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Mar 23, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; UCLA Bruins center Lauren Betts (51) and UCLA Bruins guard Kiki Rice (background) go to the bench in the closing minutes of the Bruins win over Richmond Spiders during an NCAA Tournament second round game at Pauley Pavilion presented by Wescom. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-Imagn Images Robert Hanashiro-Imagn Images

UCLA WBB Star Projected to Win Major Conference Honor

Originally posted on UCLA Bruins on SI | By Connor Moreno | Last updated Oct 22, 2025 7:00 AM ET

The UCLA Bruins women's basketball season is inching closer and closer by the day, and Cori Close's squad is headlined by the arguable best player in college basketball -- senior center Lauren Betts.

ESPN went through every conference ahead of the women's college basketball season to predict each player of the year, and the national media conglomerate selected Betts as the early Big Ten Player of the Year.

"At different points last season, Betts looked like a top candidate for national player of the year," Charlie Creme wrote. "This year, she might be the favorite. Her post game blossomed last season and she became one of the best shot blockers in the country (2.9 BPG). She also averaged nearly a double-double (20.2 PPG, 9.5 RPG) and shot 64.8% from the field."

Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

Creme labeled Maryland Terrapins guard Yarden Garzon as Betts' top competition for the esteemed award. Garzon, a 6-3 guard, averaged 14.4 points, 5.4 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game at Indiana last season.

Betts is one of the most-discussed players going into the season this year, and many analysts are trying to find her future home after her senior year.

Betts Headlines 2026 WNBA Mock Draft

Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

As UCLA searches to break through last season's Final Four ceiling and reach a national championship, time is running out in Betts' tenure in Westwood, as she's preparing to take the next step in the WNBA.

ESPN released an early 2026 WNBA mock draft ahead of the college basketball season, and Betts was projected to go No. 1 and team up with her 2025 Final Four foe and eventual national champion Paige Bueckers.

What ESPN senior WNBA writer Michael Voepel said about the projection:

"Dallas' No. 1 pick in 2025, UConn guard Paige Bueckers, won Rookie of the Year honors but the Wings won just 10 games and finished tied for last with Chicago. Last month, the Wings fired Chris Koclanes after one year as coach. If the Wings win the draft lottery, it would mark their third No. 1 pick in six seasons, though their top pick in 2021, Charlie Collier, is no longer playing in the WNBA.

"Betts was a first-team All-American last season, averaging 20.2 PPG, 9.5 RPG and 2.9 BPG while shooting 64.8% from the field. She is a traditional center who doesn't shoot 3-pointers. WNBA teams must decide if that's a major drawback or something she can add to her strong low-block play."

Betts isn't the only Bruin projected to go in the draft. UCLA will be well represented, according to ESPN.

Gianna Kneepkens -- No. 11, Washington Mystics

"She will play her last college season for the Bruins after a good career at Utah, where she averaged 19.3 PPG in 2024-25. Her biggest strength is 3-point shooting: She made 94 treys last season on 44.8% accuracy. Her 62.7 effective field goal percentage was the best in the Big Ten."

Jeff Blake-Imagn Images

Kiki Rice -- No. 14, Seattle Storm

"She was second to Betts in scoring (12.8 PPG) for the Bruins' Final Four team last season while also averaging 5.0 assists and 3.5 rebounds. There don't appear to be a lot of top point guards available in this draft, and we will see whether Rice impresses WNBA evaluators with her game management skills."