Photo by: Caren Nicdao
Betts Tabbed as Finalist for Lisa Leslie Center of the Year Award
February 07, 2025 | Women's Basketball
LOS ANGELES – Junior Lauren Betts has been named one of 10 finalists for the Naismith Starting 5 Lisa Leslie Center of the Year Award, the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame and WBCA announced Monday.
The Bruin center is No. 1-ranked UCLA's leading scorer (20.2 PPG), rebounder (9.9 RPG), shot maker (.640 FG%) and shot blocker (2.9 BPG) in 29.4 minutes played per contest. Betts has been named Associated Press Player of the Week once and earned two Big Ten Player of the Week nods during her junior campaign. She's had single-game career highs in points (33 vs. No. 8 Maryland), assists (11 vs. Minnesota) and blocks (program-record 9 vs. No. 25 Baylor).
Fans can support their favorite players in the remaining rounds by participating in Fan Voting, presented by Dell Technologies, starting Friday, February 7, on hoophallawards.com. The Fan Vote will count as one committee vote during the finalist selection process.
The final 5 candidates for the award will be released to the public on a day by day basis starting the week of March 4, with voting set to follow on March 8.
About the WBCA:
Founded in 1981, the Women's Basketball Coaches Association is the professional association for coaches of women's and girls' basketball at all levels of competition. The WBCA offers educational resources that coaches need to help make themselves better leaders, teachers, and mentors to their players; provides opportunities for coaches to connect with peers in the profession; serves as the unifying voice of a diverse community of coaches to those organizations that control the game; and celebrates those coaches, players, and other individuals who excel each year and contribute to the advancement of the sport. For more information, visit us online: WBCA.org, follow @wbca1981, or call 1-770-279-8027.
About the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame
Located in Springfield, Massachusetts, the city where basketball was born, the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame is an independent non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to promoting, preserving, and celebrating the game of basketball at every level—men and women, amateur and professional players, coaches, and contributors—both domestically and internationally. The Hall of Fame museum is home to more than 475 inductees and over 40,000 square feet of basketball history. Nearly 200,000 people visit the Hall of Fame museum each year to learn about the game, experience the interactive exhibits, and test their skills on the Jerry Colangelo "Court of Dreams." Best known for its annual marquee Enshrinement Ceremony honoring the game's elite, the Hall of Fame also operates over 70 high school and collegiate competitions annually throughout the country and abroad. For more information on the Basketball Hall of Fame organization, its museum, and events, visit hoophall.com and follow @hoophallU.
The Bruin center is No. 1-ranked UCLA's leading scorer (20.2 PPG), rebounder (9.9 RPG), shot maker (.640 FG%) and shot blocker (2.9 BPG) in 29.4 minutes played per contest. Betts has been named Associated Press Player of the Week once and earned two Big Ten Player of the Week nods during her junior campaign. She's had single-game career highs in points (33 vs. No. 8 Maryland), assists (11 vs. Minnesota) and blocks (program-record 9 vs. No. 25 Baylor).
Fans can support their favorite players in the remaining rounds by participating in Fan Voting, presented by Dell Technologies, starting Friday, February 7, on hoophallawards.com. The Fan Vote will count as one committee vote during the finalist selection process.
The final 5 candidates for the award will be released to the public on a day by day basis starting the week of March 4, with voting set to follow on March 8.
| 2025 Lisa Leslie Award Candidates | |
| Audi Crooks | Iowa State |
| Ayoka Lee | Kansas State |
| Clara Strack | Kentucky |
| Alexis Markowski | Nebraska |
| Raegan Beers | Oklahoma |
| Brooklyn Meyer | South Dakota State |
| Sedona Prince | TCU |
| Taylor Jones | Texas |
| Lauren Betts | UCLA |
| Rayah Marshall | USC |
About the WBCA:
Founded in 1981, the Women's Basketball Coaches Association is the professional association for coaches of women's and girls' basketball at all levels of competition. The WBCA offers educational resources that coaches need to help make themselves better leaders, teachers, and mentors to their players; provides opportunities for coaches to connect with peers in the profession; serves as the unifying voice of a diverse community of coaches to those organizations that control the game; and celebrates those coaches, players, and other individuals who excel each year and contribute to the advancement of the sport. For more information, visit us online: WBCA.org, follow @wbca1981, or call 1-770-279-8027.
About the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame
Located in Springfield, Massachusetts, the city where basketball was born, the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame is an independent non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to promoting, preserving, and celebrating the game of basketball at every level—men and women, amateur and professional players, coaches, and contributors—both domestically and internationally. The Hall of Fame museum is home to more than 475 inductees and over 40,000 square feet of basketball history. Nearly 200,000 people visit the Hall of Fame museum each year to learn about the game, experience the interactive exhibits, and test their skills on the Jerry Colangelo "Court of Dreams." Best known for its annual marquee Enshrinement Ceremony honoring the game's elite, the Hall of Fame also operates over 70 high school and collegiate competitions annually throughout the country and abroad. For more information on the Basketball Hall of Fame organization, its museum, and events, visit hoophall.com and follow @hoophallU.
Players Mentioned
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