Two UCLA Stars Earn Unanimous Preseason Recognition

Two conference stars will headline the Bruins' women's basketball team.

Feb 2, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; UCLA Bruins starting five: UCLA Bruins guard Kiki Rice (1), Gabriela Jaquez (11), Angela Dugalic (32), Lauren Betts (51) and Londynn Jones (3) huddle before playing Minnesota Golden Gophers at Pauley Pavilion presented by Wescom. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-Imagn Images | Robert Hanashiro-Imagn Images

The 2025-26 UCLA women's basketball team is one of the most anticipated teams in recent program history.

Coming off a Final Four run cut short by the eventual national champion UConn Huskies, the Bruins reloaded and have national championship aspirations.

With media day just around the corner, preseason polls and voting are commencing, and UCLA was well-represented in Big Ten Conference preseason polls.

Star seniors Lauren Betts and Kiki Rice were unanimously named to the 2025-26 Coaches Preseason All-Big Ten Team. The full team is below:

• Lauren Betts, Sr., C, UCLA
• Kiki Rice, Sr., G, UCLA
• Hannah Stuelke, Sr., F, Iowa
• Yarden Garzon, Sr., G, Maryland
• Kaylene Smikle, Sr., G, Maryland
• Olivia Olson, So., G, Michigan
• Syla Swords, So., G, Michigan
• Grace VanSlooten, Sr., F, Michigan State
• Jaloni Cambridge, So., G, Ohio State
• Sayvia Sellers, Jr., G, Washington

Betts and Rice also made the 2025-26 Media Preseason All-Big Ten Team. Betts was the only unanimous player voted by the media. UCLA Athletics detailed Betts and Rice's previous seasons in a statement released announcing the Big Ten teams.

On Betts:

"Betts, coming off a unanimous Defensive Player of the Year campaign in the conference, has also been selected as the unanimous Preseason Player of the Year by Big Ten ahead of her senior year. In 2024-25, she became the first Bruin with 600+ points, 300+ rebounds, 100+ blocks in a season.  The center also set a new single-season blocks record with her 100 rejections this year and captured the UCLA single-game blocks record with nine against No. 25 Baylor at the Coretta Scott King Classic. The team's leading scorer (20.2 PPG) had a career-high 33 points at No. 8 Maryland in late January, one of four games in which she scored 30+ points."

Apr 3, 2025; Tampa, FL, USA; UCLA Bruins center Lauren Betts (51) practices before the NCAA Woman’s Final Four at Amalie Arena. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images | Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

On Rice:

"Rice finished her junior campaign as UCLA's second leading scorer with 12.8 points per game, and she displayed improved efficiency in her scoring; Rice shot career-bests from the floor (.485 FG%) and from long range (.365 3FG%). The Bruin point guard was both the team and conference leader in assists (170); Rice surpassed 100 assists for the third-consecutive season in 2024-25."

Apr 4, 2025; Tampa, FL, USA; UCLA Bruins guard Kiki Rice (1) brings the ball up the court against the Connecticut Huskies 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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