The competition is getting tougher and tougher, with top teams playing in the March Madness tournament in knockout formats. Coach Geno Auriemma even suggested that only the top three teams from each conference should make it to the NCAA tournament. While the competition would bring out the best in players, Lauren Betts’ recent revelation highlights the issue of Mental health, which also needs attention.
The UCLA star is now one of the top prospects from the college, but her 2024 story was an eye-opener for all those who only look at the shiny side of players’ careers.
Lauren Betts Speaks About Her Mental Health Revelation
Betts mentioned that transferring from Stanford backup to UCLA was one of her best decisions. While she experienced a better playing opportunity, 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.
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She added that as her teammates hugged her and encouraged her to fight against the depression, she felt completely relieved and recovered quickly.
After reaching the final for the first time last season, the UCLA side will be looking to clinch its first title with Betts at the helm. She started off well for her final NCAA Tournament.
Lauren Betts Shines in Her First Round Game
An improved team, offense, and final year in college have been pushing for the national championship. After dominating the Conference tournament, the center showed her intent in the Natty with a strong double-double outing.
1-SEED UCLA DEBUTS WITH A DOMINANT WIN VS. 16-SEED CAL BAPTIST 🐻
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) March 22, 2026
Lauren Betts led the Bruins with a 22 PTS and 10 REB in the 96-43 win 💪 pic.twitter.com/F9jytngBRP
She started her final NCAA tournament with a dominant 22 points and 10 rebounds against Cal Baptist. Anchoring the defence, the player also took care of the defensive side of the game, changing the opponents gameplan and forcing them to more difficult shots.
The UCLA side lost only one game in the season, and ESPN’s Holly Rowe sees UCLA as a strong contender for the title.