-college-basketball

UCLA head coach Cori Close celebrates after cutting down the net after UCLA defeated South Carolina in the women's National Championship Final Four NCAA college basketball tournament game, Sunday, April 5, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

UCLA players pose with the WBCA Coaches' Trophy after defeating South Carolina in the women's National Championship Final Four NCAA college basketball tournament game, Sunday, April 5, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

UCLA head coach Cori Close celebrates with the net after UCLA defeated South Carolina in the women's National Championship Final Four NCAA college basketball tournament game, Sunday, April 5, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

UCLA center Lauren Betts (51) celebrates after cutting down a piece of the net after UCLA defeated South Carolina in the women's National Championship Final Four NCAA college basketball tournament game, Sunday, April 5, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)