Lauren Betts won Best College Athlete in Women's Sports at the 2026 ESPYs on Wednesday night. But the former UCLA women's basketball center made the moment about more than her performance on the court.
Lauren Betts Opens Up About Mental Health in ESPYs Speech
Lauren Betts, who has been open about her battles with depression, used the stage to advocate for mental health.
"Your mental health is not separate from your success," Betts said in her speech. "It is the foundation of everything that you do. The strongest people aren't the ones who never struggle; they're the ones who have the courage to let someone walk through the struggle with them."
Betts's Path From NCAA Title to Washington Mystics Star
Betts earned the fan-voted honor after leading UCLA to its first NCAA championship in the 2025/26 season. The 6-foot-7 center averaged 17.1 points and 8.8 rebounds per game during the run.
In the title game, she posted 14 points and 11 rebounds in the Bruins' 79-51 win over South Carolina. She also took home NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player honors and became the first Bruin to win the ESPY.
The award rounds out a breakout year for the Washington Mystics rookie. Days after the NCAA title, Betts went 4th overall in the 2026 WNBA Draft. She is now carrying that momentum into her first professional WNBA season.
