University of California, Los Angeles, Athletics
Betts, Close Named Naismith Award Finalists
March 25, 2026 | Women's Basketball
ATLANTA – Senior Lauren Betts and head coach Cori Close have been named finalists for the Naismith Women's College awards, the Atlanta Tipoff Club announced Wednesday.
Lauren Betts, who was the 2025 Naismith Women's College Defensive Player of the Year Presented by MOLECULE, is up for the defensive award again this season. She's also made the cut as a top four candidate for the 2026 Jersey Mike's Naismith Trophy Women's College Player of the Year award; only Betts and Sarah Strong were named finalists for both honors.
Betts, the first-ever student-athlete to secure Big Ten Player and Defensive Player of the Year, averages a team-leading 17.1 points and 8.7 rebounds per game for the Bruins. She's also totaled 100+ assists for the first time in her career, boasting 3.2 helpers per game. The Bruin center is off to a hot start in the 2026 NCAA women's basketball tournament, averaging 28.5 points, 9.5 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game through UCLA's first two wins.
Coach Close is a finalist for the 2026 Werner Ladder Naismith Women's College Coach of the Year award; she looks to repeat after being named the 2025 national coach of the year. Close has led UCLA to its best regular season finish and first outright Big Ten regular season championship, going 18-0 in conference play. UCLA also claimed its second-consecutive season with 30+ wins when it captured the 2026 Big Ten tournament title over Iowa on March 8. The Bruins return to the Sweet 16 for the fourth-consecutive season under Coach Close; she boasts a 21-9 record in NCAA tournaments at the helm for UCLA.
Lauren Betts, who was the 2025 Naismith Women's College Defensive Player of the Year Presented by MOLECULE, is up for the defensive award again this season. She's also made the cut as a top four candidate for the 2026 Jersey Mike's Naismith Trophy Women's College Player of the Year award; only Betts and Sarah Strong were named finalists for both honors.
Betts, the first-ever student-athlete to secure Big Ten Player and Defensive Player of the Year, averages a team-leading 17.1 points and 8.7 rebounds per game for the Bruins. She's also totaled 100+ assists for the first time in her career, boasting 3.2 helpers per game. The Bruin center is off to a hot start in the 2026 NCAA women's basketball tournament, averaging 28.5 points, 9.5 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game through UCLA's first two wins.
Coach Close is a finalist for the 2026 Werner Ladder Naismith Women's College Coach of the Year award; she looks to repeat after being named the 2025 national coach of the year. Close has led UCLA to its best regular season finish and first outright Big Ten regular season championship, going 18-0 in conference play. UCLA also claimed its second-consecutive season with 30+ wins when it captured the 2026 Big Ten tournament title over Iowa on March 8. The Bruins return to the Sweet 16 for the fourth-consecutive season under Coach Close; she boasts a 21-9 record in NCAA tournaments at the helm for UCLA.
Players Mentioned
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UCLA W. Basketball Media Availability - Coach Close (March 25, 2026)
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UCLA W. Basketball Press Conference - Sienna Betts, Kiki Rice, Coach Close (March 22, 2026)
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