PHOENIX — UCLA coach Cori Close’s mom waited out of camera view before her daughter welcomed her into her arms.

After a long embrace with yellow-and-blue confetti still trickling down, a teary-eyed Close tried to put into words what winning a national championship meant.

“It’s immeasurably more than I can ask or imagine,” Close said. “It’s beyond my wildest dreams.”

In an age of instant gratification, Close committed to doing things her way.