Lauren Betts powers UCLA women's basketball in March Madness. What to know about her

Lauren Betts and the UCLA women's basketball team open their 2026 NCAA Tournament push to return to the Final Four with a first-round game against California Baptist Lancers on March 21. Betts led the Bruins to a 31-1 record entering March Madness and a first-place finish in the Big Ten. Here's everyting you need to know about Betts. USA TODAY Sports has a team of journalists covering the women's NCAA Tournament to keep you up to date with every point scored, rebound grabbed and game won in the 68-team tournament. All stats as of Selection Sunday (March 15) Betts moved to Colorado when she was 8 years old. She was born in Spain and lived in several cities there including Vitoria, Barcelona, Seville, Málaga and San Sebastian. Her dad played professional basketball in Europe for 14 years, which included time in Spain. He joined Real Madrid in the Liga ACB and won the 2000 league championship before eventually suiting up for TAU Cerámica, DKV Joventut Badalona and Cajasol Sevilla. The opportunities led to him spending his offseasons in Spain, where Betts was born. Betts was the No. 1 recruit in her high school class. A five-star prospect like her younger sister, she committed to and attended Stanford her freshman year before transferring to UCLA.Her younger sister was the No. 2 player in her class, ranked by 247Sports and joined UCLA after earning three consecutive Colorado Gatorade Player of the Year awards and an honor previously achieved by Lauren. Betts led UCLA in scoring during her first two seasons with the Bruins — and is on track to do so again in 2025 — but her defense is what sets her apart. She became the program’s first national Defensive Player of the Year in 2025 and was named the unanimous recipient of the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year in back-to-back seasons. At 6-foot-7, Betts set single-season and single-game blocks records last season. She led the Big Ten with 100 blocks and 2.9 per game, both of which ranked fifth in the NCAA. When is the Women's Final Four? The 2026 Women's NCAA Tournament tips off on Friday, April 3 at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix and Arizona.