UCLA Returns to the Final Four With a More Confident Lauren Betts Leading the Way

The Bruins had a shaky start to their win over Duke, but their star center has learned how to step up as a game-changing presence when things get tough.

Mar. 30, 2026 at 2:20am

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The UCLA Bruins women's basketball team has advanced to the Final Four after defeating Duke 70-58 in the Elite Eight. The game was a much tougher battle than the final score indicated, as the Bruins found themselves trailing for most of the game and struggling with turnovers. However, star center Lauren Betts stepped up in the second half, finishing with 23 points, 10 rebounds, 5 blocks, and 3 assists to lead UCLA to victory. Betts' growth and increased confidence over her four years at UCLA have been crucial to the team's success.

Why it matters

UCLA's return to the Final Four is a testament to the development of Lauren Betts, their star center, who has grown into a game-changing presence for the team. Betts' ability to step up and take control when the Bruins were struggling shows how far she has come in believing in herself and her abilities. This growth will be crucial as UCLA aims to win a national championship.

The details

The Bruins found themselves trailing Duke for much of the game, going into halftime down by 8 points. They struggled with turnovers, committing 12 in the first half alone. But in the second half, Betts took over, refusing to let her team lose. She played the entire second half and finished with a dominant stat line, leading the Bruins to the victory. Betts' development over her four years at UCLA, improving her mobility, midrange game, and aggression at the rim, has transformed her into a top WNBA prospect.

  • UCLA trailed Duke for more time than they were ahead in the game.
  • The Bruins went into halftime down by 8 points, the first time they had trailed at the half all season.
  • Betts played the entire second half, refusing to let her team lose.

The players

Lauren Betts

The 6'7" star center for UCLA, who has developed into a top WNBA prospect over her four years with the team. Betts finished the Elite Eight game against Duke with 23 points, 10 rebounds, 5 blocks, and 3 assists.

Cori Close

The head coach of the UCLA women's basketball team, who has worked to help Betts develop her game and believe in herself as a game-changing presence.

Josh Ulitzky

Betts' high school coach at Grandview High School in Aurora, Colorado, who witnessed Betts' growth from a player trying to make herself smaller to a dominant force on the court.

Angela Dugalic

A senior or graduate student who is a key contributor off the bench for the veteran-laden UCLA team, finishing the Duke game with 15 points, 6 rebounds, and 2 steals.

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What they’re saying

“Going into a game like this, sometimes you just take yourself out of your head. And you realize, Oh, this is the Elite Eight and my season is on the line, so I've got to wake up a little bit. I don't know. I think, going into the locker room, I was just pretty certain that I wanted to win this game… I just came out with the mentality, I'm just not going to lose.”

— Lauren Betts

“This is a business trip. We have a job to do, and that's to win a national championship.”

— Angela Dugalic

“Adversity comes, and hard things come, and doubt comes and pressure comes. But I think because of her committed work from the inside out, she was able to regroup mentally and get to neutral and focus on her next right stop.”

— Cori Close, UCLA Head Coach

What’s next

The UCLA Bruins will advance to the Final Four, where they will face the winner of the other Elite Eight matchup. A victory in the Final Four would send them to the national championship game, where they would have a chance to win their first NCAA title since 1978.

The takeaway

Lauren Betts' growth and increased confidence over her four years at UCLA have been crucial to the team's success. Her ability to step up and take control when the Bruins were struggling in the Elite Eight shows how far she has come in believing in herself as a game-changing presence. This development will be key as UCLA aims to win its first national championship in nearly 50 years.