UCLA breaks WNBA draft record with five first-round picks

The first UCLA player off the WNBA draft board Monday night was Lauren Betts, who went No. 4 overall to the Washington Mystics.

Betts’ selection sparked a lengthy Bruins celebration in New York, with UCLA forward Gabriela Jaquez selected No. 5 by the Chicago Sky and UCLA guard Kiki Rice selected No. 6 by expansion team Toronto Tempo.

After a brief break, UCLA forward Angela Dugalic was next. She was selected 9th overall by the Washington Mystics, where she will join Betts.

This is the second time that the same college has seen four players selected in the first round. The last time was 2002, when UConn had four first-round picks.

Betts averaged 17.1 points per game, 8.8 rebounds and shot 58.2 percent from the field as a senior during the Bruins’ national championship run. She was named Final Four MVP, was a first-team AP All-American, Big Ten Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year.

“I’m playing with joy,” Betts said on ESPN after being drafted. “This season has been so joyful. … You can see all the positivity I’m playing with.”

UCLA center Lauren Betts poses with WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert after being selected No. 4 by the Washington Mystics on Monday.

(Pamela Smith/Associated Press)

She also joined her former Stanford teammate and USC rival Kiki Iriafen, who was a first-round pick last year.

“It’s been amazing, I’ve grown so much, my confidence, I’ve taken ownership of who I am as a player and a person,” Betts said.

Jaquez spent all four seasons with UCLA and was one of the most improved players in the country en route to helping the Bruins win a national title. She averaged 13.5 points per game, 5.5 rebounds and shot 53.9% from the field and 39% from three-point range.

“I’m so excited to be here, I think having these dreams of going to UCLA and the WNBA and achieving them not only on my own, but with my teammates means everything,” she told ESPN.

UCLA guard Gabriela Jaquez poses with WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert after being selected No. 5 by the Chicago Sky on Monday.

(Pamela Smith/Associated Press)

She was named to the NCAA All-Tournament team and was selected to the All-Big Ten second team.

“Going into every game and doing what the team needs,” she said of how she wanted to contribute to Chicago. “I’m going to training camp ready to learn, to be a sponge, to be myself and to work hard.”

Rice played four seasons for the Bruins and scored 14.9 points per game with 5.9 rebounds last season while recording 4.3 assists and averaging 49 percent from the field. She was named an AP third-team All-American, was named to the NCAA All-Tournament team, and was a first-team Big Ten and all-defensive team.

“I take a lot of pride in being the better teammate and figuring out how to make everyone around me better,” she told ESPN. “I’m really excited to get to work and meet everyone. It’s going to be really important to have great leadership.”

UCLA guard Kiki Rice poses with WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert after being selected No. 6 by the Toronto Tempo on Monday.

(Pamela Smith/Associated Press)

Rice was grateful that many UCLA players had the chance to celebrate their selection.

“It’s so special,” she said. “Every one of us here is so deserving.”

Dugalic came off the bench last season as the Bruins’ sixth player after starting the previous two seasons. In her role, she was one of the most stable veteran players in the country.

“It’s going to be awesome,” Dugalic told ESPN about playing with Betts. “I’m super excited for it. It’ll be a smooth transition, playing with her.”

UCLA forward Angela Dugalic poses with WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert after being selected No. 9 by the Washington Mystics on Monday.

(Pamela Smith/Associated Press)

The Big Ten Sixth Player of the Year averaged 9.0 points per game, 5.6 rebounds and 50.2 percent shooting from the field. She can shoot 32.6% from distance and is a tough perimeter defender and can hit the post at 6-foot-4.

Earlier in the draft, UConn guard Azzi Fudd was selected by the Dallas Wings with the first overall pick. Notre Dame guard Olivia Miles was selected by the Minnesota Lynx with the No. 2 pick. Awa Fam Thiam, who played in Spain, was selected by the Seattle Storm with the No. 3 pick.

Among UCLA’s picks, Spain’s Iyana Martín Carrión was selected No. 7 overall by the Portland Fire. LSU star Flau’jae Johnson was selected No. 8 by the Golden State Valkyries.

South Carolina’s Raven Johnson was selected No. 10 by the Indiana Fever. Ole Miss’ Cotie McMahon was selected No. 11 by the Washington Mystics. Nell Angloma of France was selected No. 12 by the Connecticut Sun. Madina Okot of South Carolina was selected No. 13 by the Atlanta Dream. Duke’s Taina Mair was selected No. 14 by the Seattle Storm.

The Sparks are inactive in the first round and will make picks in the second and third rounds.

Check back for more updates throughout the project.