Lauren Betts continues dominating as UCLA is rolling

Lauren Betts entered the 2025 season as the consensus favorite to be the top pick in the 2026 WNBA Draft. After a tough start to the season where she battled a little bit of an injury. She dropped to the three to four pick range behind Awa Fam and Azzi Fudd. But over the last 10 games she has been back to being a double double machine and even bumping back up to that No. 1 pick in some mock drafts. Such as the one here from Hoops HQ. Over those last 10 games she has seven double doubles and is averaging 18.4 points and 9.6 rebounds per game.

Her stats would be even higher if it wasn’t for a 62-point win where she sat a lot of the second half against Long Beach State. But she is dominating teams again and anchoring the Bruins like she did in 2024 on both offense and defense. It is very rare to find a player that can be a centerpiece on both sides of the ball. Betts has that ability to do that as she is elite on both ends. Providing the opportunity for a WNBA team to get themselves a gem to count on.

UCLA is 18-1 on the season and is closing in on the No. 2 spot in the rankings as South Carolina fell to Oklahoma this past week. Betts has had a tremendous career with the Bruins. She was a First-team All-American last season as she averaged 20.2 ponts, 9.5 rebounds and 2.9 blocks per game. Leading to the possibility of her leaving for the 2025 WNBA Draft. But she decided to return and try and chase an NCAA championship in her last season in Westwood.

Her stats are down this year but that was expected with so much talent around her and the addition of Gianna Kneepkens. She doesn't need to have 20 and 10 every night to win. The women now have six players who on any given night could lead the team scoring over 20. Showing tremendous balance in a championship chase. When the season concludes Betts will certainly be a top three pick in the 2026 WNBA Draft.