This post was updated April 3 at 11:27 p.m. UCLA women’s basketball coach Cori Close has been named the 2025 Werner Ladder Naismith Women’s College Coach of the Year, and junior center Lauren Betts has been awarded the Naismith Women’s College Defensive Player of the Year, the Atlanta Tipoff Club announced Wednesday.  The prestigious pair of national honors for the top-seeded team in the country comes after a historic season for the Bruins, who posted one of the most dominant campaigns in women’s basketball history. Read more...

Photo: Junior center Lauren Betts (left) and coach Cori Close (right) celebrate after No. 1 seed UCLA women’s basketball downed No. 3 seed LSU in the Elite Eight, advancing to a program-first Final Four in the NCAA era. Close and Betts earned Naismith recognitions Wednesday afternoon. (Aidan Sun/Assistant Photo editor)

This post was updated March 30 at 9:25 p.m. When Lauren Betts blocked guard Flau’jae Johnson’s first shot, the Bruins’ bench erupted. Five seconds later, the Defensive Player of the Year did it again, and chants of “Betts” echoed throughout Spokane Arena. Read more...

Photo: UCLA women’s basketball celebrates following its first-ever Final Four berth after defeating LSU. (Aidan Sun/Assistant Photo editor)

This post was updated March 28 at 10:23 p.m. Sunday’s match will mark a year since then No. 3-seed LSU upset then-No. 2 seed UCLA to end the Bruins’ season earlier than projected. Read more...

Photo: Junior center Lauren Betts tosses the ball into the net over Rebels forward, and former UCLA player, Christeen Iwuala. The Defensive Player of the Year and First Team All-American earned her 19th double-double of the season in the Sweet Sixteen match against Mississippi. (Aidan Sun/Assistant Photo editor)

This post was updated March 21 at 11:10 p.m. A drought begged to be watered with 41 seconds to play in the first half Friday night.  There had been a lack of Bruin rainfall for the last 5:39 minutes of play, and Pauley Pavilion was yearning for some moisture.  Enter Lauren Betts.  The most towering figure on the floor – who could see that dehydration clearer than anyone on the floor – poured in a pair.  The junior center gathered the ball while being mobbed by more than just her one defender. Read more...

Photo: Members of No. 1 seed UCLA women’s basketball celebrate following their first-round March Madness win at home Friday night. The team will play again at Pauley Pavilion against No. 8 seed Richmond on Sunday before traveling to Spokane, Washington, if the squad wins its second round of the tournament. (Andrew Diaz/Daily Bruin)