Photo by: UCLA Athletics
Betts Defensive Player, Barker Sixth Player of the Year as Five Bruins Earn Big Ten Honors
March 04, 2025 | Women's Basketball
LOS ANGELES – UCLA Women's Basketball has earned two players of the year awards in its first year in the new conference.
Junior Lauren Betts has been named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year by both coaches (by unanimous vote) and media, and Janiah Barker is the Sixth Player of the Year (coaches, media). Five Bruins received recognition in the various all-conference categories honored by the Big Ten, as released by the conference Tuesday.
Junior Kiki Rice joined Betts on the First Team All-Big Ten lists; Betts was a unanimous selection by both coaches and media. Rice was also named a 2024-25 Big Ten Women's Basketball Sportsmanship Honoree.
Betts racks up an additional set of defensive awards for her junior campaign; the Bruin center headlines the Big Ten All-Defensive Team for both the coaches and media postseason honors. Betts averages a league-leading 2.8 blocks per game and broke UCLA's single-season blocks record after just 23 appearances.
Juniors Londynn Jones (coaches) and Gabriela Jaquez (media) earn All-Big Ten Honorable Mention nods.
Big Ten Women's Basketball Postseason Honors (Coaches)
First Team All-Big Ten: Lauren Betts*, Kiki Rice
All-Big Ten Honorable Mention: Londynn Jones
Defensive Player of the Year: Lauren Betts*
Big Ten All-Defensive Team: Lauren Betts*
Sixth Player of the Year: Janiah Barker
Big Ten Women's Basketball Postseason Honors (Media)
First Team All-Big Ten: Lauren Betts*, Kiki Rice
All-Big Ten Honorable Mention: Gabriela Jaquez
Defensive Player of the Year: Lauren Betts
Big Ten All-Defensive Team: Lauren Betts
Sixth Player of the Year: Janiah Barker
* indicates unanimous selection
Junior Lauren Betts has been named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year by both coaches (by unanimous vote) and media, and Janiah Barker is the Sixth Player of the Year (coaches, media). Five Bruins received recognition in the various all-conference categories honored by the Big Ten, as released by the conference Tuesday.
Junior Kiki Rice joined Betts on the First Team All-Big Ten lists; Betts was a unanimous selection by both coaches and media. Rice was also named a 2024-25 Big Ten Women's Basketball Sportsmanship Honoree.
Betts racks up an additional set of defensive awards for her junior campaign; the Bruin center headlines the Big Ten All-Defensive Team for both the coaches and media postseason honors. Betts averages a league-leading 2.8 blocks per game and broke UCLA's single-season blocks record after just 23 appearances.
Juniors Londynn Jones (coaches) and Gabriela Jaquez (media) earn All-Big Ten Honorable Mention nods.
Big Ten Women's Basketball Postseason Honors (Coaches)
First Team All-Big Ten: Lauren Betts*, Kiki Rice
All-Big Ten Honorable Mention: Londynn Jones
Defensive Player of the Year: Lauren Betts*
Big Ten All-Defensive Team: Lauren Betts*
Sixth Player of the Year: Janiah Barker
Big Ten Women's Basketball Postseason Honors (Media)
First Team All-Big Ten: Lauren Betts*, Kiki Rice
All-Big Ten Honorable Mention: Gabriela Jaquez
Defensive Player of the Year: Lauren Betts
Big Ten All-Defensive Team: Lauren Betts
Sixth Player of the Year: Janiah Barker
* indicates unanimous selection
Players Mentioned
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