UCLA Women's Basketball: New Teammates Have Old Chemistry

Your 8-0 UCLA Bruins women’s basketball program have been on a scorching hot tear to kick off their 2023-24 season. Most recently, the second-ranked team in the nation absolutely obliterated Cal State Northridge on Thursday, 111-48, powered by sophomore guard Kiki Rice’s 14-point, 10-rebound, 10-assist triple double (it was just three steals shy of a quadruple double!).

A big reason the Bruins seem to have evolved from a good team last year to a potentially great one this year is the growth of its crop of now-sophomore prospects. The other big reason is UCLA’s new sophomore big, 6’7” Stanford transfer center Lauren Betts.

Betts has fit in seamlessly, and is leading the country in field goal shooting. But she’s not a wholly unfamiliar face, at least to Kiki Rice.

Betts and Rice were teammates on the Team USA Under-16 national team the summer after both finished eighth grade. Rice appreciated Betts’ well-rounded game from the jump, per Thuc Nhi Nguyen of The Los Angeles Times.

“At that age, bigs are still focused on finishing layups and she’s out here doing moves, finishing layups, protecting the rim,” Rice said. “I knew it was rare that I was ever going to be able to play with a big like that that was her size and skill level.”

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