Fourth overall pick of the 2026 WNBA Draft and Washington Mystics, Lauren Betts, has opened up about her mental health with ‘The Player’s Tribune’ this week. In a candid interview, the former UCLA Bruin spoke about her battle with depression in incredibly honest terms.
At a key moment in her quote for publication, Betts gave the magazine a quote that encapsulates a misunderstood condition with which millions of people deal daily:
“The thing about depression that a lot of people don’t talk about is, it never really goes away. You can learn how to manage it really well… but it’s an illness — it’s not a choice that you make…”
“My mental health isn’t perfect. It’s an ongoing project.”
Betts is fresh off leading the UCLA Bruins to their first women’s basketball national title since 1978. In the process, the Big Ten Player of the Year also became the NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player.
Where does Lauren Betts’ battle with depression start?
Betts also spoke about the start of her battle with depression. It’s been a long battle, going back to her childhood, it seems. Bullying played an important role in the start of her depression, and it had all to do with how she looked:
“I feel like my struggle with depression probably started when I was much younger and navigating being bullied all the time for how I looked. And I was just too young to really understand what those feelings were.”
“As I’ve gotten older, I’ve learned how to identify it and figure out what my needs are at that particular moment. Like, What does Lauren need right now?”
While she didn’t outright mention it, it isn’t far-fetched that the same height and physique that have made her an incredible women’s basketball player is what made her stand out, not necessarily in a flattering way, as a child and then a teenager. Currently, she stands at 6 feet 7 inches tall and weighs 231 pounds.
Betts made her WNBA debut on March 8th in a victory over the Toronto Tempo, 68-65. She has so far come off the bench three times for the Washington Mystics, and she’s averaging 3.7 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 0.7 assists per game. The Mystics are currently playing the Dallas Wings at College Park Center in Arlington, Texas, for the fourth game of their season.
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