UCLA's Lauren Betts Headlines Preseason All-America Team

The Bruins' star adds to her list of preseason accolades.

Mar 28, 2025; Spokane, WA, USA; UCLA Bruins center Lauren Betts (51) walks off the court during a Sweet 16 NCAA Tournament basketball game against the Ole Miss Rebels at Spokane Arena. at Spokane Arena. Mandatory Credit: James Snook-Imagn Images | James Snook-Imagn Images

The UCLA Bruins women's basketball season is inching closer and closer by the day, and Cori Close's squad is headlined by the arguable best player in college basketball -- senior center Lauren Betts.

With the season looming, Betts is only adding to her preseason accolades, as she was named to The Associated Press All-America women's college basketball team on Tuesday. Joining her are Notre Dame's Hannah Hidalgo, Texas' Madison Booker, UConn's Sarah Strong and South Carolina's Ta'Niya Latson.

Mar 28, 2025; Spokane, WA, USA; UCLA Bruins center Lauren Betts (51) shoots against Ole Miss Rebels forward Christeen Iwuala (12) during the second half of a Sweet 16 NCAA Tournament basketball game at Spokane Arena. at Spokane Arena. Mandatory Credit: James Snook-Imagn Images | James Snook-Imagn Images

Betts, Hidalgo and Booker are all coming off first-team All-American seasons last year and are only primed for more this year.

Thirty-one national media members voted for the AP Top 25, and Betts and Hidalgo each earned 29 of them this week.

Betts is coming off a stellar season, leading UCLA to its first No. 1 spot in the AP Top 25 in program history behind 20.2 points and 9.5 rebounds per game. The sky is only up for a Bruins squad that retooled and has its eyes set on a national championship.

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Betts Headlines 2026 WNBA Mock Draft

As UCLA searches to break through last season's Final Four ceiling and reach a national championship, time is running out in Betts' tenure in Westwood, as she's preparing to take the next step in the WNBA.

Apr 3, 2025; Tampa, FL, USA; UCLA Bruins center Lauren Betts during press conference at Amalie Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

ESPN released an early 2026 WNBA mock draft ahead of the college basketball season, and Betts was projected to go No. 1 and team up with her 2025 Final Four foe and eventual national champion Paige Bueckers.

What ESPN senior WNBA writer Michael Voepel said about the projection:

• "Dallas' No. 1 pick in 2025, UConn guard Paige Bueckers, won Rookie of the Year honors but the Wings won just 10 games and finished tied for last with Chicago. Last month, the Wings fired Chris Koclanes after one year as coach. If the Wings win the draft lottery, it would mark their third No. 1 pick in six seasons, though their top pick in 2021, Charlie Collier, is no longer playing in the WNBA.

Apr 4, 2025; Tampa, FL, USA; Connecticut Huskies guard Paige Bueckers (5) shoots against UCLA Bruins center Lauren Betts (51) during first quarter in a semifinal of the women's 2025 NCAA tournament at Amalie Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

• "Betts was a first-team All-American last season, averaging 20.2 PPG, 9.5 RPG and 2.9 BPG while shooting 64.8% from the field. She is a traditional center who doesn't shoot 3-pointers. WNBA teams must decide if that's a major drawback or something she can add to her strong low-block play."

Betts isn't the only Bruin projected to go in the draft. UCLA will be well represented, according to ESPN.

Gianna Kneepkens -- No. 11, Washington Mystics

• "She will play her last college season for the Bruins after a good career at Utah, where she averaged 19.3 PPG in 2024-25. Her biggest strength is 3-point shooting: She made 94 treys last season on 44.8% accuracy. Her 62.7 effective field goal percentage was the best in the Big Ten."

Mar 21, 2025; Columbia, South Carolina, USA; Utah Utes guard Gianna Kneepkens (5) drives past Indiana Hoosiers guard Chloe Moore-McNeil (22) in the second half at Colonial Life Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Blake-Imagn Images | Jeff Blake-Imagn Images

Kiki Rice -- No. 14, Seattle Storm

• "She was second to Betts in scoring (12.8 PPG) for the Bruins' Final Four team last season while also averaging 5.0 assists and 3.5 rebounds. There don't appear to be a lot of top point guards available in this draft, and we will see whether Rice impresses WNBA evaluators with her game management skills."

Apr 4, 2025; Tampa, FL, USA; UCLA Bruins guard Kiki Rice (1) controls the ball against Connecticut Huskies guard Kaitlyn Chen (20) during first quarter in a semifinal of the women's 2025 NCAA tournament at Amalie Arena. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images | Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

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