Cori Close and Lauren Betts had each other's backs through tough times
There was plenty of highs for Lauren Betts' time at UCLA but Bruins head coach Cori Close said she was most proud with how her staff handled the lows.
The connection between Cori Close and Lauren Betts goes way beyond basketball. The two reached new heights for the UCLA Bruins women’s basketball team, winning the program’s first NCAA title on Sunday versus South Carolina . To celebrate the championship, Close appeared on the Rich Eisen Show and told a personal story about how the two were there for each other when they needed it most.
Betts hasn’t been shy about her battles with mental health , which included being hospitalized while playing with UCLA . “As much as I am proud of our staff, what we accomplished as a national champion, and all those things. I’m actually more proud of how we show up for our players on the hard days,” Close said.
“That was one of my proudest moments as a coach, to see our entire program just come alongside Lauren in such a genuine way in her toughest moments. ” 💻 @CoachCoriClose The @UCLAWBB head coach, fresh off their dominating National Championship win, talked with us about the inspiring story of her star @laurenbetts12 : #marchmadness #GoBruins pic. twitter.
com/RYnWPHBosu — Rich Eisen Show (@RichEisenShow) April 7, 2026 It wasn’t a one-way street between Close and Betts either. While Betts was still a Stanford recruit, Close was coaching a U19 Team USA team in Spain. During that trip, Close’s father passed away.