UCLA’s Lauren Betts is enjoying the offseason. She shared pictures of her beach trip on the California coastline this Friday. The center is about to enter her fourth college basketball season, and her third with the UCLA Bruins since transferring from Stanford.
The post shows Betts in different pictures in what seems to be a beach trip, including a picture of her in a bathing suit, with a headscarf and a blue shirt. She added the following caption to her post:
“car and her headscarf.”
View this post on Instagram
The British-American basketball player had a highly successful 2024-25 season with the Bruins, winning the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year, Lisa Leslie, and Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year awards. She was also named to Coaches All-America, First Team All-Big Ten, and a Big Ten All-Defensive Team selection. Betts was the Big Ten tournament’s most outstanding player.
Lauren Betts on her playstyle and approach to basketball
It’s no secret that the 21-year-old is a defensive standout, as her individual accolades indicate. Destiny has favored the UCLA player, as her 6’7″ height clearly facilitates her defensive duties. But it goes beyond that for her. Defense is, according to Betts, almost an art.
Speaking shortly after receiving the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year award, Betts told the press the following about her approach to basketball:
“Defense is something I’ve always taken a lot of pride in. Going into every single game, that’s honestly my biggest priority – how can I stop the person in front of me? But to even be up for an award like this is really meaningful to me, it’s truly appreciated.”
Betts averaged 20.2 points, 9.5 rebounds, and 2.7 assists for the UCLA Bruins in the 2024-25 season. Those are career highs for the junior, who also managed to play 34 games in the last campaign, which is the most she has participated in three years of women’s college basketball.
2025-26 will likely be her last season in college basketball, as she’s expected to declare for the 2026 WNBA Draft.
‘Believe in the Program’ — Te-Hina Paopao’s Message Powers South Carolina’s Final Four Victory
‘Bro, I Hate UCLA’ — JuJu Watkins Adds Fuel to USC-UCLA Rivalry with Vicious Comment
College Sports Network has you covered with the latest news, analysis, insights, and trending stories in football, basketball, and more!