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Lauren Betts
Lauren Betts
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Lauren Marie Betts (born October 15, 2003) is a Spanish-born British-American college basketball player for the UCLA Bruins of the Big Ten Conference. She played for Grandview High School in Aurora, Colorado, where she was ranked as the number one recruit in her class by ESPN. Betts started her college career with the Stanford Cardinal before transferring to UCLA after one season.

Key Information

Early life and high school career

[edit]

Betts was born in Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain, and moved around the country during her childhood due to the basketball career of her father, Andrew.[1] When she was in third grade, her family settled in the United States.[2] Before focusing on basketball, Betts was involved in dance, swimming and soccer.[1] She played for Grandview High School in Aurora, Colorado. As a freshman, Betts averaged 12.7 points, 8.6 boards and 3.9 blocks per game for the Class 5A runners-up.[3] In her sophomore season, she averaged 17.8 points, 11.2 rebounds and 3.9 blocks per game, leading her team back to the state title game, which was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[4] Betts averaged 17.5 points and 11 rebounds per game as a junior, helping Grandview achieve a 17–1 record and reach the Class 5A semifinals. She was named Colorado Gatorade Player of the Year.[5] Betts led her team to the Class 5A state championship in her senior season.[6] She averaged 17.2 points, 11 rebounds and 3.6 blocks per game, winning Women's Basketball Coaches Association High School Player of the Year and repeating as Colorado Gatorade Player of the Year.[7][8] She also played in both the McDonald's All-American Game and Jordan Brand Classic.[9]

Recruiting

[edit]

Betts was considered a five-star recruit and the number one player in the 2022 class by ESPN. On January 13, 2021, she committed to playing college basketball for Stanford over offers from Notre Dame, Oregon, UCLA, UConn, and South Carolina.[10]

College career

[edit]

2022-23 Freshman season

[edit]

Betts came off the bench for Stanford in her freshman season.[11] On November 9, 2022, she recorded a season-high 18 points, six rebounds, and three blocks in a 104–40 win over Cal State Northridge.[12] As a freshman, she averaged 5.9 points and 3.5 rebounds in 9.7 minutes per game, earning Pac-12 All-Freshman honorable mention.[13]

2023-24 Sophomore season

[edit]

For her sophomore season, Betts transferred to UCLA.[13] She immediately assumed a greater role with the Bruins as the team's starting center.[14] In January 2024, Betts missed four games due to a medical issue, which was later disclosed as time to focus on her mental health.[15][16] On February 16, she scored a season-high 24 points in a 79–77 loss to AP No. 11 Oregon State.[17] Betts finished the season averaging 14.9 points, 9.3 rebounds, and 2 blocks per game. She was an All-Pac-12 Team and a Pac-12 All-Defensive Team selection, while earning All-America honorable mention from the AP and the U.S. Basketball Writers Association (USBWA).[16]

2024-25 Junior season

[edit]

In the second game of her junior season, on November 10, 2024, Betts had 31 points and nine rebounds in an 81–63 win over Colgate.[18] On January 20, 2025, she tallied 24 points, nine rebounds, and a program-record nine blocks in a 72–57 win against AP No. 25 Baylor.[19] On January 26, 2025, Betts posted a career-high 33 points, seven rebounds, and four blocks in an 82–67 victory over AP No. 8 Maryland. During the game, she shot 14-of-15 from the field (93.3 percent), breaking the program single-game record in field goal percentage with at least 15 attempts.[20] On February 20, Betts surpassed Monique Billings to set the UCLA single-season record in blocks, as part of a 22-point, 6-block effort in a 70–55 win over AP No. 25 Illinois.[21]

The Bruins had a strong season and were ranked number one in the nation after defeating defending champion South Carolina during the regular season. Betts led the Bruins to their First Big Ten Tournament Championship and First 30 wins in a season.[22] Betts was named to the Big Ten All-Tournament team and was the most outstanding player of the tournament.[23] Betts was named as both an AP[24] and a USBWA[25] First Team All–American.[26] She was named one of four finalists for the Naismith Women's Player of the Year,[27] and was named the 2025 Naismith Women’s College Defensive Player of the Year.[28] She was named to the John R. Wooden Award Women’s All-America team.[29] She was the Lisa Leslie Center of The Year.[30] Betts helped the Bruins reach the 2025 Final Four, and was named to the NCAA WBB Final Four all-tournament team.[31]

National team career

[edit]

Betts won a gold medal with the United States under-16 national team at the 2019 FIBA Under-16 Americas Championship in Chile. She averaged 12.2 points, 13.5 rebounds and 2.5 blocks per game, earning all-tournament honors.[3] Betts was the youngest member of the under-19 national team at the 2021 FIBA Under-19 World Cup in Hungary. She averaged 11.1 points, 9.6 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game en route to a gold medal.[32] Betts played for the senior national team at the 2023 FIBA AmeriCup in Mexico, helping her team win a silver medal. She averaged 11.4 points, 10.9 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game.[33]

Personal life

[edit]

Betts was born to Andrew and Michelle Betts. Andrew Betts was a Centre for the Great Britain/England national teams who played for several leading European clubs and was drafted by the NBA's Charlotte Hornets. Her mother, Michelle, played volleyball for Long Beach State; winning a national title in 1998.[34] She has a sister, Sienna, and two brothers, Dylan and Ashton.[35] In 2025, she appeared in the 10th season of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars as a guest who received a makeover as part of a weekly challenge.

Career statistics

[edit]
Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game  RPG  Rebounds per game
 APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game  BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game
 TO  Turnovers per game  FG%  Field-goal percentage  3P%  3-point field-goal percentage  FT%  Free-throw percentage
 Bold  Career best ° League leader

College

[edit]
Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG TO PPG
2022–23 Stanford 33 0 9.6 60.2 0.0 56.7 3.5 0.5 0.2 0.9 0.5 5.9
2023–24 UCLA 29 27 27.2 64.3 0.0 61.0 9.3 1.0 0.4 2.0 2.1 14.9
2024–25 UCLA 34 34 30.1 64.8 0.0 62.0 9.5 2.7 0.9 2.9 2.7 20.2
Career 96 61 22.2 63.9 0.0 60.7 7.4 1.4 0.5 2.0 1.8 13.7
Statistics retrieved from Sports-Reference.[36]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
Lauren Betts (born October 15, 2003) is an American college player who competes as a center for the in the . Born in Vitoria, , she is the daughter of former professional player , who was drafted by the Charlotte Hornets in 1998 and represented internationally, and Michelle Betts, a national champion at Long Beach State in 1993. The family relocated multiple times across before moving to , when Betts was eight years old. Betts attended Grandview High School in , where she played four varsity seasons and earned four-time all-conference and all-state honors. As a senior in the 2021–22 season, she averaged 17.1 points, 10.6 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 3.4 blocks per game, leading Grandview to the 5A state championship. Her high school accolades include Gatorade Player of the Year, WBCA High School Player of the Year, McDonald's All-American, and All-American, establishing her as the nation's top recruit in the class of 2022. In her freshman season at Stanford in 2022–23, Betts appeared in 33 games off the bench, averaging 5.9 points and 3.5 rebounds per game while shooting 60.2 percent from the field, the fifth-best single-season mark in program history, though her playing time was limited by a knee injury. She transferred to UCLA ahead of the 2023–24 season, where she appeared in 29 games with 27 starts, leading the Bruins with 14.9 points and 9.3 rebounds per game on 64.3 percent field goal shooting—the third-highest rate in the NCAA that year. As a junior in 2024–25, Betts elevated her performance to 20.2 points, 9.5 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 2.9 blocks per game, earning Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and Naismith Defensive Player of the Year honors, a spot as the first UCLA player to record 600+ points, 300+ rebounds, and 100+ blocks in a single season; she also set a program record for single-season blocks. Notable performances include 31 points on 15-of-16 shooting against Ole Miss in the NCAA Sweet 16 and a 30-point, 14-rebound double-double versus Richmond, the first 30-10 game by a Bruin in tournament history. Entering her senior season in 2025–26, Betts has represented the internationally, winning gold medals with the U19 team at the 2021 U19 World Cup in and with the U16 team at the 2019 U16 Championship in , where she averaged 12.2 points, 13.5 rebounds, and 2.5 blocks per game as a starter in all six contests.

Early life and high school career

Early life

Lauren Betts was born on October 15, 2003, in , , to American mother Michelle Betts, a former Division I player at Long Beach State, and British father , a former professional player. Andrew Betts enjoyed a 14-year professional career across European leagues, including stints in and , which shaped the family's nomadic lifestyle during Lauren's early childhood. The family resided in several Spanish cities, such as , , Málaga, and , following Andrew's playing opportunities. In 2011, when Lauren was eight years old, the family relocated to , after Andrew retired from international to prioritize family commitments. This move allowed the Betts family to establish roots in the United States, where Michelle had prior ties through her athletic background. Growing up in an athletic household, Lauren received early exposure to through her father's coaching and the family's emphasis on sports. Her international upbringing in also fostered bilingual proficiency in English and Spanish, though she noted losing some fluency after the relocation.

High school career

Betts attended Grandview High School in , where she played varsity for four seasons, starting as a in 2018. As a during the 2018–19 season, she averaged 12.7 points, 8.6 rebounds, and 3.9 blocks per game over 28 contests, contributing to the team's advancement to the Class 5A state championship game, where Grandview finished as runners-up. In her sophomore year (2019–20), Betts elevated her production, averaging 17.8 points, 11.2 rebounds, 4.8 assists, and 3.9 blocks per game across 26 games, though the season was shortened due to the . As a junior in 2020–21, she posted averages of 17.5 points, 11.0 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and 2.6 blocks per game in 17 appearances while shooting 80% from the field, helping Grandview reach the Class 5A state semifinals. Her senior season in 2021–22 saw her average 17.2 points, 11.0 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 3.6 blocks per game in 24 outings, including a standout 22-point, 57% performance in the state quarterfinals against Highlands . Over her high school career, Betts amassed totals exceeding 1,500 points and 980 rebounds while averaging 3.6 blocks per game, establishing her as a dominant force in the post. She developed into a versatile , enhancing her mid-range shooting and perimeter defense while maintaining elite rim protection, which propelled Grandview to multiple deep playoff runs, including the 2022 Class 5A state championship victory over Valor Christian. Her performances earned her top national recruiting recognition in the class of 2022.

Recruiting

Betts entered her recruiting process as one of the most highly touted prospects in , ranked as the No. 1 overall recruit in the ESPN HoopGurlz Class of 2022 and the top center in the nation. As a 6-foot-7 post player with a versatile skill set including shot-blocking, rebounding, and emerging offensive capabilities, she garnered significant media attention for her potential impact at the collegiate level. Her international pedigree, stemming from being born in Vitoria, , to a British father who played professional in and an American mother, added to her profile as a global talent who had lived in Spain before moving to at age eight. Top programs aggressively pursued Betts, with offers from elite teams such as Stanford, UConn, , UCLA, , and Notre Dame. Due to COVID-19 restrictions limiting in-person contact, her recruitment largely unfolded through virtual meetings and phone calls, including multiple Zoom sessions with coaches that helped build personal connections. Stanford head coach was particularly instrumental, emphasizing the program's championship pedigree—highlighted by their recent national titles—and its academic excellence, which aligned with Betts' interests in . On January 13, 2021, Betts announced her verbal commitment to Stanford via , citing the school's strong family support network and the close-knit team environment as key factors in her decision. She became Stanford's first commit in the Class of 2022, bolstering their post presence for the future. Later that year, Betts showcased her elite status by participating in the 2022 , further solidifying her reputation among scouts and coaches.

College career

2022–23 freshman season

Betts entered her freshman season at Stanford as the nation's top recruit, but she primarily served as a reserve behind All-American center . She appeared in 33 games off the bench, averaging 5.9 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 0.9 blocks in 9.6 minutes per game while shooting an efficient 60.2 percent from the field. One of her standout performances came early in the season, when she scored a career-high 18 points on 8-of-9 shooting to go with six rebounds in a win over Cal State Northridge on 9. Betts' minutes were limited by Stanford's deep frontcourt and the physical transition to , where she focused on developing her post presence and defensive timing amid the team's high expectations. During Pac-12 play, Betts showed growth, averaging over eight points per game in her final 11 appearances as Stanford captured the regular-season title. The Cardinal finished the year 29–6 overall, advancing to the NCAA Tournament's Sweet 16 before falling to Ole Miss.

2023–24 sophomore season

After entering the transfer portal following a freshman season at Stanford in which she averaged just 9.7 minutes per game, Betts committed to UCLA on April 18, 2023, and was granted immediate eligibility by the NCAA. Betts transitioned seamlessly into a starring role as UCLA's primary center, starting 27 of the 29 games she appeared in while averaging 27.2 minutes per game. She led the Bruins in scoring with 14.9 points per game and rebounding with 9.3 per game, while also recording 1.0 assist, 2.0 blocks, and 0.4 steals; her field goal percentage of .643 ranked third nationally among qualified players. Betts recorded 12 double-doubles during the season, showcasing her efficiency in the post and defensive presence that anchored UCLA's frontcourt. Among her standout performances, Betts tallied 24 points on 10-of-12 shooting in a 66-52 victory over Oregon State on February 16, highlighting her offensive dominance inside. In the NCAA Tournament's second round on March 25, she posted a with 20 points and 10 rebounds in UCLA's 67-63 comeback win over Creighton, contributing to her postseason averages of 17.0 points and 13.5 rebounds across three games. Betts also grabbed a career-high 18 rebounds to go with 17 points in the Pac-12 Tournament semifinals, a 80-70 double-overtime loss to USC on March 8. Under Betts' leadership in the paint, UCLA finished the season 27-7 overall and 13-5 in Pac-12 play, securing second place in the conference and advancing to the of the NCAA Tournament before a 74-59 defeat to . The Bruins reached the Pac-12 semifinals after a 67-57 quarterfinal win over and earned a No. 1 seed in the Albany Regional.

2024–25 junior season

In the 2024–25 season, Lauren Betts emerged as the cornerstone of the team, starting all 34 games and anchoring both ends of the floor with averages of 20.2 points, 9.5 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 2.9 blocks per game. Her efficiency was remarkable, shooting 64.8% from the field while recording 100 blocks, leading the and ranking fifth nationally in blocks per game. UCLA finished the year with a 34–3 overall record, securing the Big Ten Tournament championship with a 72–67 victory over USC in the title game and earning a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. Betts' presence was pivotal in the Bruins' first-ever appearance, where they defeated LSU 72–65 in the before falling 85–51 to UConn in the semifinals; she contributed 17 points and seven rebounds against LSU. Betts achieved a career-high 33 points on 14-of-15 shooting, along with seven rebounds and four blocks, in a 82–67 win over then-No. 8 on January 26, 2025, helping UCLA maintain its undefeated streak at the time. Her defensive prowess defined the season, as she set a UCLA single-season blocks record and became the first Bruin to reach 600 points, 300 rebounds, and 100 blocks in a campaign. Offensively, Betts showed significant growth in the post, relying almost exclusively on interior scoring with zero three-point attempts while boosting her scoring volume from her year without sacrificing efficiency. As UCLA's undisputed leader, Betts facilitated the team's transition to the Big Ten with poise, averaging 30.0 minutes per game and recording 12 double-doubles, including a 30-point, 14-rebound effort in the NCAA Tournament that marked the first 30–10 stat line by a Bruin in postseason play. Her all-around impact propelled UCLA to a third-place finish in the final and highlighted her evolution into one of the nation's elite bigs.

2025–26 senior season

Betts entered her senior season with UCLA ranked No. 3 in the preseason and No. 1 in the coaches' rankings, setting high expectations for a team aiming to build on its previous appearance. Through the first five non-conference games as of November 15, 2025, she averaged 15.2 points, 7.8 rebounds, 4.2 assists, and 2.2 blocks per game while shooting 59.6 percent from the field. These figures reflect an efficient start, with Betts contributing to UCLA's 5-0 record ahead of the conference schedule's tip-off later in the month. In the season opener on November 3, 2025, against San Diego State at the , Betts scored 21 points on 9-of-12 shooting to go along with 4 rebounds and 1 assist, powering No. 3 UCLA to a 77-53 rout. Her efficient scoring helped the Bruins build a 15-point lead, showcasing her dominance in the early in the campaign. Two days later, on November 6 versus UC Santa Barbara, she added 12 points, 7 rebounds, and a season-high 6 assists in an 87-50 victory, highlighting her growing facilitation skills. On November 10 against , Betts recorded 9 points, 10 rebounds, 2 assists, and 4 blocks in a 73-59 win. Three days later, on November 13 versus , she tallied 20 points, 10 rebounds, 7 assists, and 2 blocks in an 78-60 victory. In the most recent game on November 15 against , Betts finished with 14 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 blocks in a win, helping maintain UCLA's undefeated start. As the Big Ten Preseason Player of the Year, Betts has embraced a heightened role, with Cori Close noting her evolving influence on the team. Her early-season assist average of 4.2 marks an uptick from 2.7 during her junior year, suggesting adjustments to expand her playmaking beyond traditional post play. Entering the year with over 1,000 career points at UCLA— a milestone reached during her junior campaign—Betts is positioned to further cement her place in Bruins history.

International career

Youth career with USA Basketball

Lauren Betts earned her spot on the USA U16 National Team through a competitive selection process involving trials with 146 players vying for 12 roster positions. At just 15 years old, she was the youngest member of the team that represented the at the 2019 FIBA U16 Women's Championship in . Betts started all six games, averaging 12.2 points, 13.5 rebounds, and 2.5 blocks per game, while contributing to the team's undefeated 6-0 run and victory. Her dominant rebounding performance helped the USA outrebound opponents significantly, and she was named to the All-Tournament Team for her efforts. Building on her U16 success, Betts was selected for the USA U19 Team at age 17, again as the youngest player on the 12-member roster after excelling in national trials. The team competed at the U19 Women's Basketball in , , where Betts played a key role in the USA's perfect 7-0 record and win. In seven games, she averaged 11.4 points, 10.9 rebounds (second on the team and third in the tournament), and a team-high 2.1 blocks per game, showcasing her interior presence and defensive impact.

Awards and honors

High school awards

During her high school career at Grandview High School in , Lauren Betts earned numerous accolades that highlighted her dominance as a center and her status as one of the top prospects in the nation. She was selected as a All-American in 2022, recognizing her as one of the elite senior players in the country, and also participated in the as an All-American that same year, where she showcased her skills against other top recruits. Betts was named the WBCA High School Player of the Year in 2022 by the Women's Basketball Coaches Association, an honor that capped her senior season in which she led Grandview to a Class 5A state championship while averaging 17.1 points, 10.6 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 3.4 blocks per game. She also received the Girls Basketball Player of the Year award twice, first in the 2020-21 season as a junior and again in 2021-22 as a senior, acknowledging her outstanding performance and leadership on and off the court. In addition to national recognition, Betts was honored with a spot on the 2021 MaxPreps First Team following her junior year, reflecting her contributions to Grandview's success and her statewide impact. She earned four-time all-conference selections in the League from 2018 to 2022, including being named the league's Player of the Year in 2021-22, underscoring her consistent excellence in regional competition.

College awards

During her sophomore season in 2023–24 at UCLA, Betts was selected to the All-Pac-12 Team and the Pac-12 All-Defensive Team, recognizing her contributions to the Bruins' Pac-12 regular-season championship run. In the 2024–25 season, Betts earned multiple national and conference accolades for her dominant play as a junior. She was named the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year, becoming the first Big Ten player to win the award and UCLA's first national defensive player of the year. She also received the Defensive Player of the Year honor. Additionally, Betts won the Center of the Year Award, was a first-team All-American by the , and earned unanimous Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year honors from conference coaches. She was recognized as Big Ten Player of the Week on three occasions—November 18, January 27, and February 24—for standout performances including double-doubles and high block totals. Heading into her senior year in 2025–26, Betts was named Big Ten Preseason Player of the Year by both coaches and media, Preseason First-Team All-American, and to the preseason watch list for the , awarded to the top player in . She also appeared on the Award watch list as the defending recipient. Betts received multiple Big Ten weekly honors during her UCLA career, highlighting her consistent impact.

Personal life

Betts is the eldest of four siblings. Her sister is a 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) and a top high school recruit who committed to UCLA for the class of 2025. Her younger brother Dylan is a 7 ft 2 in (2.18 m) playing high school , while Ashton is her half-brother from her father's side. Her parents divorced when she was young. As a child, Betts struggled with her height, reaching 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m) by and nearly 6 ft (1.83 m) by age 11. After moving to at age eight, she faced at Laredo Middle School, where classmates mocked her as a "giraffe" or "alien" due to her size, accent, and voice, leading to anxiety and emotional distress. Initially, she tried soccer and to distinguish herself from her father's background but eventually took up the sport. Her mother, Michelle, supported her through and reassurance that her height was a "blessing." Betts has openly discussed her battles with depression and insecurity about her athletic identity, particularly during her time at UCLA. In January 2024, she experienced a crisis requiring hospitalization, after which she sought and shifted focus to building her sense of self beyond , emphasizing relationships as a daughter, sister, teammate, and friend. By the 2024–25 season, she had embraced her height and identity, which improved her performance and confidence. Betts holds dual American and British .

Career statistics

Per-Game Averages

The following table presents Lauren Betts' per-game statistics across her college seasons at Stanford (2022–23) and UCLA (2023–24 onward).
SeasonTeamGPMINPTSREBASTBLKSTLFG%3P%FT%
2022–23Stanford339.65.93.50.50.90.2.602.000.567
2023–24UCLA2927.114.99.31.02.00.4.643.000.610
2024–25UCLA3430.120.29.52.72.90.9.648.000.620
2025–26*UCLA529.215.27.84.22.20.2.596.000.933
Career10122.513.77.41.62.00.5.637.000.621
*Through November 17, 2025 (5 games played).

Career Totals

GPPTSREBASTBLKSTLFGFGAFTFTA
101138874815819950589925210338

Advanced Metrics

Advanced statistics by season, including (PER), (TS%), offensive rebound (ORB%), defensive rebound (DRB%), total rebound (TRB%), block (BLK%), and usage rate (USG%). Data available through 2025–26 season (partial).
SeasonPERTS%ORB%DRB%TRB%BLK%USG%
2022–2341.1.60115.921.519.09.127.0
2023–2433.2.64315.122.618.97.823.3
2024–2541.2.64815.918.417.39.528.7
2025–2630.4.6439.217.714.07.524.7
38.0.64215.220.518.08.726.0

Conference Splits

Per-game averages in conference play.
SeasonConferenceGPPTSREBASTBLKFG%
2022–23Pac-12165.83.10.60.8.594
2023–24Pac-121413.48.30.92.3.585
2024–25Big Ten1619.59.42.82.8.621

NCAA Tournament Stats (2024–25)

UCLA reached the in the 2025 NCAA Tournament, where Betts played 5 games. Per-game averages:
GPPTSREBASTBLKFG%
523.68.42.43.0.716

References

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