“I was put on this earth not just to score points, but to help people.”
Words from an emotional Lauren Betts moments after leading UCLA to its first ever NCAA Title in dominant fashion, securing the Big Ten’s first national championship since 1999.
For the standout senior center, her final collegiate accolades tell the story:
- NCAA Champion
- NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player
- Big Ten Player of the Year
- 2x First-Team AP All-American
- 2x Lisa Leslie Award Winner
- 2x First-Team All Big Ten
- 2x Big Ten All-Defensive Team
- 2x Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year
- All-Pac-12 Team
- Pac-12 All-Defensive Team
But for Betts, the most important thing she’s ever done is advocate for others.
In 2022, Betts was the highest ranked recruit in her class, according to ESPN. The Spain native had won Gatorade Player of the Year in her final two high school seasons and was a dominant force waiting to make her mark on the next level as a Stanford commit.
Unfortunately, the 6-foot-7 center struggled during her freshman season, both on and off the court. Playing time was scarce, but that wasn’t surprising, given she was competing with All-American and future top-two WNBA draft pick Cameron Brink.
With her confidence waining for a multitude of reasons, Betts made the decision to enter the transfer portal.
After committing to UCLA, Betts and head coach Cori Close would begin a beautiful partnership that would eventually end in a national championship.
Over three years, Betts racked up accolades and personal achievements galore, but nothing compared to her senior season.
She led UCLA to its first 30-win season, its first AP No. 1 ranking and back-to-back Big Ten championships. Averaging 17.2 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks per game, Betts not only solidified herself as one of the most dominant bigs in the Big Ten but also the nation.
Yet, it’s her character off the court that may matter more than any stat or award.
Betts is a passionate advocate for mental health, serving as a role model for anyone who has struggled with it. Her message is simple: it gets greater, later.
“Mental health is real, it’s important, and no one should feel like they have to go through it alone,” says Betts. “If my story helped one person feel seen, that’s bigger than anything I could do on the court.”
Being different doesn’t make her any less of a woman or a player. It makes her unique, and she’s channeled her troubles into triumph.
After posting a double-double, with 14 points and 11 rebounds, and adding 2 blocks, Betts and the Bruins completed their dream of bringing a national championship to Westwood.
Coming up short in last year’s Final Four, then winning it all just one year later alongside her sister, freshman center Sienna Betts, proves that fairytales do exist—and Lauren Betts is living one.
Although it was a collective team effort, Betts, the anchor of the Bruins, led them this far, and her name is forever etched in UCLA history.
As she prepares for the WNBA Draft next week, she should get ready to hear her name called early, with projections placing her firmly in the top five.
Lauren Betts has always been a winner. She fought, she rose, and she conquered. The WNBA is next, and success will follow. That’s a bet anybody who’s ever watched her should be willing to make.
