‘Generational’ 6-foot-7 UCLA star who left Angel Reese bloodied cements WNBA Draft stock en route to National Championship game

Apr 5, 2026 - 16:00

Angel Reese won’t have to wait too long to get revenge on Lauren Betts.

The 6-foot-7 senior is looking to cap her college career with March Madness glory on a star-studded UCLA roster.

Lauren Betts #51 of the UCLA Bruins is hoping to lead the charge to a first National Championship in program history[/caption]

Betts scored a personal-best 35 points as the No. 1 Bruins eased past Oklahoma State 87-68 to ignite their tournament run.

The 22-year-old is playing on an experienced team that includes her younger sister Sienna as well as Kiki Rice — also a projected top-five pick in the WNBA Draft.

Against fourth-seed Minnesota in the Sweet 16, Betts went 7-of-9 from the field for 16 points, five rebounds and three assists, showcasing that she started hitting top form at just the right time for UCLA.

The senior continued her hot streak in the 2026 Elite Eight, ensuring that the UCLA punched their ticket to the Final Four in a 70-58 win over the No. 3 Duke Blue Devils.

In that contest, she scored a team-high 23 points, tallying an additional 10 rebounds, three assists, one steal and game-high five blocks.

Against the No. 1 Texas Longhorns in the Final Four, though, UCLA had to battle hard for the 51-44 victory – one of the lowest scoring games in women’s Final Four history.

Despite Betts registering another 16 point, 11 rebound double-double, this time with three blocks, the Bruins had to overcome 23 turnovers, and survive a late Longhorns surge.

Not only did they avenge their only loss of the regular season — a 76-65 defeat back in November — but this victory marked redemption for the program after suffering an 85-51 blowout to Paige Bueckers and basketball powerhouse UConn in the Final Four in 2025.

“Last year we took that loss really hard,” Betts said postgame about the defeat to the Huskies. “I think it made us think a lot about what we could have done better, not just in practice but as a team, leadership, being able to have tough conversations.

“I’m just really proud of the growth and the way that we’ve held such a high standard consistently this year.”

Betts and Rice are both considered elite prospects

“We weren’t worried about whether shots go in or not,” senior guard Kiki Rice said. “We were just focused on dictating defensively and being aggressive.”

The guard was sent to the Chicago Sky with the fifth overall pick in NBC’s most recent mock draft.

Betts, who has history with Sky talisman Angel Reese, is touted to go a pick earlier to the Washington Mystics.

That one time Betts was involved in a bloody battle with Angel Reese

In 2024, UCLA was beaten in the Sweet 16 by LSU.

At the end of the first quarter with the score at 15-15, former Tigers center Reese fought with Betts — one of few women who tower over the 6-foot-3 WNBA star — and came down without the ball.

Reese was left with a bloody nose after their last encounter

Reese — now an investor in major Australian basketball project — ended up with a bloodied nose after being caught by the Bruins talisman’s elbow.

No foul was called but LSU had the last laugh as Reese finished with 16 points and 11 rebounds in a 78-69 victory.

“She’s an absolute generational player … an elite player,” UCLA coach Cori Close said of Betts at the time.

“She’s incredibly competitive. She affects the game in so many ways on both offense and defense. I mean the list goes on and on.

“The scouting report starts with Lauren every time. And so it’s really almost an impossible task [to guard her]. And our other players are the beneficiary of the attention that she draws every single night.”

Betts was projected to be a top-five pick in 2025, but stayed in California to play alongside her sister — a 6-foot-4 high school standout.

“College is the best years of your life, and so I don’t think I’d ever give that up,” Betts said at the time. “Why not be spoiled for a whole another year?”

The decision may have been made easier by the expected jump in rookie salaries, which have increased six-fold since last year’s draft.

The Bruins exacted their revenge over the Longhorns - the only team they lost to in the season - in the Final Four — Betts and the Bruins exacted their revenge over the Longhorns – the only team they lost to in the season – in the Final Four

Betts will be hoping to cut down the net once again on Sunday, should UCLA defeat the Gamecocks

Betts took time off in January 2024 to focus on her mental health.

“I got into a state, the lowest state I’ve ever felt in my entire life,” she told ESPN. “To a point where I was like, ‘I can’t be here. Like, I can’t be here. I can’t do life anymore.

“I’m in my hospital gown, sitting in that bed, and I’m watching them play, and I’m like, ‘I can’t believe this is happening right now. That was a huge wake-up call for me. I was like, ‘I need help.’

“I have to put myself first. This is my life. Like, this is my health. It’s way bigger than basketball.”

Betts has already delivered a Big Ten championship to UCLA, now she has one final shot at glory against Dawn Staley’s South Carolina Gamecocks, with the chance to lead the Bruins to their first National Championship in program history before going pro.

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