Lauren Betts
College / Club
UCLA
Height
6-7
Position
Center
Age
Country
USA
2026 WNBA Mock Draft
Round 1, Pick 1: 1st overall
Pro Comparison
Brittney Griner / Ezi Magbegor
Player Profile
Lauren Betts is a promising center for the 2026 WNBA Draft with excellent size at 6’7″, paired with strong footwork and fundamentals. Her stellar defense earned her the 2025 Naismith Defensive Player of the Year award, showcasing her ability to protect the rim and disrupt opponents. Betts is also an efficient scorer, using her size and skill to finish at a high percentage around the basket.
Despite her accolades, she still appears to be scratching the surface of her full potential. With continued development, she has the tools to become an elite two-way player at the next level.
Notable Teammates
Kiki Rice (UCLA) • Gabriela Jaquez (UCLA) • Angela Dugalić (UCLA) • Lina Sontag (UCLA) • Charlisse Leger-Walker (UCLA) • Gianna Kneepkens (UCLA) • Timea Gardiner (UCLA) • Sienna Betts (UCLA) • Janiah Barker (UCLA) • Cameron Brink (Stanford) • Kiki Iriafen (Stanford)
Draft Board Comparison
| Rank | Name | Season | Team | FG% | 3P% | FT% | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lauren Betts | '25-26 | UCLA | 58.2 | 0.0 | 68.6 | 8.8 | 3.2 | 1.0 | 2.1 | 2.2 | 17.1 |
| 2 | Awa Fam | '25-26 | VAL | 57.1 | 25.0 | 60.0 | 4.9 | 1.4 | 1.1 | 0.8 | 1.6 | 8.2 |
| 3 | Azzi Fudd | '25-26 | UConn | 48.1 | 44.7 | 95.5 | 2.6 | 3.1 | 2.5 | 0.5 | 1.5 | 17.3 |
Game Analysis
- vs. Maryland (Jan 2025) – Lauren Betts scored a career-high 33 points, Kiki Rice added 19, and No. 1 UCLA defeated No. 8 Maryland. [Read the article.]
- vs. Ole Miss (Mar 2025) – Betts scored 31 points, her second straight game clearing the 30-point barrier and added 10 rebounds and three blocks. [Read the article.]
In the News
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FROM WESTWOOD TO THE BIG APPLE
The College Years
See her final run in sunny LA. Find flights to LAX on Orbitz.
The Pro Debut
Catch her NYC arrival. Lock in your trip and stay near Barclays on Hotels.com.
