University of California, Los Angeles, Athletics
Photo by: Caren Nicdao
Lauren Betts Headlines 2026 Lisa Leslie Center of the Year Top 10 Candidates
February 06, 2026 | Women's Basketball
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – The 2025 Lisa Leslie Center of the Year Lauren Betts headlines the Mid-Season Top 10 for the 2026 award, the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame and Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) announced Friday.
The Bruin center is averaging a team-high 16.2 points and 7.9 rebounds per game on UCLA's nation-leading offense; she's shooting .577 from the field with an improved .667 free throw shooting percentage (48-72 FT). Betts is also swatting 2.1 shots and coming up with 1.1 steals per contest.
Betts has 64 assists on the year, good for 2.9 helpers per game, which ranks fourth on UCLA's loaded offense. The 2025 national defensive player of the year is rising during conference play; she's scoring 17.8 points and grabbing 8.8 rebounds to go with 2.2 blocks and 1.2 steals per game in UCLA's 12-0 conference slate.
2026 Lisa Leslie Award Candidates
Ava Heiden – Iowa
Audi Crooks – Iowa State
Clara Strack – Kentucky
Ra Shaya Kyle – Miami
Tilda Trygger – NC State
Raegan Beers – Oklahoma
Madina Okot – South Carolina
Brooklyn Meyer – South Dakota State
Lauren Betts – UCLA
Serah Williams – UConn
Fans are encouraged to participate in Fan Voting in both of the remaining rounds starting today, February 6, on hoophallawards.com. The Fan Vote will count as one committee vote during the finalist selection process.
In mid-March, the Mid-Season Top 10 list will be narrowed to just five, and in late March, the five finalists will be presented to Abdul-Jabbar, Leslie, and the Hall of Fame's selection committees, where winners will be selected. The Selection Committees for the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Lisa Leslie Awards are composed of top men's and women's college basketball personnel, including media members, head coaches, sports information directors, and Hall of Famers.
The winner of the 2026 Abdul-Jabbar and Leslie Awards will be presented on a to-be-determined date, along with the other four members of the Men's and Women's Starting Five. Additional awards being presented include the Bob Cousy and Nancy Lieberman Awards (Point Guard), Jerry West and Ann Meyers Drysdale Awards (Shooting Guard), Julius Erving and Cheryl Miller Awards (Small Forward), and the Karl Malone and Katrina McClain Awards (Power Forward).
For more information on the 2026 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Lisa Leslie Awards and the latest updates, visit hoophallawards.com and follow @hoophallu, #KareemAward, and #LeslieAward on X and Instagram.
The Bruin center is averaging a team-high 16.2 points and 7.9 rebounds per game on UCLA's nation-leading offense; she's shooting .577 from the field with an improved .667 free throw shooting percentage (48-72 FT). Betts is also swatting 2.1 shots and coming up with 1.1 steals per contest.
Betts has 64 assists on the year, good for 2.9 helpers per game, which ranks fourth on UCLA's loaded offense. The 2025 national defensive player of the year is rising during conference play; she's scoring 17.8 points and grabbing 8.8 rebounds to go with 2.2 blocks and 1.2 steals per game in UCLA's 12-0 conference slate.
2026 Lisa Leslie Award Candidates
Ava Heiden – Iowa
Audi Crooks – Iowa State
Clara Strack – Kentucky
Ra Shaya Kyle – Miami
Tilda Trygger – NC State
Raegan Beers – Oklahoma
Madina Okot – South Carolina
Brooklyn Meyer – South Dakota State
Lauren Betts – UCLA
Serah Williams – UConn
Fans are encouraged to participate in Fan Voting in both of the remaining rounds starting today, February 6, on hoophallawards.com. The Fan Vote will count as one committee vote during the finalist selection process.
In mid-March, the Mid-Season Top 10 list will be narrowed to just five, and in late March, the five finalists will be presented to Abdul-Jabbar, Leslie, and the Hall of Fame's selection committees, where winners will be selected. The Selection Committees for the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Lisa Leslie Awards are composed of top men's and women's college basketball personnel, including media members, head coaches, sports information directors, and Hall of Famers.
The winner of the 2026 Abdul-Jabbar and Leslie Awards will be presented on a to-be-determined date, along with the other four members of the Men's and Women's Starting Five. Additional awards being presented include the Bob Cousy and Nancy Lieberman Awards (Point Guard), Jerry West and Ann Meyers Drysdale Awards (Shooting Guard), Julius Erving and Cheryl Miller Awards (Small Forward), and the Karl Malone and Katrina McClain Awards (Power Forward).
For more information on the 2026 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Lisa Leslie Awards and the latest updates, visit hoophallawards.com and follow @hoophallu, #KareemAward, and #LeslieAward on X and Instagram.
Players Mentioned
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