University of California, Los Angeles, Athletics
Photo by: Caren Nicdao
Lauren Betts, Kiki Rice Named to Wooden Award Women’s Midseason Top 25 Watch List
January 07, 2026 | Women's Basketball
LOS ANGELES – Seniors Lauren Betts and Kiki Rice have been named to the John R. Wooden Award, presented by Principal, 2025–26 Women's Midseason Top 25 Watch List, the Los Angeles Athletic Club announced Wednesday.
Lauren Betts was named a Wooden All-American for the 2024-25 season, in which she was also named national defensive player of the year. The center has led the 2025-26 Bruins to a 14-1 record (4-0 B1G) with a team-high 16.3 points and 2.1 blocks per game. Betts is leading the Big Ten Conference in rebounds per game at 8.4 RPG. The Centennial, Colo., native is averaging 21.3 points, 12.3 rebounds and 2.8 blocks per game in conference play.
Rice, who was Associated Press All-America Honorable Mention in 2024-25, has had strong first half in her senior season. She's averaging career bests in points (15.3 PPG) and rebounds (6.5 RPG) per game while boasting .497/.353/.869 shooting splits. The point guard is UCLA's second-leading scorer, rebounder, and assister (4.4 APG); Rice has the second-best assist-turnover ratio in Big Ten Conference (3.0 A/TO).
John R. Wooden Award, presented by Principal, 2025–26 Women's Midseason Top 25 Watch List
Janiah Barker | Tennessee | Senior | F | 6-4
Raegan Beers | Oklahoma | Senior | C | 6-4
Lauren Betts | UCLA | Senior | C | 6-7
Mikayla Blakes | Vanderbilt | Sophomore | G | 5-8
Madison Booker | Texas | Junior | F | 6-1
Jaloni Cambridge | Ohio State | Sophomore | G | 5-7
Aaliyah Chavez | Oklahoma | Freshman | G | 5-10
Talaysia Cooper | Tennessee | Redshirt Junior | G | 6-0
Audi Crooks | Iowa State | Junior | C | 6-3
Jasmine "Jazzy" Davidson | USC | Freshman | G | 6-1
Joyce Edwards | South Carolina | Sophomore | F | 6-3
Azzi Fudd | UConn | Graduate student | G | 5-11
MiLaysia Fulwiley | LSU | Junior | G | 5-10
Rori Harmon | Texas | Graduate student | G | 5-6
Hannah Hidalgo | Notre Dame | Junior | G | 5-6
Flau'jae Johnson | LSU | Senior | G | 5-10
Ta'Niya Latson | South Carolina | Senior | G | 5-8
Cotie McMahon | Ole Miss | Senior | F | 6-0
Olivia Miles | TCU | Graduate student | G | 5-10
Olivia Olson | Michigan | Sophomore | G | 6-1
Khamil Pierre | NC State | Junior | F | 6-2
Kiki Rice | UCLA | Senior | G | 5-11
Clara Strack | Kentucky | Junior | C | 6-5
Sarah Strong | UConn | Sophomore | F | 6-2
Mikaylah Williams | LSU | Junior | G | 6-0
About the John R. Wooden Award®
Created in 1976, the John R. Wooden Award Program hosts the most prestigious honors in college basketball, recognizing the Wooden Award Most Outstanding Player for men and women, the Wooden Award All-America Teams for men and women, and the annual selection of the Wooden Award Legends of Coaching recipient.
Honorees are certified by their universities as meeting Wooden Award standards established by Coach Wooden, including progress toward graduation and at least a 2.0 cumulative GPA. Past winners include Larry Bird 1979, Michael Jordan 1984, Tim Duncan 1997, Kevin Durant 2007, Candace Parker 2007 and 2008, Maya Moore 2009 and 2011, Chiney Ogwumike 2014, and last year's recipients Juju Watkins of USC and Cooper Flagg of Duke.
Since its inception, the John R. Wooden Award has contributed nearly one million dollars to universities' general scholarship funds and nonprofit enterprises in the names of the Wooden Award All-American recipients, and has sent more than 1,000 underprivileged children to week-long college basketball camps.
The John R. Wooden Award partners with Special Olympics Southern California (SOSC) each year to host the Wooden Award Special Olympics Southern California Basketball Tournament. The day-long event brings together Special Olympics athletes, Wooden Award All-Americans, and attending coaches. It is hosted at the Los Angeles Athletic Club during John R. Wooden Award Weekend.
The mission of the John R. Wooden Award Foundation (JRWAF) is to promote teamwork, academic excellence, and character development, reflecting the enduring values of John R. Wooden. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, the JRWAF serves as an angel organization, independently guiding the funding of educational, athletic, and philanthropic initiatives. A dedicated board of directors leads the Foundation's efforts, committed to advancing John R. Wooden's legacy and the timeless principles of his Pyramid of Success.
The Legends of Coaching Award will be presented alongside the Wooden Award Men's and Women's Players of the Year on Friday, April 10, 2026, at the Los Angeles Athletic Club. For the latest updates, visit WoodenAward.com and follow @WoodenAward on X, Instagram, and Threads; to learn more about the Los Angeles Athletic Club, visit LAAC.com
Lauren Betts was named a Wooden All-American for the 2024-25 season, in which she was also named national defensive player of the year. The center has led the 2025-26 Bruins to a 14-1 record (4-0 B1G) with a team-high 16.3 points and 2.1 blocks per game. Betts is leading the Big Ten Conference in rebounds per game at 8.4 RPG. The Centennial, Colo., native is averaging 21.3 points, 12.3 rebounds and 2.8 blocks per game in conference play.
Rice, who was Associated Press All-America Honorable Mention in 2024-25, has had strong first half in her senior season. She's averaging career bests in points (15.3 PPG) and rebounds (6.5 RPG) per game while boasting .497/.353/.869 shooting splits. The point guard is UCLA's second-leading scorer, rebounder, and assister (4.4 APG); Rice has the second-best assist-turnover ratio in Big Ten Conference (3.0 A/TO).
John R. Wooden Award, presented by Principal, 2025–26 Women's Midseason Top 25 Watch List
Janiah Barker | Tennessee | Senior | F | 6-4
Raegan Beers | Oklahoma | Senior | C | 6-4
Lauren Betts | UCLA | Senior | C | 6-7
Mikayla Blakes | Vanderbilt | Sophomore | G | 5-8
Madison Booker | Texas | Junior | F | 6-1
Jaloni Cambridge | Ohio State | Sophomore | G | 5-7
Aaliyah Chavez | Oklahoma | Freshman | G | 5-10
Talaysia Cooper | Tennessee | Redshirt Junior | G | 6-0
Audi Crooks | Iowa State | Junior | C | 6-3
Jasmine "Jazzy" Davidson | USC | Freshman | G | 6-1
Joyce Edwards | South Carolina | Sophomore | F | 6-3
Azzi Fudd | UConn | Graduate student | G | 5-11
MiLaysia Fulwiley | LSU | Junior | G | 5-10
Rori Harmon | Texas | Graduate student | G | 5-6
Hannah Hidalgo | Notre Dame | Junior | G | 5-6
Flau'jae Johnson | LSU | Senior | G | 5-10
Ta'Niya Latson | South Carolina | Senior | G | 5-8
Cotie McMahon | Ole Miss | Senior | F | 6-0
Olivia Miles | TCU | Graduate student | G | 5-10
Olivia Olson | Michigan | Sophomore | G | 6-1
Khamil Pierre | NC State | Junior | F | 6-2
Kiki Rice | UCLA | Senior | G | 5-11
Clara Strack | Kentucky | Junior | C | 6-5
Sarah Strong | UConn | Sophomore | F | 6-2
Mikaylah Williams | LSU | Junior | G | 6-0
About the John R. Wooden Award®
Created in 1976, the John R. Wooden Award Program hosts the most prestigious honors in college basketball, recognizing the Wooden Award Most Outstanding Player for men and women, the Wooden Award All-America Teams for men and women, and the annual selection of the Wooden Award Legends of Coaching recipient.
Honorees are certified by their universities as meeting Wooden Award standards established by Coach Wooden, including progress toward graduation and at least a 2.0 cumulative GPA. Past winners include Larry Bird 1979, Michael Jordan 1984, Tim Duncan 1997, Kevin Durant 2007, Candace Parker 2007 and 2008, Maya Moore 2009 and 2011, Chiney Ogwumike 2014, and last year's recipients Juju Watkins of USC and Cooper Flagg of Duke.
Since its inception, the John R. Wooden Award has contributed nearly one million dollars to universities' general scholarship funds and nonprofit enterprises in the names of the Wooden Award All-American recipients, and has sent more than 1,000 underprivileged children to week-long college basketball camps.
The John R. Wooden Award partners with Special Olympics Southern California (SOSC) each year to host the Wooden Award Special Olympics Southern California Basketball Tournament. The day-long event brings together Special Olympics athletes, Wooden Award All-Americans, and attending coaches. It is hosted at the Los Angeles Athletic Club during John R. Wooden Award Weekend.
The mission of the John R. Wooden Award Foundation (JRWAF) is to promote teamwork, academic excellence, and character development, reflecting the enduring values of John R. Wooden. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, the JRWAF serves as an angel organization, independently guiding the funding of educational, athletic, and philanthropic initiatives. A dedicated board of directors leads the Foundation's efforts, committed to advancing John R. Wooden's legacy and the timeless principles of his Pyramid of Success.
The Legends of Coaching Award will be presented alongside the Wooden Award Men's and Women's Players of the Year on Friday, April 10, 2026, at the Los Angeles Athletic Club. For the latest updates, visit WoodenAward.com and follow @WoodenAward on X, Instagram, and Threads; to learn more about the Los Angeles Athletic Club, visit LAAC.com
Players Mentioned
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/ Women's Basketball
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/ Women's Basketball
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