WNBA Draft 2026: Lauren Betts at No. 4 leads record 5 first-round players selected from UCLA’s NCAA title team
Fresh off its first national championship, UCLA women’s basketball is setting WNBA records.
The Bruins had five players selected in the first round of Monday’s WNBA draft, the most ever by a school in a single draft. And they could end up with six players selected in total before the end of the night.
Advertisement
Lauren Betts, a two-time All-American and Final Four MOP, was the first Bruin off the board at No. 4 for the Washington Mystics. The selection of Betts started a streak of three straight picks by the Bruins. His UCLA teammate, Angela Dugalić, then joined him on the Mystics at No. 9.
No. 4: Lauren Betts, Washington Mystics
No. 5: Gabriela Jaquez, Chicago Sky
No. 6: Kiki Rice, Toronto Tempo
No. 9: Angela Dugalic, Washington Mystics
No. 15 Gianna Keepkens, Connecticut Sun
Four teams previously had five total players selected in the same draft: South Carolina 2023, Notre Dame 2019 and Tennessee twice (1999 and 2008).
UCLA tied that number in the first round and has a chance to claim that record for itself. Charlisse Leger-Walker is a prospect who will be selected in the second round.
Advertisement
This draft success comes eight days after the Bruins won the NCAA championship. UCLA beat fellow No. 1 seed Texas 51-44 in the national semifinals, then beat No. 1 seed South Carolina 79-51 in last Sunday’s title game. The Bruins dominated both games to cap a 37-1 season.
UCLA and head coach Cori Close are obviously facing a significant rebuild after losing their entire core. But they have plenty to continue celebrating a historic season in Westwood.
