University of California, Los Angeles, Athletics
Photo by: Caren Nicdao
Lauren Betts Named to Wooden Award Top 20
February 10, 2026 | Women's Basketball
LOS ANGELES – Senior Lauren Betts has been named to the John R. Wooden Award®, presented by Principal, announced its 2025-26 Women's Late Midseason Top 20 Watch List, the Los Angeles Athletic Club announced Tuesday.
The center is scoring a team-leading 16.2 points per game on 57.0 percent shooting; the 2025 Lisa Leslie Center of the Year is averaging 2.1 blocks, 1.0 steals and 8.2 rebounds per game.
For her 24-point, 14-rebound, five-block performance against Oregon in UCLA's B1G opener, Betts earned Big Ten Player of the Week (Dec. 8) and was included as one of five USBWA Women's National Players of the Week. Betts has 69 assists, which ranks fourth on UCLA's roster. She's had six games this season with 5+ dimes.
She was named Big Ten Player of the Week (Jan. 5) again for the set of games over the holiday, where she led UCLA to a 3-0 week to open the full slate of conference games - including two ranked wins at No. 19 OSU and against No. 17 USC. Betts scored 20.3 PPG and grabbed 11.7 RPG; she had her fourth and fifth double-doubles of the season in those ranked victories.
The center, alongside senior Kiki Rice, was named to the Wooden Award Midseason Top 25 on Jan. 7. Betts leads the Big Ten with nine double-doubles on the season; she collected three in a row in January (USC, Nebraska, Minnesota) and had a monstrous 16-point, 16-rebound outing to help UCLA get past No. 8 Michigan (Feb. 8).
2025-26 John R. Wooden Award® Women's Late Midseason Top 20
Raegan Beers – Oklahoma
Lauren Betts – UCLA
Mikayla Blakes – Vanderbilt
Madison Booker – Texas
Jaloni Cambridge – Ohio State
Aaliyah Chavez – Oklahoma
Audi Crooks – Iowa State
Joyce Edwards – South Carolina
Azzi Fudd – UConn
MiLaysia Fulwiley – LSU
Rori Harmon – Texas
Hannah Hidalgo – Notre Dame
Flau'jae Johnson – LSU
Ta'Niya Latson – South Carolina
Cotie McMahon – Ole Miss
Olivia Miles – TCU
Olivia Olson – Michigan
Clara Strack – Kentucky
Sarah Strong – UConn
Mikaylah Williams - LSU
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.
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.
The center is scoring a team-leading 16.2 points per game on 57.0 percent shooting; the 2025 Lisa Leslie Center of the Year is averaging 2.1 blocks, 1.0 steals and 8.2 rebounds per game.
For her 24-point, 14-rebound, five-block performance against Oregon in UCLA's B1G opener, Betts earned Big Ten Player of the Week (Dec. 8) and was included as one of five USBWA Women's National Players of the Week. Betts has 69 assists, which ranks fourth on UCLA's roster. She's had six games this season with 5+ dimes.
She was named Big Ten Player of the Week (Jan. 5) again for the set of games over the holiday, where she led UCLA to a 3-0 week to open the full slate of conference games - including two ranked wins at No. 19 OSU and against No. 17 USC. Betts scored 20.3 PPG and grabbed 11.7 RPG; she had her fourth and fifth double-doubles of the season in those ranked victories.
The center, alongside senior Kiki Rice, was named to the Wooden Award Midseason Top 25 on Jan. 7. Betts leads the Big Ten with nine double-doubles on the season; she collected three in a row in January (USC, Nebraska, Minnesota) and had a monstrous 16-point, 16-rebound outing to help UCLA get past No. 8 Michigan (Feb. 8).
2025-26 John R. Wooden Award® Women's Late Midseason Top 20
Raegan Beers – Oklahoma
Lauren Betts – UCLA
Mikayla Blakes – Vanderbilt
Madison Booker – Texas
Jaloni Cambridge – Ohio State
Aaliyah Chavez – Oklahoma
Audi Crooks – Iowa State
Joyce Edwards – South Carolina
Azzi Fudd – UConn
MiLaysia Fulwiley – LSU
Rori Harmon – Texas
Hannah Hidalgo – Notre Dame
Flau'jae Johnson – LSU
Ta'Niya Latson – South Carolina
Cotie McMahon – Ole Miss
Olivia Miles – TCU
Olivia Olson – Michigan
Clara Strack – Kentucky
Sarah Strong – UConn
Mikaylah Williams - LSU
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.
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.
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