It was a dream-come-true moment for the UCLA Bruins, who endured heartbreak a season ago and now earned the national championship crown with a commanding win over the South Carolina Gamecocks. Lauren Betts won the Most Outstanding Player accolade for her double-double performances in both final four games.
While Betts’ impressive block won the game against Texas, the player did not have to play the final minutes of the championship game. And her impressive gameplay drew praise from none other than Barack Obama.
Barack Obama Singles Out Lauren Betts In His Congratulatory Message
The former President had been a basketball fan and hosted many championship-winning sides at White House during his presidency. His speeches at the time highlighted how closely he follows the game.
Now, after UCLA’s win, he shared a post praising the team and especially mentioned Betts, who was a key figure in the championship run.
In his post, Obama wrote, “Congratulations to Lauren Betts and the sensational seniors at @UCLAWBB for winning their first NCAA Championship!”
Congratulations to Lauren Betts and the sensational seniors at @UCLAWBB for winning their first NCAA Championship! https://t.co/73VAcvLFvP
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) April 5, 2026
Scroll to continue reading
Trending WNBA News
Cori Close also highlighted the best team she ever coached as she entered the NCAA Tournament with championship aspirations.
As for the megastar Center, the journey to the championship was not easy, particularly with the mental health issue she had to go through during her playing time. The player recently spoke about the same and thanked her family and teammates for helping her recover early.
Lauren Betts Struggled Through Mental Health Issues
The 22-year-old mentioned that transferring from Stanford backup to UCLA was one of her best decisions. While the bench player at Stanford got the opportunity to shine with the UCLA team, she also found it easier to navigate through her mental depression.
Remembering the incident, she said, “My mom stayed in LA for a whole week with me after I was released from the hospital. I took some time away from school and the team. That was what I needed. And yet, stepping away from basketball was extremely hard. I felt like I was letting my teammates down. I was so embarrassed and mad at myself. They lost a couple of games during my absence, and I was like, My team really needs me right now.”
Lauren Betts on opening up to her team about her depression: “My mom stayed in LA for a whole week with me after I was released from the hospital. I took some time away from school and the team. That was what I needed. And yet, stepping away from basketball was extremely hard. I… pic.twitter.com/D11pTnvin0
— The Players’ Tribune (@PlayersTribune) March 21, 2026
“When I came back, I remember they were practicing in Pauley that day, and my mom came with me. A part of me just wanted to walk in the gym like, ‘Hey everyone, I’m back!’ And throw on a practice jersey and start warming up. But my mom and Cori encouraged me to address what happened and just speak from the heart. So in the film room, before practice started, I spoke to everyone. I said, ‘I just want you all to know…. I’ve been dealing with depression. This is what’s been going on in my head. And yeah… I love you guys so much. And I’m sorry that I had to leave,” Betts added.
While Lauren Betts received backing from her teammates and family, South Carolina’s Dawn Staley also came forward to comfort the megastar.