Lauren Betts shares the advice Kiki Rice said after their WNBA debut
Lauren Betts shares the advice Kiki Rice said after their WNBA debut
Dylan McNeill, UCLA WireSun, May 24, 2026 at 6:44 PM UTC
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Lauren Betts shares the advice Kiki Rice said after their WNBA debut
Jumping to the professional ranks is an adjustment for everyone, even if you’re fresh off of an All-American season. Former UCLA Bruin center Lauren Betts has found that out this spring as she’s adjusting to the WNBA in her rookie season with the Washington Mystics.
Betts’ college career couldn’t have ended any better, starring for the Bruins during the team’s NCAA title run. Betts’ overall scoring numbers went down in her senior season but the 6’7” Betts showed she can still carry an offense throughout the tournament.
Her reward was being taken fourth overall by the Mystics. Overall, Betts has had a quiet rookie season, putting up 5.5 points and 3.0 rebounds per game. Betts’ WNBA debut didn’t go as planned, scoring zero points but she caught up with former UCLA teammate Kiki Rice postgame who offered some words of wisdom.
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“I was talking to Ki about that, I remember the first game I was so pissed. I don’t remember the last time I had zero points,” Betts said of the Bird’s Eye View podcast with Sue Bird. “She’s like ‘Some days you’re going to be the shit and other days you’re going to be a fire hydrant.’ I was like ‘You’re right. I am the fire hydrant today and that’s OK.’ and that’s just how it is your rookie year. I think the biggest thing is that you can’t compare your process to other people.”
It’s tough for the six UCLA Bruins WNBA draft picks to not get compared to one another as they’re all beginning their professional journey shortly after a dominant season of college basketball.
This article originally appeared on UCLA Wire: Kiki Rice gave Lauren Betts words of wisdom after their WNBA debut
Source: “AOL Sports”
