Lauren Betts leaves her mark on Pauley Pavilion with career-high performance

UCLA center Lauren Betts #51 makes a move in the paint during an NCAA Women's Basketball game between Oklahoma State University and University of California Los Angeles on Monday, March 23, 2026 at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles Calif LOS ANGELES -Lauren Betts had one last dance in Pauley Pavilion, and she made it count. The senior center has been the talk of the program since she transferred in from Stanford ahead of the 2023-24 season and her time as a Bruin has been nothing short of transformational. Under head coach Cori Close, Betts has risen to become a multi-time First Team All-American, Big Ten Player and Defensive Player of the Year and one of the most talked about players in the country.

But more than that, Close and the Bruins have stood by Betts as she underwent struggles with depression, struggles that she wrote about recently in the Players' Tribune , and found healing within herself. UCLA center Lauren Betts #51 plays defense during an NCAA Women's Basketball game between Oklahoma State University and University of California Los Angeles on Monday, March 23, 2026 at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles Calif Edwin So - The Sporting Tribune UCLA center Lauren Betts #51 plays defense during an NCAA Women's Basketball game between Oklahoma State University and University of California Los Angeles on Monday, March 23, 2026 at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles Calif "This community, the minute that I transferred over here, I was just welcomed with open arms," Betts said. "The fans have been so supportive of me through my entire journey.

Through my mental challenges. Through basketball and everything... Just to see all the people waiving at us at the end of the game was really special.

" A big night for Betts and the Bruins Those three years of glory, pain and healing all culminated in Monday night's Second Round game between No. 1-seeded UCLA and No. 8-seeded Oklahoma State.