Photo by: Caren Nicdao
Lauren Betts Named AP, USBWA First Team All-American
March 19, 2025 | Women's Basketball
LOS ANGELES – Junior Lauren Betts has been named First Team All-American by the Associated Press (AP) and the U.S. Basketball Writer's Association (USBWA), both announced Wednesday.
The honor marks UCLA's first AP First Team All-American in program history, and she joins Natalie Williams on the all-time USBWA first teamers from Westwood. Betts was an AP and USBWA All-America Honorable Mention in 2023-24.
The Bruin center leads No. 1 UCLA in points (19.6), rebounds (9.7), blocks per game (2.9) and field goal percentage (.634 FG%) and has proven to be a problem on both ends of the court. She has 17 double-doubles on the year; only Monique Billings (19), Denise Curry (20) and Williams (20, twice) have more in a single UCLA women's basketball season.
The Centennial, Colo., native now holds the UCLA single-season record for blocks and set the single-game blocks record when she swatted nine shots against then-No. 25 Baylor on Jan. 20. Betts also set new single-game career-highs in points (33 vs. then-No. 8 Maryland, Jan. 26), assists (11 vs. Minnesota, Feb. 2), steals (4 vs. No. 1-seed USC, March 9), field goals made (15 vs. Colgate, Nov. 10) and free throws made (8 vs. then-No. 6 USC, Feb. 13). She has scored 1,000 points as a Bruin in just two seasons at UCLA.
Betts was named the unanimous Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, All-Big Ten First Team and Big Ten All-Defensive Team by coaches in the new conference; she earned the same postseason awards by media vote at the end of the regular season. The Bruin big was also named First Team All-America by the Athletic on March 5.
The junior was named the Most Outstanding Player at the 2025 TIAA Big Ten Women's Basketball Tournament as she helped the Bruins capture their first conference tournament championship since 2006. Betts was All-Tournament Team after shooting 75 percent from the floor (24-32 FG) and 90 percent from the free throw line (9-10 FT) in UCLA's 3-0 run in Indianapolis. She had four blocks and four steals to live up to her Defensive Player of the Year honor in the championship game against rival USC.
Betts is in the running for the Naismith Women's Defensive Player of the Year, 2025 Jersey Mike's Naismith Women's College Player of the Year, the Lisa Leslie Center of the Year Award, the Wade Trophy, the 2025 John R. Wooden Award® presented by Principal® and the 2024-25 Ann Meyers Drysdale Award.
The honor marks UCLA's first AP First Team All-American in program history, and she joins Natalie Williams on the all-time USBWA first teamers from Westwood. Betts was an AP and USBWA All-America Honorable Mention in 2023-24.
The Bruin center leads No. 1 UCLA in points (19.6), rebounds (9.7), blocks per game (2.9) and field goal percentage (.634 FG%) and has proven to be a problem on both ends of the court. She has 17 double-doubles on the year; only Monique Billings (19), Denise Curry (20) and Williams (20, twice) have more in a single UCLA women's basketball season.
The Centennial, Colo., native now holds the UCLA single-season record for blocks and set the single-game blocks record when she swatted nine shots against then-No. 25 Baylor on Jan. 20. Betts also set new single-game career-highs in points (33 vs. then-No. 8 Maryland, Jan. 26), assists (11 vs. Minnesota, Feb. 2), steals (4 vs. No. 1-seed USC, March 9), field goals made (15 vs. Colgate, Nov. 10) and free throws made (8 vs. then-No. 6 USC, Feb. 13). She has scored 1,000 points as a Bruin in just two seasons at UCLA.
Betts was named the unanimous Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, All-Big Ten First Team and Big Ten All-Defensive Team by coaches in the new conference; she earned the same postseason awards by media vote at the end of the regular season. The Bruin big was also named First Team All-America by the Athletic on March 5.
The junior was named the Most Outstanding Player at the 2025 TIAA Big Ten Women's Basketball Tournament as she helped the Bruins capture their first conference tournament championship since 2006. Betts was All-Tournament Team after shooting 75 percent from the floor (24-32 FG) and 90 percent from the free throw line (9-10 FT) in UCLA's 3-0 run in Indianapolis. She had four blocks and four steals to live up to her Defensive Player of the Year honor in the championship game against rival USC.
Betts is in the running for the Naismith Women's Defensive Player of the Year, 2025 Jersey Mike's Naismith Women's College Player of the Year, the Lisa Leslie Center of the Year Award, the Wade Trophy, the 2025 John R. Wooden Award® presented by Principal® and the 2024-25 Ann Meyers Drysdale Award.
Players Mentioned
C
/ Women's BasketballUCLA W. Basketball Media Availability - Players (Oct. 1, 2025)
Wednesday, October 01
UCLA W. Basketball Media Availability - Coach Cori Close (Oct. 1, 2025)
Wednesday, October 01
UCLA W. Basketball - Behind the Scenes of the 2025 Photoshoot
Saturday, September 27
Bruins Beyond Basketball: Charlisse Leger-Walker x Angela Dugalić
Tuesday, June 24